Tag: connectivity

IIT Kharagpur launches PUBBS: 4th Generation Public Bicycle Sharing Systems

IIT Kharagpur launches 4th generation “Make in India”  Public Bicycle Sharing system including a smart electro-mechanical IOT module for locking bicycles and its software. Integrated Hardware, Software and Firmware development for a fully automatic bicycle lock and a cloud-based sharing system which is freely available on a subscription basis so that the system can be setup by private individuals without specialized equipment and personnel. This project is funded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and involves pilot-scale demonstration within the IIT Campus.  Dr. Subhas Sarkar, Minister of State for Education inaugurated the Public Bicycle Share System in the presence of Prof. V K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur; Prof. Amit Patra, Deputy Director IIT Kharagpur; Prof. Debapratim Pandit, Department of Architecture & Regional Planning, and other dignitaries.

PUBBS being a provider of a product-service system for enabling a smart and hassle free public bicycle sharing system that prepares the bicycle for a sustainable future presents the following products, developed indigenously for enabling the service. One bicycle sharing app connects multiple PUBBS operator. Some of its important features are listed below:

  1. GSM/GPRS/GPS Manual Lock – features GSM/GPS/Communication; GPS Location tracking; theft detection with GPS location; energy efficient hardware design; enhanced battery life.
  2. GSM/GPRS/GPS Manual Lock- features GSM/GPS/Communication; GPS Location tracking; efficient locking and unlocking with robotic hardware driver; energy efficient hardware design; enhanced battery life.
  3. BLE Semi Automatic – BLE Communication; GPS Location tracking from user device; update circuit and battery protection; energy efficient hardware design; enhanced battery life.
  4. BLE Auto Lock – BLE Communication; GPS Location & operations Tracking from user device update circuit and battery protection; efficient locking & unlocking with robotic hardware driver; enhanced battery life.

Prof. V K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur, remarked, “PUBBS is the first Make in India smart lock for bicycle/e-bike sharing system. Currently, we have manufactured our first batch of smart locks (Bluetooth based) and we plan to deploy the system for the benefit of guests at the Technology Guest House.  We will make the system available free of charge initially for a few weeks and then make it available at a minor charge which will be fixed. PUBBS was also demonstrated at IInvenTiv 2024. A separate project proposal will be prepared before deploying the system on a commercial basis.”

Features of PUBBS User App:

  • Station and Individual Bicycle Detection
  • Advanced Operator Detection
  • You can take a break when on ride using the hold function anywhere in the service area
  • View Ride History
  • You can connect with the app through Bluetooth, or via GSM
  • Customized subscription plans and operational constraints like: Maximum Hold Time or Maximum Ride time

The PI of the project Prof. Debapratim Pandit, Department of Architecture & Regional Planning, IIT Kharagpur remarked, “Multiple variants of the product are created including Bluetooth based, GSM-GPS based, Semi-automatic and Fully-automatic. The product offers extensive customization options based on product and operator requirements. This product will enhance last mile connectivity, reduce travel time and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The product has the potential to promote entrepreneurship where the rental/sharing system can be deployed using our cloud-based services with limited technical knowhow.”

City Future Research group (www.arp.iitkgp.ac.in/cfl) of the Architecture & Regional Planning at IIT Kharagpur has also present PUBBS Transit v2.0, India’s first Integrated Planning and Operation Software for Bus Transit Operators. This software can be used for building solutions synonymous to current manual practices of depot and route level bus operations and management, with the advantages of artificial intelligence, information technology, and data visualization (https://youtu.be/IsiD1oovee8).

Highlights:

  1. The software is designed to reduce the operation cost of all buses for each trip for each route from each terminal while improving passenger comfort.
  2. System is flexible to work on various levels of ITS infrastructure (On board driver console, CCTV cameras within buses and bus stops and APC modules within buses).
  3. Real time bus dispatch and control system for operators at terminals.
  4. The software features include frequency setting, timetable development, bus scheduling, crew rostering etc.

The project is funded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, SRIC Project Code: UBA (“An intelligent urban bus transit dispatch, control and surveillance system using artificial intelligence and user perception”). The theory development, algorithms, python programs and the software interfaces are all developed by the students, project staff and interns who have worked on this project over the last 3-4 years. Th detail capabilities of the program are listed in the website. (Website: www.pubbs.co.in)

Link for Live demonstration:

https://youtu.be/WP7afvqxSWE

Media Coverage:

Times of India Telegraph News 18 Bangla
Economic Times Statesman Republic World
Economic Times (Auto) The Print The Week
Bizz Bizz India.Com Tech Expert

 

                                           Dainik Jagran


Inputs by: Prof. Debapratim Pandit, Department of Architecture & Regional Planning IIT Kharagpur 
Email: debapratim@arp.iitkgp.ac.in

Edited By: Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

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The many ways of ‘giving’

A warm smile playing on her lips, Sushmita Sur of the 1980 batch made an unusual disclosure at the interactive session, “Be the change-maker”, at the 17th Annual Alumni Meet. Her daughter had just joined the faculty at the Institute’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering. “There are different ways of giving back and having your children continue your legacy and contribute to the Institute is just another way,” said the proud mother. Her statement was greeted with thunderous applause and outside the Bhatnagar auditorium, she was thronged by her batchmates who took their turns to congratulate her.

