The Centre for System Design (CSD) at NITK Surathkal successfully hosted the e-Yantra Introduction to Robotics Workshop for faculty members of technical institutes on February 14–15, 2020. Organized under the e-Yantra Robotics Lab Setup Initiative (eLSI), the workshop aimed to equip faculty members with the knowledge and skills necessary to establish robotics labs in their institutions.
e-Yantra, a flagship project funded by the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT) - MHRD, Government of India, and implemented by IIT Bombay, focuses on promoting hands-on learning in robotics. The project supports the setup of robotics labs and trains faculty members to drive these initiatives in engineering and polytechnic institutions across India.
The workshop at CSD witnessed participation from over 40 faculty members representing 18 institutions from Karnataka, Kerala, and Goa. The sessions were conducted by Mr. Arjun Sadananda and Mr. Nitesh Singla, resource persons from the e-Yantra initiative at IIT Bombay. The program offered a mix of theoretical discussions on robotics concepts and practical hands-on experimentation with robotics kits.
Nurturing Future Engineers
This workshop served as an important step for participating institutions to transform into Nodal Centres for the e-Yantra project by setting up dedicated robotics labs on their campuses. The project’s ultimate goal is to nurture a new generation of skilled engineers through experiential learning, robust infrastructure, and well-trained faculty across the country.
CSD became a Nodal Centre for the e-Yantra initiative in 2019, with Dr. Yashwant Kashyap from the Department of EEE serving as the institution-level coordinator. Dr. K.V. Gangadharan, Head of CSD, emphasized NITK’s commitment to supporting regional colleges in implementing the e-Yantra lab setup initiative.
The workshop demonstrated CSD’s dedication to fostering collaboration, innovation, and capacity building in technical education, laying the groundwork for advanced robotics education in the region.
About e-Yantra
Mission: Transform institutions into Nodal Centres by setting up dedicated robotics labs.
CSD’s Role: Became a Nodal Centre in 2019, with Dr. Yashwant Kashyap (EEE Department) as coordinator.
Key Highlights
Dr. K.V. Gangadharan, Head of CSD, reiterated NITK’s commitment to supporting regional colleges in adopting the e-Yantra initiative.
The workshop emphasized collaboration, innovation, and capacity-building in technical education, advancing robotics in the region.