wellnmed@gmail.com – Page 87

Japanese company Rakuten opens office in Bengaluru

Rakuten India is a global product and innovation centre for Tokyo-based Rakuten Group that focuses on electronic commerce and online retailing

Rakuten India, a global product and innovation centre for Tokyo-based Rakuten Group that focuses on electronic commerce and online retailing, has opened an office in Bengaluru to grow its customer base in India.

Rakuten’s new office is situated near Cubbon Park. The 20-storey building, Rakuten-Crimson House, has office space of 3 lakh sq.ft. with a capacity to accommodate over 3,000 persons.

The office is expected to enhance the company’s capability for deep-tech innovation and R&D in e-commerce, fintech, content and entertainment, as well as AI in computer vision, speech, and natural language processing (NLP).

“India is and has been central to our growth strategy. Our new R&D centre will build on the high value-added engagements that Rakuten has been delivering from India in deep tech and product innovation,’‘ said Yasufumi Hirai, CIO, CISO, Group Executive Vice President of Rakuten Group, Inc.

Udupi: SMVITM’s Dr Sachin Bhat wins Karnataka State Urban Mobility Grand Challenge

Dr Sachin S Bhat, head of the Department, Electronics and Communication Engineering of Shri Madhwa Vadiraja Institute of Technology and Management (SMVITM), Bantakal had won the prestigious Karnataka State Urban Mobility Grand Challenge conducted by the Department of Electronics, IT, BT, government of Karnataka.

He won the startup grant of Rs 10 lac for his work to assist the Police department in capturing the accident information on-site with minimal manual inputs and to register an online First Information Report. This tool uses Artificial Intelligence technique to extract information of accidents from photographs from an image captured at the accident spot and notifies the nearest hospital regarding the location and severity of accident.

Automated generation of accident data would help in capturing of better quality of data that can further be utilized for analyzing accident causes and remedies. Principal and management have congratulated Dr Bhat for his stupendous achievement.

Youth-led start-up to send 40 satellites to compile space debris data

The race to space has the downside of polluting it. A Bengaluru-based start-up plans to send out a constellation of 40 satellites that will gather data on space junk in the low-earth orbit (LEO).
The satellites that will be launched in early next year will gather information on millions of pieces of debris that litter LEO, which NASA describes as an “orbital space junk yard”.

Digantara, the start-up launched by three young engineers, has taken upon itself the mission to help clean up LEO.

Space junk can reach speeds of up to 18,000 miles per hour, according to NASA. Many of them range from 1 cm to 10 cm in diameter. Most of this orbital debris comprises “human-generated” objects such as parts of spacecraft that have long disintegrated, rocket and satellite components, and very small flecks of paint from spacecraft and whole satellites.

“The ones which are 1 cm in diameter are estimated to be a million. Besides, international space agencies have determined that they are aware of only 4 per cent of objects in space. The data for 96 per cent is still missing,” said Digantara chief operating officer Rahul Rawat, who is only 23 years old.

Digantara, which is incubated at Bengaluru’s Indian Institute of Science, sent out a small satellite, a payload about the “size of a shoe box”, according to the start-up’s CEO Anirudh Sharma, on June 30 this year to gather information on space weather, including radiation, violent storms and other phenomena that can be potentially harsh for spacecraft and burn or fry them.

While this lone satellite has been sending out data to ground sensors, Rawat pointed to Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starlink constellation of 40 of 49 satellites that were “lost in a single blow” when they encountered a gigantic “solar paroxysm” that burned the spacecraft and cost the company $100 million in February 2022.

It is precisely to avoid satellites getting caught up in such “solar outbursts” or other violent geomagnetic incidents that Digantara expects its own satellites – and the information it will send back to its ground sensors – to come to the rescue of space companies with ambitions of sending out satellites.

“We are the only start-up of its kind in India though there are competitors in the US and Canada,” Rawat said, adding the gathered data can help firms that are into remote sensing and insurance where risk analysis reports will be important.

nie

Udupi: Rotary Brahmavar celebrates World Photography Day, honours senior photographers

World Photography Day was celebrated by Rotary Brahmavar in association with South Canara Photographers’ Association Dakshina Kannada-Udupi Brahmavar unit.

Dinesh Nairy, president Rotary Brahmavar inaugurated the event by unveiling a 50-year-old photo camera.

An informative session on using cameras was also organized on the occasion.

Stephen Lewis Brahmavar, Sreedhar Hegde Kundapura, and Naveen Ballal Udupi were felicitated on the occasion for their service in the field of photography. Pratheesh, Mohan Udupa and Sunil introduced the awardees to the gathering.

Prakash Jattanna, president South Canara Photographers’ Association Dakshina Kannada-Udupi Brahmavar unit proposed the vote of thanks. Alwyn Andrade, secretary Rotary Brahmavar welcomed the gathering. Sunil Pandeshwar compered the programme.

