Date:13/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/13/stories/2007031302380200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Miniature robots steal the show at `Mechanica 2007'

Staff Reporter

Events galore at IIT-Madras delight audiences and participants alike

CROWD-PULLER: A participant operates his tiny car by a remote control at the `Formula 1' event at `Mechanica 2007' in IIT-Madras on Sunday. — Photo: N. Sridharan

CHENNAI: Tiny robots took centre stage at `Mechanica 2007', organised at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras on Sunday.

Audiences watched with sheer delight as around 110 robots, mentored by their creators, featured in a robotic version of a soccer contest — the `Robo Soccer'.

Several competitors managed to host a car race at the push of a remote button. New event `Formula 1' had eight teams who operated little engines with remote controls. The event had everyone in awe, as these tiny machines operated almost like cars. They could negotiate a rough road just like real cars.

About 250 participants, including colleges from across the country, participated in various events.

`Des Mod', an event where students attempted to showcase professional software, stole the show. Interesting events such as `Project X' `Contraptions' and `Robotics' were crowd-pullers as always.

Quiz contests

There were also several events for quiz wizards. While the `Mechanic Main Quiz' caught the participants unaware with tough questions to crack, events such as `How Things Work' and `Puzzle Championship' had them brainstorming for answers.

Another bunch of whizz-kids proved their mettle at various design contests such as `Innovations', `E-Design' and `Simulation Championship'. Winners of the competitions were rewarded with a total prize money of Rs.1 lakh.

M.S. Shunmugam, head of department, Mechanical Engineering Department, IIT Madras, said every budding mechanical engineer must take part in `Mechanica' to gain exposure.