NIE faculty and research community have made a remarkable contribution to the field of science and engineering over the years. From smart home automation systems, IoT powered virtual labs, to collaboration with international universities in developing community beneficial projects – NIE researchers have been instrumental in publishing breakthrough studies and deploying innovative solutions.

Here’s a look at some of the remarkable R&D projects by the NIE research community.

Areas of research
Name of the project: Characterization of Ni 3 Al coated on ZA-27 as an Antifriction Bearing
Name of the Department: Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIE
Name of the Guide, Lead, Facilitator: Dr. K R Prakash (Professor & Head, Centre for Automation Technology)
Coating Ni3Al on ZA27 to create a self-lubricating bearing
The objective of the research was to substantiate that coating Ni3Al on ZA27 will create an antifriction bearing. The experiments conducted on ZA-27 matrix proved that it has a good antifriction property with a fine running surface at low temperature. Also, it’s high damping capacity increases the shaft and bearing life. Similarly, the investigation carried out on Ni3Al alloy matrix showed that it has good wear and friction property. Hence, the conclusion that coating Ni3Al on ZA27 will help develop a self-lubricating bearing.
Research Objectives
  • Analyze the existing property and behavior of ZA27 metal matrix
  • Study the different theories and methods of coating
  • Study the different temperatures at which coating can be carried out
  • Implementing coating of Ni3Al on ZA27 metal matrix
  • Conducting different tests such as tensile, compressive, and wear
  • Studying the microstructure of the coated alloy
Research Methodology
  1. Preparation of Za27 alloy through stir casting method
  2. Specimen preparation of ZA27 as per ASME standard
  3. Study of the microscopic structure of za27 alloy
  4. Coating of Ni3Al through sputtering method
  5. Wear testing of coated specimen
  6. SEM analysis to study the structure and chemical composition
Areas of research
Name of the project: Remote Laboratory using IoT- 4.0
Name of the Department: Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIE
Name of the Guide, Lead, Facilitator: Dr. K R Prakash (Professor & Head, Centre for Automation Technology)
Technologies used: Industry 4.0, Internet of Things (IoT)
Leveraging IoT to develop virtual laboratories
The project objective is to develop a virtual/remote laboratory with Industry 4.0. The platform can be used as a round the clock virtual laboratory operating on Internet of Things (IoT) and can provide training by using a novel technological framework.
The following is the proposed structure of the virtual laboratory and project setup:
Areas of research
Name of the project: Analyzing the power of deep learning techniques over the traditional methods using Medicare utilization and provider data
Published in: Journal of Experimental & Theoretical Artificial Intelligence
Name of the Department: Dept of Computer Science & Engineering, NIE
Name of the Guide, Lead, Facilitator, Team: Dr. Shrirang Ambaji Kulkarni, V P. Gurupur, X Liu, U Desai, A Nasir
Technologies used: Machine Learning and Deep Learning Techniques
Analyzing the power of deep learning techniques over the traditional methods using Medicare utilization and provider data
This study presents a new method to analyze healthcare data using Direct Linear Transformation (DLT) algorithms and associated mathematical formulations. In this study, a DLT to program two types of deep learning neural networks, namely a two hidden layer network, and a three hidden layer network was developed initially. The data was analyzed for predictability in both these networks. Additionally, a comparison was also made with simple and multiple Linear Regression (LR). The demonstration of successful application of this method is carried out using the dataset that was constructed based on 2014 Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data. The results indicate a stronger case to use DLTs compared to traditional techniques like LR. The project analyzed the medical health care spending and determined whether the cost of physical therapy is more or less than the median amount. Conducted under the umbrella of Medical Healthcare Informatics, the research applied machine learning and deep learning techniques and with the use of deep learning neural network, accurately (99.34%) analyzed around 42,000 records of patient information. The outcome of the project strengthened the collaboration with Dr. Gurpur of the University of Central Florida for further research opportunities in publication and knowledge sharing.
Areas of research
Name of the project - Conductive polymer/carbon fiber composite sensor for pressure sensing
Name of the Department – Mechanical Engineering
Name of the Guide, Lead, Facilitator– Dr. Prakash K.R.
Technologies used – Robotics, Computational 3D CAD
Upgrading Conductive Polymers
Conductive polymers have the flexibility and processing ease of plastics along with the conductivity of metallic or semi-conductive regimes. Dr. K.R. Prakash, Ph.D., Professor and Head of the Centre for Automation Technology is currently engaged in a research study that aims to find simple and cost-effective methods to produce sensors made using these conductive polymers.
