Knowing the nitty-gritty of Ornithopters

Chennai–based Vel Tech University organises a workshop for students on Ornithopters. Ornithopters are flying devices like drones having specific applications in the defence sector.

Students trying to fly Ornithopters, built from modular kits given to them, at a workshop conducted by Vel Tech University in Vijayawada on Thursday.— Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

The Chennai–based Vel Tech University (VTU) gave a fascinating insight into the world of Ornithopters in a workshop held for students in the city on Thursday.

Ornithopters are flying devices like drones having specific applications in the defence sector.

On the occasion, VTU vice-president K.V.D. Kishore Kumar said Ornithopters were bird-mimicking objects which have a wide variety of uses.

The VUT, he said, in association with Victoria University, Canada and Tamkang University, Taiwan launched a programme for full-field health monitoring of long bridges and heritage structures using Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles under the aegis of IC IMPACTS (India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnerships to Accelerate Community Transformation and Sustainability).

It was a first-of-its-kind effort whose results would be useful in ensuring safety and integrity of several structures in the country, especially those located in inaccessible regions.

Mr. Kumar told

The Hindu that VTU has started M.Tech (aeronautical engineering), a specialisation with unmanned aerial vehicles in association with UCAL-JAP (UCAL Fuel Systems Ltd. – Jahagirdar Aero Products). A few institutions are offering this course now.

The objective of the workshop was to encourage students to come up with new ideas and learn from new concepts like the devices that were showed in vivid detail.