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- The TechFest 2017 of IIT Bombay took place from December 29 to December 31, 2017.
- An exhibition was organised, which displayed the latest technological and scientific achievements.
The three-day TechFest 2017 at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay concluded on a grand note on December 31, 2017. On December 29, 2017, the fest began with wishes from Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi.
On the first day of IIT Bombay TechFest 2017, Chief Minister of Goa and Former Defence Minister of India, Mr. Manohar Parrikar delivered a keynote address on ‘Make in India’ in the Defence sector. During his address, the minister highlighted the significance of engineers in building smart cities. Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Mr. Jayant Sinha interacted with the students and spread awareness regarding challenges faced by youth in India.
Major Highlights of IIT Bombay TechFest 2017: -
An exhibition was organised, which displayed the latest technological and scientific achievements. The details of the same are elaborated below.
World’s First Robot Citizen at IIT Bombay TechFest 2017: -
On December 30, 2017, the first robot citizen in the world, ‘Sophie’ made its first appearance in the TechFest of IIT Bombay. It is a life-like robot, and it is the first one to be granted citizenship of a country. The robot was draped in a sari. The humanoid robot had a conversation with more than 3,000 students for over 15 minutes. During the conversation, the robot focused on varied topics ranging from artificial intelligence to the issues that are being faced by the world. The humanoid robot also answered various questions posed by the students.
The presence of humanoid robot ‘Sophie’ had created enthusiasm among the students. Technology enthusiasts and students thronged to the convocation hall to have a glimpse of a humanoid robot.
Mars Rover Showcased at IIT Bombay TechFest: -
On December 31, 2017, the students of IIT Bombay showcased a Mars rover. A few students have formed a team and developed a rover that will be operated on Mars. The students are planning to send the rover to University Rover Challenge in June 2018. It is a global contest, which will be organised by Mars Society of Utah (US). Students have been working for the past two months on the project.
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Unlike the previous rover, which has six wheels, the latest rover designed by the team of students has four wheels. The rover is much faster with better controls and more autonomy. The rover will perform all the tasks necessary to work with humans on Mars. The robotic arm of the rover is capable of lifting objects up to 10kg weight.
Image Courtesy: Official website of IIT Bombay Techfest
