Tech festival clashes with IIT gala, but still draws crowds

The first day of Technovanza at VJTI Matunga saw a huge turnout of visitors despite a similar festival kicking off at IIT-B on the same day. Organisers attributed the turnout to the weekend as well as the loyal Technovanza fans who showed the same enthusiasm for affordable technology as for its richer counterparts.

One of the most impressive and expensive exhibits at Technovanza was the hybrid scooter, which students said could run on both battery and petrol, thus serving as a major money saver. While in India vehicles are fitted with interchangeable conventional fuel and CNG, this would be the first two-wheeler that could run on conventional fuel and battery power.

The fest saw some of the best gadgets competing for supremacy in the Robowars, Sumorobo, and other robot competitions. Though the gadgets were made from basic, everyday materials — even candy sticks and discarded metal objects — the fun and enthusiasm generated during the events was palpable.

Among the exhibits made by the VJTIians was the Hybrid Electric vehicle (HEV) which combines a conventional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) propulsion system with an Electric Propulsion System.

“Conventional ICE vehicles provide good performance and long operating range but have disadvantages of serious environmental pollution and poor fuel economy, especially at low speeds and stop and go traffic. Battery-powered electric vehicles (EV), on the other hand, offer high-energy efficiency and zero emissions,” said Visai Pandian, one of the team members.

Another attraction of the day was the national record-setting performance of Dhruv Suresh from Bangalore who solved the 7x7x7 cube in 3.18 minutes, which. according to Technovanza organisers, is a new national record.