MIT's unmanned aerial vehicle bags laurels abroad

October 4, 2011

Manipal, October 4: Following the successes of Formula Manipal cars in competitions overseas, another team of Manipal Institute of Technology students brought back laurels from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) AeroDesign 2011 competition held at Lockheed Martin Corporation, Georgia, USA between April 29, 2011 and May 1, 2011. They displayed the unmanned aerial vehicle at the Innovation Centre of MIT here on Tuesday.

AeroMIT team as they are called, built an unmanned aerial vehicle for the annual international SAE competition. SAE is an international body for engineering professionals in the aerospace, automotive and Commercial Vehicle Industries. Present on the occasion were vice chancellor of Manipal University, Dr K Ramnarayan and director MIT Dr Kumkum Garg.

Briefing the gathering, Ibrahim Kaleel, a third year aeronautical student said that the Team secured 13^th in Oral Presentation Round and 15^th in Design Round out of 75 teams. The overall position was 29^th out of 75 after the flight rounds. The team received critical appreciation from NASA's next-generation transport aircraft engineers for its systems engineering report and was one among the top five teams. In this regards, team received a Certificate of Completion from NASA Headquarters.

The AeroMIT Project started towards the end of 2009 and the team was successful in turning a mere concept into reality in time for the AeroDesign Competition which was celebrating silver jubilee this year. The competition features 3 classes: Regular, Micro and Advances. The team entered the Regular Class, where the aim is to carry maximum payload.

Seventy five teams from across the globe took part in the competition. The AeroMIT team started on a high note with successful test-flights at Cobb County Radio Control Modeler's Club at Marietta. The competition kick started with technical inspection and design presentation at Hilton Conference Centre, Marietta, which the team cleared with great ease. The plane was evaluated by judges from US space agency NASA, aircraft manufacturers Lockheed Martin, Gulfstream and Dassault Systems.

The team comprises Parth Khare leader (fourth year, aeronautical) Shekhar Jha, (fourth year, mechanical), Samdarshi (fourth year, mechanical), Karan Bhise (third year, aeronautical), Ibrahim Kaleel (third year, aeronautical), Kumar Mrityunjay (fourth year, mechanical), Katayan Sinha (fourth year, mechanical) and Arun Kumar (third year, aeronautical). Sheikh Adil Anwar (third year, aeronautical), Pratik Mukherjee (Second year, mechanical) and Akash Budhia (fourth year, IT) looked into the management aspect. Dr. Ramamohan Pai and Mr. Manikandan M, Department of Aeronautical and Automobile were the faculty advisors for the team.

Project was sponsored by Aditya Birla Group and Anu Projects Consultants and Engineers. They sponsored an amount of 2.5 lakh and 1 lakh respectively.

The team is working to take part in SAE AeroDesign West 2012 to be held at California from March 16 to 18^,2012. Team has recruited new students to the team. This year the team is taking a great leap and would be entering two classes: Regular Class and Micro Class.

Vice chancellor, Dr K Ramnarayan talks to the students who designed the plane for the competition in Georgia, USA

The plane which was built by AeroMIT for the competition in Georgia, USA

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Promising life cut short: Mangaluru college student killed in Padubidri road accident

News Network

November 30,2025

Mangaluru, Nov 30: A 22-year-old college student succumbed to her injuries at a private hospital in Mangaluru today, days after she was hit by a goods tempo while crossing a road in Padubidri.

The deceased has been identified as Preksha, a resident of Nadsalu Billitota in Padubidri. The fatal incident occurred as Preksha, who was returning home after completing her examination, attempted to cross the service road towards Mangaluru. She was struck by a goods tempo approaching from the Udupi side, causing her to fall and sustain a severe head injury.

Prompt action from local residents ensured she received immediate first aid before being rushed to a hospital in Mangaluru for specialised treatment. Despite medical efforts, she passed away while undergoing care.

Preksha was a student at Karavali College, Vamanjoor on the outskirts of Mangaluru city. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that she belonged to a financially vulnerable family, having previously lost her father. She is survived by her mother and brother.

A case related to the accident has been registered at the Padubidri police station, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances that led to the collision. The incident highlights the growing concerns over road safety, particularly on busy service roads, and serves as a tragic reminder of the human cost of traffic accidents.

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Udupi school girl Shagun Verma Hegde to lead India U-15 volleyball team in China

coastaldigest.com news network

December 2,2025

Udupi, Dec 2: A wave of regional pride is sweeping through Udupi district as Shagun S Verma Hegde, a talented Class 9 student from Christ King English Medium High School, Karkala, has been named the captain of the Indian National Team for the Under-15 Girls’ Volleyball Championship.

Shagun holds the unique distinction of being the sole player from Karnataka selected to represent the country in the prestigious international tournament. The championship, organized by the School Games Federation, is scheduled to take place in Shangluo, China, from December 3 to 13, where Shagun will lead the national squad.

A Remarkable Journey to the Top

Shagun’s selection is a testament to her dedication and exceptional skill on the court. Her journey included several rigorous rounds of selection:

• She was the only player from Udupi district to qualify for the state-level selection camp.

• Out of eight players from Karnataka who advanced to the national selection camp in Pune, Maharashtra, Shagun was the only one to secure a place in the final national squad.

• The national camp saw participation from approximately 200 players, which was shortlisted to 23. Shagun not only made the final cut but was also ranked as the second-best player overall, solidifying her leadership role.

Shagun, who is the daughter of Sandesh Verma and Shruthiraj of Kallotte, Karkala, has trained under experienced coaches Santosh D’Souza, Jeevan D’Silva, Jairaj Poojary, and Ramesh. Her selection as the team captain has brought profound honour to her family, school, the Udupi district, and the entire state of Karnataka.

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