The Department of Aeronautical Engineering at Gopalan College of Engineering and Management (GCEM) collaborated with Aero Innovation & Skill Centre of the Aeronautical Society of India – Bangalore Branch to organize GOAERO 2K23, a National Level Intercollegiate Aero Techno-Cultural Fest on 10th and 11th April, 2023. The event was supported by Gopalan Aerospace, Bumblebee, Spranktronics, Vinayaka Energy Tek, Edall Systems, INDLAB Equipment’s, New Tech Engineers, Captronic Systems, and Aeolus Aerotech. The event witnessed the participation of over 300 students from 36 Engineering colleges hailing from 10 states of the country. Eminent personalities, including researchers, academicians, and technocrats in the Aerospace domain, graced the occasion with their presence and delivered technical talks.
The festival began with an Inaugural Ceremony on April 10th, which was graced by Dr. S V Ramana Murty, Director of the Gas Turbine Research Establishment of DRDO, as the Chief Guest. Dr. Murty delivered a keynote address on “Technology Requirements for Advanced Aero Gas Turbine Engines”, where he emphasized that advanced aero gas turbine engines require cutting-edge technology to achieve higher levels of efficiency, performance, and reliability. He explained that some of the key technology requirements include advanced materials and coatings, improved combustion systems, optimized cooling techniques, advanced control systems, and better sensors for engine health monitoring. Dr. Murty further elaborated that these advancements can help reduce emissions, increase fuel efficiency, and enhance the overall performance of aircraft engines.
Prof. S N Omkar, Chief Research Scientist at IISc, Bangalore, was the Guest of Honor and delivered a technical talk on Drone Computing. He discussed the applications of Drone Computing in various fields, such as manufacturing, agriculture, energy management, environmental monitoring, medical and healthcare, and transportation. He also explained the phases of drone computing, including radio control, GPS-based autonomy, and UAVs for low altitude applications in GPS-denied environments. Moreover, he spoke on a real-time drone surveillance system for identifying violent individuals using a Scatternet Hybrid Deep Learning Network.
During the ceremony our beloved, Dr. C Prabhakar, General Secretary of Gopalan Foundation, presided over the event and briefed attendees on the technologies available at Gopalan Aerospace. He appreciated the role of GTRE in developing advanced aero gas turbine engines and wished participants from various colleges the best of luck. Shri C Kalaivanan, Vice-Chairman of Aeronautical Society of India, Bangalore Branch, briefed attendees on the accomplishments of the society. Dr. G Purushotham, Head of the Aeronautical Engineering Department, presented an overview of the department, while Mr. Saviraj A S, Convener of GOAERO 2K23, hosted the event. Ms. Anupama M Augustine, Student Organizer of GOAERO 2K23, delivered the welcome address, and Dr. Basavaraju C, Principal of GCEM, proposed the vote of thanks.
Following the inaugural ceremony, a series of technical events, including a Technical Quiz, Ideathon, Paper Presentation, 3D Modeling, Water Rocket, Hoverpod, Game of Drones, And Innovative Project Exhibition, were held which witnessed active participation from aero enthusiasts across various engineering disciplines.
On April 11th, 2023, a seminar series on Advancements in Aerospace Engineering was arranged, with speakers from various domains of aerospace delivering technical talks to an audience of students and professionals in the field. The first speaker was Mr. Harsha R, Lead Mechanical Engineer at Boeing India, who spoke on the topic of “Aerospace Industry - An Overview”. During his talk, Mr. Harsha discussed the various phases of aircraft manufacturing, the different airframers involved in the process, and new trends in aviation, such as additive manufacturing, air taxi, and thrust reversal. He also discussed some of the projects carried out at Boeing India and highlighted the career opportunities available in the aviation industry for Aeronautical, Mechanical, Computer Science, and Electronics engineers.
The second speaker was Wg. Cdr. Gopakumar B R (Retd.), who delivered a talk on “Flight Testing - An Overview in the field of Aviation”. He spoke about the Cooper-Harper Scale, the Speed vs. Load Factor diagram, and the airborne warning and control system. He also discussed the challenges involved in designing an aircraft with a radar fixed on its top.
The third speaker was Mr. Prakash Rao, a Retd. Outstanding Scientist from ISRO, who gave a talk on “Space 2.0”. During his talk, Mr. Rao explained some of the challenges involved in space technology and discussed how spacecraft can be made to sustain for longer periods without maintenance. He also talked about the development of new technologies and systems that can make space exploration more efficient and sustainable.
After the seminar series, there were several cultural events organized for the participants, including a Treasure Hunt, Aerial Photography, Aircraft Sketching, Face Painting, Solo and Group Dance, and a Fashion Show. The events saw active participation from students across the country.
The Valedictory Ceremony was presided over by Dr. R Karunamoorthy, the Academic Administrator of Gopalan College of Engineering and Management, and featured Shri Ashok Aseri, the Vice Chairman of Aeronautical Society of India – Bangalore Branch, as the Chief Guest. Other dignitaries present at the ceremony included Shri C Kalaivanan, AeSI-BB, Dr. Basavaraju C, the Principal of GCEM, Dr. G Ramesh, the Dean Research at GCEM, Dr. G Purushotham, the HoD of Aeronautical Engineering, and Mr. Saviraj A S, the Convener of GOAERO 2K23. Prizes were distributed to the winners of the various events, and Gopalan School of Architecture & Planning was declared the Overall Champions.
The event concluded with a Flash Mob by the students of Aeronautical Engineering, GCEM, and a DJ Night by DJ Harry D'Cruz.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our management and principle for providing us with the chance to organise the two-day Tech Fest GOAERO-2K23.
