About

Under the guidance of our Chancellor, AMMA, the Amrita Center for Wireless Networks & Applications (AmritaWNA) was started in 2006 as an inter- disciplinary center for R&D in wireless technologies for a wide variety of soci- etal applications. AmritaWNA was awarded the prestigious WINSOC project through the European Commission’s FP6 program, in which our researchers collaborated with 9 prestigious academic and industrial partners from Europe to develop the World’s First Wireless Sensor Network System for Detection and Early Warning of Landslides.

As part of this project, a state-of-the-art Landslide Simulation and Modelling Laboratory (First in South Asia) was also started. After extensive research and lab studies, the Wireless Network System was deployed at a landslide prone area in Munnar, Kerala. In mid-2009, the system successfully delivered realtime warnings during heavy monsoon downpours, based on which the Govt. of India issued evacuation alerts to the local commu- nities. In 2012, AmritaWNA was awarded the NABARD Innovation Award for this system. An honorable mention was also made in the Indian Parliament by the Minister for Planning, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences. In 2007, AmritaWNA researchers worked with Indian Satellite leader, Antrix, to develop a system for Emergency data dissemination for Disaster management.

On the education front, AmritaWNA was awarded the NKN Model project on Global Classroom, where wireless sensor networks play an important role in presenting a Remote Classroom in the most natural way. In 2012, the Center ’s Wireless Sensor Networks research lab was made available to Indian students through MHRD’s Remote Triggered Virtual Labs project.

In 2009, the Center also embarked on ambitious research focused, educational programs – MTech and Doctoral programs in Wireless Networks & Applications. Students conduct research on use of Wireless Technologies based solutions benefitting society – fitting into Amrita’s grand vision of ‘Tech- nology for Humanity’. The Center is proud to have gathered together a pool of talented faculty with international experience, and also has well renowned researchers from Academia and Industry from all over the world as Adjunct Faculty. Numerous visiting faculty also offer workshops and short programs at the Center. Dual-degree Graduate Programs with top universities like VU, Amsterdam, UPC, Spain and UNM, USA, are also offered. All these have resulted in the Center publishing over 75 papers in renowned international journals and conferences in a short span of time.

In 2011, AmritaWNA successfully hosted the first of its kind ‘International Conference on Wireless Technologies for Humanitarian Relief’ (ACWR 2011). The conference brought together more than 500 world renowned researchers, academicians, students and industrialists from 18 countries for nearly a week to deliberate and arrive at Wireless Technology solutions for the most pressing problems of the society.

Learning at Amrita is integrated with an atmosphere that stresses not only technical excellence, but also values, dedication and commitment. I have no doubt that our students will be transformed into becoming the leaders of tomorrow’s world.