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IIT-M student's underwater robot 'Duli' catches attention of DRDO
By SV KRISHNA CHAITANYA

Published: 13th July 2016 04:22 AM

Last Updated: 13th July 2016 08:38 AM

CHENNAI: With robotics emerging as a major area of focus for military applications, especially the bio-inspired ones, countries across the globe are investing heavily in this domain. But, not many have tasted success so far.



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Duli, the turtle-shaped Robotic Underwater Vehicle; (inset left) Santhosh Ravichandran, who developed the ROV, and his project supervisor Prabhu Rajagopal
However, Santhosh Ravichandran, an MS student specialising on machine design in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Madras, has developed a first-of-its kind turtle shaped Robotic Underwater Vehicle (ROV) with bio-inspired propeller similar to a dolphin fin in just three months.


Called ‘Duli’, a Sanskrit name for a turtle, it had immediately caught the attention of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO). The robot has unique hydrodynamics with exceptional energy efficiency and camouflage abilities suited for carrying out of underwater SEAL operations. It can do visual inspection withstanding the undercurrent of the ocean, it is claimed.

Project supervisor and associate professor at IIT-M Prabhu Rajagopal said a DRDO lab was in talks. “They wanted us to install their own sensors and do certain modifications to suit military requirements,” he said.

Santhosh said the currently available underwater robots are predominantly operated with mechanical thrusters, which gives only 30% energy efficiency (read output to input), while Duli with bio-inspired flap movement will give 70% efficiency similar to biological organisms like dolphins.

“We have exhibited the prototype at Underwater Interventions expo in United States in February this year. US navy, which is a participant, was all praise for our product and actually am in touch with them for any technical assistance. They also now plan to start a bio-inspired robotics programme,” Santhosh said.

Rajagopal, who is also the director of Plany’s Technologies, a spin-off start-up providing robotic services to port and shipping industry, said the product was still at preliminary stage and needed a lot of on-field testing to address several practical problems that might arise, but all the basics are covered. An autonomous version would be ready in a few months.

The novelty of the Duli is bio-inspired tail that could be used for rapid long motion which is eco-friendly. It will do sensitive jobs like surveying coral reefs without causing any disturbance to marine life. The mechanical pectoral thrusters are used only for manoeuvring. Usually bio-inspired designs suffer from complexities in control systems such as under-actuation, lower manoeuvrability.

Rajagopal said optimal shape of the caudal fin and its driving mechanism is currently being researched using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations validated by experiments. Efforts are on to improve the hydrodynamic and mechanical dynamic performance of the vehicle with an improved hull design for robustness in a wide variety of applications.
 
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DRDO Tanks And Missile Show At Parliament


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Looks like a coup attempt in India.:lol:
A similar sight in Turkey or Pakistan would be cause for concern :P


Good to see the DRDO showcasing its products for the honourable members of Parliament but that paint job on the Kestral is god-awful.
Exactly my thoughts.:D
And that Kestral is a wonderful example of camouflage as the natural terrain of Delhi is indeed green and yellow.:rofl:
 
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DRDO Tanks And Missile Show At Parliament


CoyHP8vWEAAUquk.jpg

indian-army-personnel-stand-on-a-tank-on-display-in-front-of-house-picture-id584929056

an-indian-army-official-arranges-a-cover-on-a-tank-in-fromt-of-house-picture-id584929050

tank-and-other-weapons-on-display-at-parliament-house-on-august-1-in-picture-id585041628

supersonic-brahmos-missiles-are-seen-at-the-parliament-house-premises-picture-id585041616
supersonic-brahmos-missiles-are-seen-at-the-parliament-house-premises-picture-id585041618

tank-and-other-weapons-on-display-at-parliament-house-on-august-1-in-picture-id585041632

an-indian-army-official-polishes-a-military-armoured-vehicle-in-fromt-picture-id584929054
Is the 12x12 and 8X8 both tatra? and Right hand Drive?

Also wish they displayed the Arjun Mk2

and Agree the Camo for the Kestral is hideous - looks like it is the paint was - what was left in the cupboard! :sarcastic:
 
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Looks like a coup attempt in India.:lol:
Oh god, not another one, I still haven't got over 2012's coup :cheesy:


Exactly my thoughts.:D
And that Kestral is a wonderful example of camouflage as the natural colour of delhi's terrain is indeed green and yellow.:rofl:
The IA really needs to sort this out. Their camo/paint schemes across platforms (armoured vehicles, aviation assets, support vehicles etc) is impractical and rather childish.

They should adopt a simple paint scheme (solid colour throughout) depending on the terrain eg:

Desert:

Abrams-transparent.png


Jungle:

Challenger_2_Tank_Firing_a_Shell_MOD_45157421.jpg




What they currently have looks ridiculous.

Is the 12x12 and 8X8 both tatra? and Right hand Drive?

Also wish they displayed the Arjun Mk2

and Agree the Camo for the Kestral is hideous - looks like it is the paint was - what was left in the cupboard! :sarcastic:
The Pinaka MBRL and Brahmos TEL are both TATRA based (for now). And yes, all newer TATRAs are made in India and RHD.
 
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Oh god, not another one, I still haven't got over 2012's coup :cheesy:



The IA really needs to sort this out. Their camo/paint schemes across platforms (armoured vehicles, aviation assets, support vehicles etc) is impractical and rather childish.

They should adopt a simple paint scheme (solid colour throughout) depending on the terrain eg:

Desert:

Abrams-transparent.png


Jungle:

Challenger_2_Tank_Firing_a_Shell_MOD_45157421.jpg




What they currently have looks ridiculous.
And that applies to the men in uniform too.
ITBP has the most logical camouflage in the Ladakh terrain. Here in Rajasthan its always the traditional green camouflage.
Even the US troops has better/suitable uniform camouflage during the "Yudh Abhyas" exercises.
 
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And that applies to the men in uniform too.
ITBP has the most logical camouflage in the Ladakh terrain. Here in Rajasthan its always the traditional green camouflage.
Even the US troops has better/suitable uniform camouflage during the "Yudh Abhyas" exercises.
IA troops wearing their standard green DPM in deserts has never made sense to me. The IA just doesn't have its act together is all I can say. A bloated organism that has gone too long between(conventional) conflicts.
 
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Oh god, not another one, I still haven't got over 2012's coup :cheesy:



The IA really needs to sort this out. Their camo/paint schemes across platforms (armoured vehicles, aviation assets, support vehicles etc) is impractical and rather childish.

They should adopt a simple paint scheme (solid colour throughout) depending on the terrain eg:

Desert:

Abrams-transparent.png


Jungle:

Challenger_2_Tank_Firing_a_Shell_MOD_45157421.jpg

Exactly.

And look at that BrahMos TEL. It looks like some kid had pasted stickers on it at play...
 
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