For the first time since its launch, a team representing a polytechnic college made it to the finals at the Indian Institute of Technology - Bombay’s annual e-Yantra Robotics Competition, edging past several engineering colleges on its way.
Even though this team of four from Madurai’s Tamil Nadu Polytechnic College missed out on the first prize and hence a chance to secure an internship with IIT-B, members said they were pleased with the experience it gained participating in the project-based learning event.
Competing in the Warehouse Management category under this year’s central theme, “Urban Services,” the team comprising Muthu Maniyappan G, Prashanth K, Guru Narayanan M and Sundervelan, stood third. Aged between 17 and 21 years, all four are second year students in the computer science stream.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We are happy that we came this far in a competition where 32 out of 33 finalists were from engineering colleges and this event is considered to be their domain. As polytechnic students, we too study technology but we are more focused on the practical application which is put to test,” Prashanth told
And while the boys feel that their success would encourage more polytechnic teams to compete in the future, none of them plans to get into robotics or research. As for their next move, they have choices ranging from ethical hacking to taking up a job or go for an engineering admission after completing their diplomas.
According to organisers, the robotics competition has always encouraged inter-disciplinary participation and in the past, too, polytechnic colleges have registered. Under its e-Yantra Lab Setup Initiative (eLSI), IIT-B helps colleges across the country to set up robotics labs by providing guidance and starter robotic kits. West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are two States which have agreed to provide additional grants to colleges run by them for setting up the infrastructure.
ADVERTISEMENT