CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE

OVERVIEW

Center of Excellence in Industrial Automation

 

The primary research focus of the core group is designing control and optimization algorithms for various dynamic system pertaining to controllers for industrial rotor stabilization, nonlinear dynamics and control, flexible manipulator control of robotic arm, coordination of autonomous vehicles, Designing of sliding mode control, Modelling of Dynamical systems using Bond Graph. The group is also active in exploring other controller design issues like self tuning and MRAC controller for adaptive systems, LQG, loop shaping and ricatti based Hinf controller. We are trying to improve our publications by guiding undergraduate and postgraduate students in their research projects and also working with bright students of other reputed engineering colleges all over India through the summer research internship program . In order to convert the theoretical control algorithm models to useful practical applications we have collaborated with industrial automation companies like National instruments and Fox automation to start a embedded control industrial automation lab . In this lab we are fully equipped with all modern form of data acquisition equipment like USB 6009, C-Daq, C-Rio, Image processing equipment, autonomous robotic vehicle,Elvis, PLC’s, DCS and modern Drives. Apart from research activities we use this modern industrial control lab for training our students as well as people from industries and give them specialized automation skills in terms of both software and hardware such that they become industry ready.

 
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Center of Excellence Computer Vision and Network Security

 

The purpose of Computer Vision Lab (at Atrium Room No. 316) is to provide computing facilities to carry out research, student projects (B.Tech, M.Tech, and MCA), and hands-on training to the students in the areas of image processing, computer vision, pattern recognition, and related fields such as 3D modeling, graphics and animation. This is a newly setup laboratory equipped with six Dell computer workstations (with Windows and Linux OS), video and still cameras, thermal camera, 3D light scanner for making 3D models including mesh editing software, and orientation sensor for collection of data for research and application development. The machines are equipped with varieties of open source and commercial tools including Matlab, and Autodesk Suite (which include Maya and 3D Max) for general purpose usages. The laboratory is open for faculties and students from engineering branches for their research and project works in the areas mentioned above.

 
 

Broad Areas of Research

  • Multi-modal Data (Visual and non-visual) Fusion
  • Thermal Image Analysis: Detection, Recognition
  • Medical Image Analysis: Synthesis, Segmentation, Pose Estimation
  • Analysis of Video Streams: Detection, Tracking, Recognition, Surveillance
  • Feature Selection, Clustering, and Classification
  • Special Areas of Image Processing: Visual Cryptography, Image-based Rendering
 
 

Current in-house Project

  • Modeling and Analysis of Facial Thermogram
  • Medical Image Segmentation and Pose Estimation
  • Fusion of Visual and Non-visual Data
 
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Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy

 

The institute has established curriculum and ecosystem for renewable energy over the past five years, with the interest from faculty in mechanical, electrical, electronics and power engineering. These facilities and activities have been developed and implemented beyond the curriculum of the degree program, so as to prepare and enable students, staff and faculty to conduct research in Rural Energy and develop applications. More recently, the institute is working with a renewable energy company, SunMoksha, Bangalore, developing solutions for rural electrification through renewable energy, where the faculty, staff and students are working hand-in-hand with the company to develop and test solutions. It has resulted in deep engagement of the institute stakeholders in renewable energy. In this process, a “Living Renewable Energy Laboratory” is being created at the institute – a first in India. The only other living laboratory in the world exists at the campus of the ISCTE Business School in Portugal.

“Living RE Laboratory” is a concept where real-life working solutions of renewable energy are implemented on the campus, rather than laboratory prototypes. Students learn with the real system, and conduct research on the real systems. At “living laboratory,” the state-of-the-art renewable energy technologies are always available to provide hands-on, real-life training to professionals, teachers, and trainers on regular basis. The energy systems are constantly updated and upgraded to reflect the state of the art in the sector. The overall objectives is to provide a test-bed and development centre for technologies, products and applications across the renewable energy verticals, where industries, institutions, incubators,technologists, entrepreneurs, investors and enthusiasts can work together in an integrated environment.