Areas of research
Name of the project: Smart Container for Kitchen Groceries
Name of the Department: Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIE
Name of the Guide, Lead, Facilitator, Team: Dr. K R Prakash (Professor & Head, Centre for Automation Technology), Madan G (Incubation Centre Manager, NIE - NAIN Project)
Technologies used: Internet of Things (IoT)
Taking a step into future with smart kitchen containers
It’s the age of smart – smartphones, smart homes, smart watches, smart water bottles - the list is long. With our homes and lives being increasingly driven by the Internet of Things (IoT) and AI technologies, automation rules our day-to-day lives. From home, office to the neighbourhood gym, these new age technologies are all pervasive. Imagine a seamless cooking experience, a smart kitchen with containers that can track and measure your provisions, so you know when they are running low. For a working professional scrambling for time, this will indeed be a welcome relief. Realizing the need to bring these smart technologies to the kitchen, the one relatively untouched room, Dr. K R Prakash along with Madan G. developed the Smart Container for Kitchen Groceries. The Smart Container is an innovative idea that uses interactive services. It has been developed with an embedded system that consists of a battery and sensor which can keep track of the available quantity of provisions. Using this system, you can connect to your kitchen remotely through the connected app on your smart phone and take stock of what’s available, making it easy for you to decide what to buy while at the grocery store. This will also help with efficient waste management thus eliminating the need to stock up provisions. The technology can also be modified and adapted for large-scale industries to monitor the hydraulics oil levels in power packs.
Areas of research
Name of the project: Voice-based Smart Home Automation System
Name of the Department: Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIE
Name of the Guide, Lead, Facilitator: Dr. K R Prakash (Professor & Head, Centre for Automation Technology)
Technologies used: Internet of Things (IoT)
Bringing next gen technologies home
A connected home is not a distant dream. With Alexa, Echo, and Google Home already becoming a part of people’s homes, a fully integrated smart home system is the latest achievable reality. With the click of a button or a voice command, you can change your television channels, control the thermostat and even switch on the coffee machine – and live a seamless, futuristic life.
Realizing the need to develop innovative solutions, Dr. K R Prakash (Professor & Head, Centre for Automation Technology) and Madan G. (Incubation Centre Manager, NIE - NAIN Project) leveraged new age technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) to develop a smart system for home and office spaces. With this Home Automation System, you can control electrical systems such as lights, ventilation, air conditioning, security (such as smart locks), home appliances such as washer, oven, and refrigerators through voice commands.
To enable the automation of the entire office or home space, the electrical switchboards are replaced with these smart boards.
Areas of research
Name of the project: Microgrids Partnership for Sustainable Global Development
Name of the Department: Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIE
Project activation date: July 2015
Name of the Guide, Lead, Facilitator, Team: Giri Venkataramanan (Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Campus, UW Madison), Shamsundar Subbarao (Head, NIE-CREST; Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, NIE)
Technologies used: Microgrid
Creating microgrids partnership for sustainable global development
Currently, over a billion people worldwide do not have access to electricity. Making this one of its top priorities, UN made access to affordable, reliable and sustainable modern energy for all by 2030 one of its main developmental objectives through The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 7).
In line with this objective of providing better access to sustainable energy resources, Centre for Renewable Energy & Sustainable Technologies, NIE, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin–Madison, has been developing an innovative microgrid for remote locations since July 2015 with a funding of 80,000 USD from UW Madison.
What is a microgrid? In simple terms, a microgrid is a small-scale electricity grid with interconnected power generators (such as solar, wind, biodiesel and conventional generators), energy storage devices (such as batteries), and loads (like lights, fans, refrigerators). While a conventional grid requires an engineering workforce to operate it, largely due to its size and complexity, a microgrid can be an autonomous system that can operate with limited human intervention. It is this feature that makes a microgrid attractive and feasible for deployment in remote and rural locations.
Collaboration with the University of Wisconsin–Madison UW Madison researchers have been doing pioneering research in the area of microgrids for 15 years, the results of which have been implemented in several locations across US such as hospitals, military bases and prisons primarily to demonstrate resiliency. Also, researchers have been making consistent effort in building the systems to be more cost effective and compatible with large public electricity supply utilities. There has also been a growing recognition that microgrids are not only suitable for application in advanced economies such as US and Europe, but also in energy starved rural areas in India and Africa.
The project is an effort to address this very need, by developing a pilot project that adapts UW’s microgrid technology to demonstrate a utility in a box, which can be replicated around the world at a modest investment.
