Event Report

The inauguration began with a heartfelt invocation. Dr. Ramanathan R, the Convenor of the workshop, took the stage to extend a warm welcome to everyone present. He shared some intriguing insights about the workshop, noting its impressive scope and reach. Announced in early August, the workshop quickly garnered attention from across the nation, drawing participants from a diverse range of sectors including academia, industry, and government research organizations. A total of 75 participants were selected for this session, with numerous other applicants assured of a spot in future iterations. The workshop welcomed attendees from prominent private institutes within the state and several esteemed private universities across the country. Among the participants were representatives from leading IoT industries and scientists from renowned organizations such as the DRDO and the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC). 

The workshop kicked off with a vibrant inaugural function led by Dr. Prasanth R. Nair, Vice-President of the IETE Coimbatore Center. Dr. Prasanth expressed his profound appreciation for the enthusiastic response and the diverse range of participants. He commended the organizers for their hard work and highlighted the workshop’s timely and pertinent focus in today’s context. Dr. Prasanth provided a brief overview of IETE’s pivotal role in facilitating such events, underscoring the organization’s commitment to fostering knowledge and innovation. He conveyed his optimism about the workshop’s potential impact and anticipated positive outcomes, reflecting his confidence in the event’s success. 

The guest of honors, Dr. Harigovindan V. P., Dean of Planning & Development at NIT Puducherry, and Shri. Manish Kumar, Scientist at DRDO, also took the stage to share their insights. Dr. Harigovindan praised the workshop’s program for its well-rounded approach, noting how it effectively bridged fundamental concepts with practical implementation. He particularly highlighted the value of the hands-on components, which he found especially commendable. Shri. Manish Kumar echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the workshop’s topics were highly relevant to DRDO’s interests and ongoing projects. He appreciated the workshop’s alignment with cutting-edge developments and expressed enthusiasm about the practical applications and knowledge shared throughout the sessions. 

The inauguration ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Shri. Peeyush K. P., the workshop coordinator. He expressed his gratitude to all involved and shared that many participants had requested campus accommodation to fully immerse themselves in the workshop experience. Their eagerness even extended to extending the workshop hours for additional practice and discussions, which led to the decision to offer special extended sessions beyond the regular schedule. 

Shri. Peeyush also highlighted the workshop’s diverse participation, with attendees coming from seven different states and representing six distinct disciplines, including Electronics Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Sciences, and Agriculture. In closing, he conveyed messages of support and encouragement from Dean Dr. Sasangan Ramanathan of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and Department Chair Dr. Madhu Mohan N. 

The workshop was structured to provide a comprehensive learning experience, starting with three hours of theoretical instruction delivered by Dr. Harigovindan V. P. from NIT Puducherry and Dr. Megha S. Kumar from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore Campus. This was followed by an extensive 21 hours of hands-on practical sessions led by Shri. Peeyush K. P, held in the Digital Signal Processing lab at the host institution. 

Throughout the lab sessions, participants received invaluable support from the technical staff, including Shri. Prabhu N, Shri. Raja P, Shri. Arul Vadivel K, and Shri. Chandrasekharan Nair B. Their expertise was crucial in guiding participants as they explored and experimented with both hardware and software concepts. Additionally, industry insights were provided by Shri. Manoj Kumar P. C. and Shri. Yenikapatti Tatwik, who contributed their practical knowledge and experience to enrich the workshop’s content. 

The valedictory function, held on the third day of the workshop, was presided over by Dr. Madhu Mohan N, Chairperson of the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering. Dr. Madhu Mohan commended the participants for their unwavering commitment, noting their consistent attendance from the opening session to the concluding ceremony. He praised their active engagement with the resource persons, attributing much of the workshop’s success to their enthusiasm and interaction.  

The valedictory event also featured brief remarks from industry experts Shri. Manoj Kumar P. C. and Shri. Yenikapatti Tatwik, Founder Directors of Annyarobotics and Automation Pvt. Ltd. Their insights provided a valuable industry perspective, enriching the overall experience and offering practical reflections on the workshop’s themes.