Robotics a big draw at Techfest

The 22nd edition of Techfest, the annual technology festival of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) under way at the institute’s Powai campus, attracted several robotics enthusiasts studying in schools and colleges across the city.

Events like Robowars, in which robots from across the globe battled each other proved to be huge hits.

Tanay Pradhan, an 11-year-old student from Lodha World School, said, “I have been coming here for the past four years. I am very fond of robotics and looking at the exhibits gives me ideas for inventions. The most interesting exhibit this year was Furhat Robotics.”

Thane resident Meghna Achrekar (20) is also interested in how robots operate. “It is really interesting to see the advances in robotics technology every year,” she said.

Some of the big draws at the festival have been Furhat, the Swedish robot capable of human interactions; B-Human, a soccer-playing robot team from Germany; and Magni, a robot that lifts heavy objects.

Preben Wik, co-founder, Furhat Robotics, Sweden, said, “The humanoid we have innovated can change its features to different genders. It has been implemented in international airports as well. In a European project, we have children play with objects, such as building blocks, and have a robot interact with them on how to assemble the parts.”

While robots attracted most eyeballs, the Indian Army’s exhibit of ammunition and artillery equipment also generated a lot of interest.