At NIST, a replication of a rural electric micro-grid with hybrid renewable energy sources has been established. It consists of a Solar-Wind Hybrid system,operational since 2011. A 3-story building is connected to this micro-grid with on/off control for each floor. The power source for this can be switched between renewable and grid. A remote monitoring, control and management system has been developed an deployed to monitor the power generation and consumption in real time and switch from one source to another. Each of the monitoring point can be switched on and off remotely. The remote monitoring and control of the hybrid system is operational since July 2013. Very soon, a third source of energy will be fed into this grid generated from a biomass gasifier.The biomass gasifier has been imported from a state-of-the-art All Power Laboratory in Berkeley, USA and is being installed and commissioned. The biomass gasifier is being connected to a power generating unit and is expected to be online by end of January. Integration of this gasifer with local engines and power generating systems is being done at NIST by industry partner SunMoksha. Once commissioned, it will be connected to the same micro-grid that the solar-wind hybrid is connected. To our knowledge, this will bethe first ever micro-grid with power generation from three renewable energy sources.In addition to the micro-grid, the institute is setting upseveral other renewable solutions. A 1-tonne-per-day biogas system is under construction at the institute that will run on the kitchen organic wastes from the hostels and canteen on campus. The biogas generated will partially replace the LPG for hostel cooking. A dual use of this biogas will be to use it as the 4th renewable energy generation source in the RE micro-gridcreating the first ever quad-gen system in India. The goal is to create a penta-gen system with pico-hydroforming the fifth resource.
A solar thermal steam cooking system is being procured from Arun Solar to get a steam cooking system for 500x2 meals a day to supplement the cooking requirements at the boys hostel. Based on the performance of this system, two more systems will be purchased to make cooking as self-sufficient as possible, with solar thermal and biogas being the first and second priority sources for cooking, and LPG supplementing the requirement.

The institute is working with SunMoksha, in a unique manner - the faculty, staff and students are integral part of the team - faculty is conducting research and development work for some of the unanswered questions on the micro-grid system. research and development work for some of the unanswered questions on the micro-grid system. The solutions are being first implemented and tested within its “Living Laboratory”, before field deployment.Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) is playing a lead role in the development of the Living Laboratory. Institute received a five lakhs grant from OREDA to conduct research for enhancement of capture efficiency of solar energy by optical fibre and ZnTe quantum dot hybrids. OREDA is also processing an order to install the remote monitoring and management system as an exhibit at Biju Pattanaik Renewable Energy Park in Bhubaneswar. It has also allocated two villages to be electrified under this micro-grid model.

 

Center of Excellence Mechatronics

 

The main objective of the research group is to work on dedicated and enhanced algorithms to create computer programs for modeling, control and integrating different parts of manufacturing system. Mechatronics is a inter discipline field consisting of electrical, mechanical, control, computer science, communication and electronics. The use of mechatronics to develop an integrated manufacturing system will be the primary focus of this research group.
Our group members are mainly focusing on to develop efficient computer programs to model and control continuous and discrete manufacturing system and with respect to this special focus are given to the areas like FMS, Production Planning and Control.
In order to convert the theoretical algorithms into very useful practical ones the group has collaborated with MTAB, PTC and ANSYS to develop the lab infrastructure in the area of industrial control, mechatronics and Flexible Manufacturing
The group is developing research capability by guiding for the under graduate, post graduates and also inviting bright students from all over India (top institution like IIT, NIT, IIIT etc..) to participate in our summer intensive program.
This lab consists of Robot (6 axes), MAPS, 3D Printer, 3D Scanner, CNC Milling.

Dedicatedly working to showcase the Research and Development activities at NIST. Offering highly intensive technical and employment oriented courses to students and professionals such as Diploma in VLSI Design, Advanced Diploma in Embedded Systems and other certification, aimed at leveraging the potential of knowledge workers.
Also offering training programs for GATE entrance exams to all potential M.Tech and Ph.D candidates.