Mr. Mihir Biswas from the 1955 batch at the 17th AAM

Some hours before this session at Bhatnagar, Mihir Biswas, the seniormost alumni member – from the 1955 batch – could be found enjoying the sun at the arena after a scrumptious breakfast. “I am here because the nostalgic value of this place is immense. I always love to come here…But it is special to come during the Annual Alumni Meet when you can meet a lot of people.” Since 1962, Biswas and his friends have been meeting at an informal ‘adda’ every Sunday at the Kwality restaurant in Kolkata. The numbers have dwindled, but Biswas is unwilling to let go. “I have tried my best to revive it, but it hasn’t helped. The Kwality has become an address for us and we need to revive it. But you must understand, old men like us can hardly do much.”

This is his own way of ‘giving back’ to his alma mater – seeing to it that the alumni keep in touch and that the old mingle with the young.

During the session, Prof. Cheruvu Siva Kumar, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and part of the 1995 batch, talked about two more unusual ways of ‘giving back’ that he said is not much talked about. Dr Suhas Patil (1965 batch) and Arjun Malhotra (1970 batch) were part of the group of alumni who conceptualized and then funded the project of bringing network connectivity to the entire campus. “Thanks to them, we have wifi connectivity in every hostel room,” said Prof. Kumar who was part of the design and implementation team.

‘Be the Change-maker’ session at Bhatnagar auditorium

Prof. Kumar also drew attention to a more recent intervention by the alumni – the donation of the customized ambulance last year by several alumni from the IITKGP Foundation of USA. “The ambulance was designed by our alumni and they retrofitted it with features that did not exist in any ambulance. And now, one hears, this has become a standard for other ambulances,” pointed out Prof. Kumar.

Indeed. The Rs 40-lakh ambulance is equipped with transport ventilator, defibrillator, syringe pump, suction pump, fully-regulated oxygen supply system, ECG monitor, and gadgets to monitor blood pressure, oxygen saturation in blood and respiratory and rates. It also has a foldable stretcher trolley, dedicated batteries and alternators for uninterrupted power supply and air-conditioning. Delhi-based alumnus Achin Juneja, engaged by the IIT Kharagpur Foundation, installed the gadgets in the ambulance.

Ms. Sushmita Sur (extreme right)

Prof. Kumar had another idea of how the alumni can give back. “The alumni should become part of the Alumni Affairs Office. Can we not use our professional and social connections to organize a state-of-the-art conclave?” he asked. His question was greeted with polite murmur throughout the auditorium that showed that it had hit its mark and set minds ticking.

“I come from an agricultural family that believes that it takes seven generations to repay a favour or debt,” said M. Chandra Sekhar, from the batch of 1995. This senior IPS officer who heads the anti-corruption bureau of Bengaluru said that he is immensely grateful to IIT Kharagpur that had given him the confidence and never-say-die attitude that is valued in his line of duty. “Whatever little way I can help, I will certainly try to do my best. I would like to improve the living conditions of students. They should feel comfortable and gain in confidence,” said Mr. Chandra Sekhar, who had donated substantially prior to the meet.

‘Be the Change-maker’ session in progress

Echoing his thoughts were his batchmates. Mr. Subhendu Mondal was one of them. As a Hall and Department topper in sports, Mr. Mondal wanted to drastically improve the sporting facilities in the Azad Hall. He promised to rally his batchmates to do something about it. Many others from the batch of 1995 promised to either strengthen the industry connect of the Institute or mentor students through brainstorming sessions.

But while the much younger batches were still mulling over ways to ‘give back’, alumnus and former Director of the Institute, Prof. Damodar Acharya, had already made his commitment. An invitee of the Director of IIT Kharagpur, Prof. V.K. Tewari, for the Institute function and the brainstorming session on the Institute’s future growth, Prof. Acharya pledged to renovate the two rooms he had occupied during two separate stints at the Institute as a student – at Jagadish Chandra Bose Hall of Residence between 1970-72 and at the BC Roy Hall of Residence from 1972-75.

Prof. Damodar Acharya (left) talking to the Dean, Alumni Affairs, Prof. Subrata Chattopadhyay

“Only small donations are required to make the rooms attractive. I am following the Obama principle – to make small contributions count big,” he stated amidst the sound and laughter that encompassed the arena during the gala dinner of the 17th AAM.