Game-Changer Defence Projects Under Development By IITs

The Indian Institutes of Technologies (IITs) collaborates with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to develop many technologies for defence purposes. The Indian Institutes of Technologies (IITs) are developing several cutting-edge defence technologies, from explosion-proof buildings to sensor-equipped uniforms. In collaboration with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), IITs are developing many game-changer defence projects. Projects Under Development by IITs Some of the projects IIT carried out in collaboration with his DRDO: Blast-resistant designBallistic helmetUnmanned underwater vehicleAerostatTerahertz technology Blast-Resistant Design Example of the blast-resistant wall panel. (credits: alpinemfg) They are used as a coating on buildings, bridges, and overpasses to protect against collapse and severe damage during blasts. Tanusree Chakraborty, an associate professor in the PhD, explains that during an explosion, the voids in the material absorb the blow, causing the material to shrink in volume. This material will be used in armoured vehicles, tunnels, ammunition depots, etc. If a tank with a layer of this material moves over a mine, as much as 80 per cent of the impact will be absorbed by the material. Ballistic Helmet New Ballistic Helmets for Indian Army. (Credits: BodyArmor news) The helmet used by the Indian Army only protects the soldiers from splinters, stones and bullets, which only graze the helmet and do not directly hit the soldier. However, helmets made by IIT Delhi contain layers of various materials, such as ceramic and cellular foam, that dull projectile to slow them down and absorb energy. Professor Puneet Mahajan, Applied Mechanics, IIT-Delhi, says he has tested several types of materials. The new helmet ensures that the bullet has a rear signature, which is the deformation of the helmet caused by the bullet, which leads to injuries to soldiers. Unmanned Underwater vehicle Unmanned underwater vehicle. (Credits: livefistdefence) An Indian Navy officer studying at IIT-Delhi works with Botlab Private Limited to design these vehicles. Ishaq Makkar of the Department of Naval Architecture and Applied Mechanics, IIT Delhi, explains that these machines can provide better information and images to ships underwater than naval divers. "Once a diver is underwater, he can only stay for a few hours. He doesn't have the right technical expertise, so the report he makes when he returns home will be incomplete. But with a UUV, it's seeing what you can see," says Makkar. IIT Delhi is developing its two UUVs, Hydrocopter and Nemo. The hydrocopter can be used for underwater surveys of the hull to check for damage. Nemo is used for mine detection. Work is also underway to place payloads on these UUVs. Aerostat Israeli Aerostat Radar system, for representation (credits: BlogSpot) The Aerostat is an airship or hot air balloon that can be equipped with a high-definition camera and used for surveillance along the borders of India. Aerostats are similar to unmanned aerial vehicles but are a cheaper option even compared to satellite imagery. The Aerostat hovers at an altitude of about 1 kilometre, resulting in much higher resolution images. For understanding it better, let's look at the Israeli High Availability Aerostat System (HAAS). The Israeli "Tal Shamaim" is an Aerostat with improved sensing systems. It provides detection and early warning of cruise missiles and other threats aimed at the country. US missile defence agency also helped in its development. Terahertz technology Terahertz Technology as a military deterrent. (credits: TeraSense) Terahertz technology enables the detection of liquid explosives mixed with harmless liquids. For example, an explosive in a water bottle. It can also detect explosives inside the human body. "This technology can detect explosives up to 50m away before the person carrying them approaches the airport security checkpoint," Basu said. Terahertz devices emit waves reflected into the device by objects in their field of view. As a military deterrent for safe crowd control, this technology has many applications for providing security to the military installation as an active denial system. The technique employs millimetre waves that considerably heat the thin top layer of human skin (only 0.4mm), having a non-lethal impact on human skin. Projects Whose Information Is Not Available (Credits: Anonymous) There are many projects whose information is not properly available. These projects, while seemingly insignificant, are going to have an immense impact on the battlefields of the future. The following are a few of those projects currently under development. Cross Flow Flapping Jets for Supersonic Mixing Enhancement (IIT Jodhpur)Establishment of Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility and Heat Flux Measurements Over Payload Configurations (IIT Kanpur)Fluidic Thrust Vectoring of a Supersonic Jet (IIT Kanpur)Study of Guided Wave Propagation Through Microstructure of Polycrystalline Material (IIT Kharagpur)Design and Development of a Reconfigurable Electrochemical Machining Centre for Rocket Shells (IIT Kanpur)Development and Implementation of Non-Gray Radiative Model for Combustion Applications (IIT Mandi)Development and Implementation of Non-Gray Radiative Model for Combustion Applications (IIT BHU) Although India still lags behind when it comes to investing in research and development, we are rapidly catching up. Remember, these are just a handful of highly futuristic technologies under development by IITs only. Many NITs, IISc, IIITs, IIST and other highly accomplished technology institutes are also doing significant research on these topics. If you are interested in knowing more about it, follow the link!