 
 

CADENCE Center of Excellence

 
 

Cadence, a VLSI Tool Company, in association with NIST, Berhampur, Odisha, set up the Cadence Center of Excellence which was inaugurated at NIST premises on 10th August 2010. The Cadence-NIST collaboration would enable the students to be exposed to industry relevant practical training, have access to the latest EDA Software/flows, certifications, industry access via cadence, soft skills training and above all, it would build a complete solution for all pressing challenges. Cadence has promised to celebrate a VLSI DAY in the campus along with the other VLSI companies. This type of initiation by Cadence is first of its kind in India. The first batch of 60 students has achieved over 80% placement with the highest pay package of Rs. 7.8 Lacs per annum.

 
 

IBM Center of Excellence

 
 

The 1st of its kind in Odisha, The MoU was signed between the institute and IBM and the relationship was established to give students and faculty members the opportunity to work closely with the industry and utilize both the resources in the best possible manner. IBM, as a part of this collaboration, has donated software worth lakhs in the fields of database engineering, software engineering, web applications, etc. In addition, IBM key faculty members are also available to train our students towards certifications.

 
 

SAP University Alliance Partner

 
 

NIST has signed an MoU with SAP Asia Pacific under the SAP University Alliance Partner Program which enables NIST to utilize SAP software solutions (SAP Functional, Data Warehousing, Data Mining and Business Intelligence) within their premises. The Program provides the necessary tools and resources to bring technology into the classroom, and also offers many opportunities and benefits to members of the program.

 
 

NI LabView Academy

 
 

In collaboration with National Instruments NIST has established the LabView Academy in its campus. Its main goal is to train the students in LabView platform and make them certified in the same domain, which in turn would increase their employability in the core sectors. This collaboration is also helpful for the faculty members in their research activities.

 
 

Center for Nano Science & Technology

 
 

Established in the year 2011 the Centre of Nanotechnology at NIST possesses a vision to foster the development of research and education in the multi-disciplinary area of Nanotechnology at NIST. Areas of research includes Semiconductor and metal nanostructures, nanowires and carbon nanotubes, Polymer Nanocomposites, Catalysis Nanoscience, Nanoelectronics, Modeling and simulation, Nanobiotechnology including development of diagnosis tools using nano-metals and nano-semiconductotors, Nano-sensors, Solar fuel cells, plasmonic solar cells and heterojunction solar cells and core/shell nanocomposites. activities

 
 

Cisco Certified Center

 
 

This is the only engineering college in Odisha with partnership with Cisco Systems Limited, Bangalore, offering certification for CCNA and CCNP. All faculty members in this program are CCNA certified.

 
 

Hybrid Renewable Energy Center

 
 

NIST joined the group of leading institutes of the Nation in its pursuit to go GREEN. The institute has the 1st and only HYBRID (wind + solar) Renewable Energy Center in the state of Odisha.

 
 

Industry Institute Collaboration to Enhance Learning

 
 

The Wipro Mission10X program is being organized at NIST every year to enhance teaching skills of engineering faculty members. Mission10X was formally launched on 5th September 2007 – celebrated as “Teachers day” in India. With this collaboration between industry and our institute, we reach out to students through empowered teachers in Mission10X learning Approach.
Infosys Campus Connect: NIST is in a tie up with Infosys for Campus Connect program which is held every year to help increase competitiveness in the knowledge economy. The goal of Campus Connect is to build a sustainable partnership with engineering education institutions for mutual benefit.
NIST hosts at least four seminars in collaboration with industry on a variety of topics, such as VLSI, Robotics, Embedded Systems and Software Engineering in each academic session.

 
 

Japanese Language Teaching

 
 

Since 2003, the Institute has been offering Japanese Language Training to students of all branches. The training course is approved by the Japanese Embassy. NIST is recognized as the second Japanese Language Training Center in Odisha. A few students have also got the Japanese Government scholarships to study further in Japan.