i-Cell is forum for the students to think.

The College has an active Innovative-Cell (I-Cell) which gives the students an excellent platform to put forward their innovative ideas. This cell conducts various training programmes to transform the staff and students’ ideas into a new product/process. It guides the innovators to protect their ideas through patents. This provides an opportunity study of economics, business, entrepreneurship, design, technology, sociology, and engineering. It is a place for people to change the way they make decisions, they must choose to do things differently, make choices outside of their norm.

Some Projects :

1. Key Pod

   In the past three decades, we witnessed tremendous improvements in computing devices. During each stage of development, the size of computing devices is reduced. But the number of keys in keyboard is not. Our aim is to reduce the number of keys in the keyboard as well as the complexity of its usage. In current scenario, the mobile phone users are enormous than that of the computers. Of all facilities (like voice calls and messaging, etc) most users (especially students) prefer messaging. Such users are not interested in typing with keyboards, because they are accustomed to mobile keypad. Some users feel even writing is also more complicated and boring than typing messages with mobile keypad in T9(Text in 9 keys) dictionary mode. Due to frequent usage, they send messages faster in mobiles. After heavy analysis and research made, we had thought of creating a compact and user friendly keyboard that would be handled easily by all users. Also we had a thought of incorporating the usage of mouse in this new keypad like keyboard and is named as “KEYPOD". We are sure that ours will be the next generation keyboard.

2. Automatic safety braking mechanism

This project, an application of both electronics and mechanical engineering (Mechatronics) aims to prevent collisions with stationary/moving obstacles on the roads under any condition. In this project, an ultrasonic sensor senses obstacles ahead of the vehicle and processed to evaluate certain conditions. Based on the evaluated result, instruction is given to the actuator to brake. This can be implements in automatic or manual transmission vehicles (four wheelers) to avoid loss of life due to head on collisions.

The proposed system can be implemented in any four wheeler by making slight required modifications. At present no four wheeler in India has an automatic braking system. Our system ensures more safety and will not act as a hindrance at traffic signals. Many will be benefited since it provides more safety as in a luxury car in an economical way. In future, our system can be integrated with ABS (Anti Lock Braking System) for more efficiency.

3. Device to help blind read SMSes

i-Cell activities 2009-10

• The I-Cell have been regularly conducting discussions and meetings. These are well attended by staff & students with lots of interaction.

• Best projects done in the academic year 2008-09 were selected and prizes were awarded under I-Cell and this will be continued in the future also. http://chennaionline.com/cityfeature/chennai/may09/12brimming-with-creativity.aspx

• Yuvaraj Pandian T, II Year CSE presented a lightning talk on Reapply Python Frame work at PyCon India '09, Bangalore.

• Kannan R III ECE, Roshan S.A III MECH , Pragash Nath Velu III AERO , Diwakar III AERO , Vignesh S III MECH , Anish Amalraj Antony III ECE were semifinalists in Robowar in Techfest 2010, IIT Bombay During 22-24 Jan,2010.

• Rajesh.E III year ECE, Dharanidharan.K II year CSE Karthikeyan.S II year MECH, Diwakar III AERO , Participated in aeromodelling competition 'Black Bird’ and attended Aeromodelling workshop at Techfest2010, IIT Bombay , During 22-24 Jan,2010.

• R.RajKumar and U.Mohandas IV CSE, were awarded Runners up at 'CII & COGNIZANT INNOVATOR 2009 CONTEST’ conducted during 12-13 Feb,2010 for their project KEYPOD.

• Yuvaraj,II CSE won the First place in 'CLASS INNOVATION" at Kurukshetra 2010, Anna University, Chennai.

• Python software workshop conducted for the i-cell members on 9th January, 2010 by Mr. Kausikram Krishnasayee, Lead Developer, Silver Stripe Software & Dorai Thodla, Founder, iMorph inc., USA.