The Hindu Business Line : IIT Madras, Bombay tie up with auto cos for low-cost robots

Division of work
IIT Madras would set up a centre of excellence for calibration and validation of robots.
IIT Bombay would carry out modelling, simulation, control algorithms and validation of robots.
Systemantics and Magtorq will manufacture 10 low-cost robots.

Our Bureau

Chennai, Nov 1 IIT Madras and IIT Bombay have entered into an agreement with a consortium of automobile companies to design, development and manufacture of low-cost robots that can be deployed on the shop floor.

The consortium includes vehicle manufacturers: TVS Motor Company and Mahindra and Mahindra; component manufacturers: TVS-Lucas, Sona Koyo and MICO; and robots manufacturer Systemantics Ltd and manufacturer of light weight speed reducers Magtorq Ltd.

The Rs 5.56-crore project will largely be funded through grants from the Department of Science and Technology, with Rs 52.5 lakh being the industry contribution. IIT Madras would set up a centre of excellence for calibration and validation of robots that will focus on design and development of low-cost flexible automation systems through simulation and calibration support. IIT Bombay would carry out modelling, simulation, control algorithms and validation of robots. Systemantics and Magtorq will manufacture 10 low cost robots and two each would be supplied to TVS Motor and the four other companies in the consortium to identify applications and test them on the shop floor.

Phase I

The first phase of this project is expected to be completed in a year. Systemantics and Magtorq can then commercially manufacture these robots. It is understood that robots developed through this project would cost between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 8 lakh, as compared to imported robots now in use in the industry costing Rs 8–20 lakh.

Talking to Business Line on the sidelines of this tie up, Prof M.S. Ananth, Director, IIT Madras shared details of the upcoming research park. The first phase of the IIT Madras research park is likely to be completed by July 2008. The institution has started constructing the first building, a multi-storey tower, he said. Three such towers, each of about 1 lakh sq ft built up area, are planned.

Prof Ananth said that 37 companies have expressed interest in taking up space in the research park. The institute would look at signing up agreements with companies once construction of the first tower is complete. “We expect companies from automobile, information technology, telecom and bio technology to take up space at the park. Eventually manufacturing companies would also show interest,” he said.

Over 5,000 research persons would be deployed in the research park once all three towers are completed, Prof Ananth said.

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