DRDO roadmap for Rs 600-crore Nano Foundry ready

| By Anantha Krishnan M. | AVIATION WEEK |

Bangalore |  India | December 16, 2010 |

India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has unveiled a road map to tap the immense potential of nanotechnology, including a Rs 600 crore ($133.3 million) nano foundry to be established in either Bangalore or Hyderabad, in partnership with the country’s premier academic institutions. W. Selvamurthi, DRDO’s head of life science research and development, tells Aviation Week that the proposed foundry would primarily focus on three areas: composites, sensors and electrodes. “Our labs in India are already working on nanocomposite coatings for anti-corrosive applications and also developing biosensors in aid of soldiers during a war,” Selvamurthi says. “The foundry will help the fabrications of products that are coming out of DRDO labs, in mass scale.”

To become a blog member,

click on the logo below.

To read the complete report,

visit the AW link below.

To go back in time and space & witness

a Wright flight, hit the logo below.  

Things with wings: Indian aerospace scientists developing MAV/NAVs that bio-mimic birds & dragonflies

Indian aerospace scientists are bio-mimicking  birds and dragonflies while developing MAV/NAVs. Photo of dragonfly: Baburajan Thekkan

 | Bangalore | India | August 23, 2010

Indian aerospace scientists and designers are drawing inspiration from birds and insects such as the dragonfly in developing micro air vehicles (MAV) and nano air vehicles (NAV) that are smaller, smarter and more efficient.

In fact, some experts in the field say future MAVs and NAVs will resemble birds more than an aircraft.

Even so, a top expert with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) says it is a huge challenge for scientists to accurately mimic birds and insects. “The energy efficiency of birds is huge. Some birds eat less and digest their fat,” says Dr. Prahlada, chief controller for aeronautical research and development for DRDO. “Our biggest problem with MAVs will be powerplants, and hence we may even need to look at biobatteries. Rather, biomimicking a battery, and that’s what we are now putting our heads together [on].”

In order to fly with minimum weight, experts think biomimicking batteries will be the most effective strategy.

 For the full story, please visit:

http://www.aviationweek.com/india

Join the movement for unsung heroes:

 www.inspiredindianfoundation.org