The main objectives of the project are to:
  • Develop a labscale ‘utility in a box’ prototype microgrid system
  • Demonstrate and deploy the ‘utility in a box’ microgrid system at a selected field location in Mysuru
  • Develop a vocational educational program on the topic of microgrids to be offered to members from tribal communities
Project Activities
  • A graduate research assistant from UW Madison will work with undergraduate students from UW Madison and NIE under the supervision of respective faculty members to complete the technical tasks involved
  • NIE students and faculty will visit UW Madison (supported by a matching grant from NIE), and vice versa for research
  • A team of student cohorts will be formed to collaborate and facilitate intercultural interactions at both locations. The students will perform the following tasks:
  • build and assemble electrical systems hardware
  • write and manage software
  • develop human interface apps for web/smart phone
  • train educational resource persons from Arivu School in the technology of microgrids
Challenges
A major challenge of the undertaking is to scale up activities and make a mark in the field while sustaining student interest and participation over the long duration of the project. Other challenges include:
  • Further funding for R&D and educational activities
  • Developing human resources for R&D, student teaching and development
  • Engaging the active participation of various stakeholders of the microgrid platform, especially small rural communities
Areas of research
Name of the project - Automated South Indian Cooking machine
Name of the Department – Mechanical Engineering
Name of the Guide, Lead, Facilitator, Team – Dr. Prakash K.R., Mr. Madan G
Artificial Intelligence in cooking
A smart cooking machine developed at NIE is poised to change the cooking experience Automation technology is rapidly evolving into a tool that we can use in our daily lives – such as this Smart Cooking Machine developed by Dr. K.R. Prakash, Ph.D., Professor and Head of the Centre of Automation Technology and Mr. Madan G., Incubation Centre Manager. The machine is designed to be able to cook around 20 recipes of common Indian dishes such as curries, vegetables, etc.
Additionally, it is capable of teaching a person how to cook any of these dishes as well as of enabling a person to cook remotely through the cloud. With adjustable settings such as number of servings, inventory status of the container, detachable containers for easy washing and a refrigerator, the Smart Cooking Machine is poised to kick off a revolution in the culinary world.
Breaking new ground in advanced material research Dr. Nithin Kundachira Subramani has been working in the area of advanced material research and developed a novel technique to quantify UV to visible photonic down-conversion abilities of solids. This invention has led to the development of mechanically flexible UV sensors and reversibly stretchable spectral manipulators, which helps amplify the number of productive photons entering the solar cells and thereby improve conversion efficacies. The research group headed by Dr. Nithin also developed a novel pressure sensitive green polymer for industrial automation and real-time air pressure and temperature monitoring in automobile tyres. One of his research groups is now focussing on the development of green polymer based transparent conducting sheets for opto-electronic applications. Check the following links to access some of the best findings in advanced material research:
  1. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.46854
  2. DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.5b02282
  3. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.5b03652
  4. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-3023-7.ch006
  5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.10.004
Areas of research
Name of the project - Study on effectiveness of Image guided Robot for medical applications
Name of the Department - Mechanical Engineering, NIE
Name of the Guide, Lead, Facilitator– Dr. Prakash K.R.
Technologies used – Robotics, Computational 3D CAD
Armed to Heal Robotics in medicine reach new heights
Robotic arms have been used in the medical field ever since the 1980s in laparoscopies and brain biopsies. However, it was only at the turn of the century that they were introduced in other areas such as otolaryngological, neurosurgery, gynecological, cardiothoracic, gastric, urologic, orthopedic and endoscopy. Medical robotics is continually advancing, and improved techniques are being developed to provide accuracy and stability to surgical procedures that human surgeons cannot provide.
A team at NIE’s Mechanical Department, led by Dr. K.R. Prakash, Ph.D., Professor and Head of the Centre for Automation Technology, is currently engaged in a research study on the effectiveness of image guided medical robots using computational 3D CAD. The objective of the project is to carry out simulations, planning and controlling of the robot for medical applications to ascertain its effectiveness and discover suitable applications.
Areas of research
Name of the project - Agroball
Name of the Department – Mechanical Engineering
Name of the Guide, Lead, Facilitator, Team – Dr. Prakash K.R., Mr. Madan G
Surveillance Technology for Agricultural Monitoring Research at NIE takes agricultural technology to new heights with the Agroball surveillance robot
Three of the biggest problems plaguing mankind in the 21st century are food security, depleting natural resources and climate change. At the heart of all these problems is agriculture. With the global population fast approaching eight billion, agricultural monitoring practices need to be updated to meet our ever-growing needs in terms of efficient production of food crops. Monitoring has traditionally been done by farmers at eye level, a crude process that is time consuming and prone to human error. Dr. Prakash K.R., Ph.D., Professor and Head of the Centre for Automation Technology at NIE, and Mr. Madan G., Incubation Centre Manager, are striving to address this issue with robotic surveillance. They have developed a practically feasible and economical robot, the Agroball, that can independently carry out rapid surveillance of farm lands and collect data on diseases, soil nutrient levels, moisture, temperature, humidity, etc. Currently in the prototype phase, the team has covered 60% of the conceptual work and is close to a practical solution to agricultural monitoring.