Eric D’Souza, member central committee Unnathi Uday Kumar Shetty, director Rotary professional services were present on the occasion.

Udupi: Exemplary – Woman manning SLRM unit at Barkur Hanehalli

An SLRM (Solid and Liquid Resource Management) unit is maintained here in a unique way in Barkur Hanehalli gram panchayat, which has got Gandhi Gram award thrice.

There are 850 houses, 172 commercial establishments, one university college, one PU college, three primary schools and five Anganwadis under this gram panchayat. The total population of the village is 4,206.

After Veena, who married Vindo Kothari, resident of this village, assumed the charge of SLRM unit, awareness about environment and cleanliness was increased among the villagers.

Veena, mother of two children, did not even know how to ride a bicycle. She got vehicle driving training sponsored by Udupi zilla panchayat on the recommendation of gram panchayat.

Now Veena drives the waste collection vehicle herself and collects garbage from every household. She also segregates the garbage along with two helpers. The money which they get from this is their income.

The zilla panchayat here has provided vehicles as well as a pad burning machine. This has turned into a model village because of the efforts of Veena.

Mangaluru: Mauzo is an icon of composite culture of Goa – Dr M Prabhakar Joshi

“Damodar Mauzo bridges complexities and simplicity of literature in Konkani for the benefit of common reader and connoisseur equally.

He is an icon of the composite culture of Goa and he lives and practices the ethos of his writings. He has maintained Konkani identity and distinctiveness in his literature,” said Dr M Prabhakar Joshi, eminent thinker and Yakshagana scholar, after unveiling the portrait of Jnanapith Awardee and celebrated Konkani novelist Damodar Mauzo at World Konkani Hall of Fame of World Konkani Centre, Mangaluru in a ceremony held on Tuesday August 23.

Present on the occasion, Damodar Mauzo, expressed his humility in accepting this honour. He said, “World Konkani Centre is like a second home to me. It is true embodiment of Basti Vaman Shenoy, as I always saw both are none the same.” His wife was also present on the occasion.

President of World Konkani Centre, Nandagopal Shenoy, welcomed the guests and the gathering. Konkani poet and trustee of World Konkani Centre, Melvyn Rodrigues hosted the event, and secretary Giridhar Kamath delivered the vote of thanks.

Gilbert D’Souza, vice president, B R Bhat, treasurer and trustees of World Konkani Centre Ramesh Naik, Shakuntala R Kini, CEO Gurudath bantwalkar, Dr B Devadas Pai, director (Research), philanthropist James Mendonca, Konkani writers H M Pernal, Titus Noronha, Kudpi Rajanikanth Shenoy and others were present.

Udupi: Bejai Lourdes School, Bantwal’s BRMPC emerge winners at ‘St Mary’s Mindathon’

Lourdes Central School, Bejai, Mangaluru (under-14 category) and BRMPC Public School, Vidyagiri, Bantwal (under-17 category) emerged winners in the ‘St Mary’s Mindathon’ AICS Interschool Chess Tournament 2022, organized by St Mary’s English Medium School Kannarpady here at the school auditorium on Tuesday August 23.

In the under-14 category, Sharada Vidyalaya, Kodialbail, Mangaluru, Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Vidya Kendra, Alike, St Theresa’s School, Mangaluru, and Delhi Public School, MRPL, Mangaluru bagged the second, third, fourth and fifth places respectively.

In the under-17 category, Sharada Vidyalaya, Kodialbail, Mangaluru, Little Rock Indian School, Brahmavar, Udupi, St Aloysius Gonzaga School, Kodialbail, Mangaluru and St Mary’s English Medium School Kannarpady secured the second, third, fourth and fifth places respectively.

Deric Pinto, proprietor of Derik Chess School, Mangaluru inaugurated the chess tournament by lighting the lamp.

Wishing the best for all the contestants, he said, “Chess has many benefits. It will develop our decision making, memory and concentration. Chess players can become leaders and raise awareness. Chess is the only game where humans could compete with machines. A man becomes a man, when he can take decisons. Mangaluru is producing top players in many fields. Master Aaron Reeve Mendes (under 10) is one among them.”

Eliza Vaz, principal, Christ School Manipal was present as chief guest at the valedictory ceremony. She said, “Participation is very significant. Many of them may lose the game, but it does not matter. Children who are here to participate have made their parents proud. You have represented your school. Keep practicing and participating in the upcoming sports events.” She congratulated the institution for organizing such an event and wished the students a bright future.

Fr Charles Menezes, the correspondent of the institution also addressed the gathering. Benedict Fernandez, secretary, Parish Pastoral Council was present.

Fr Johnson Sequeira, the principal of St Mary’s English Medium School welcomed the gathering.

Gerald Pinto, physical education teacher of St Mary’s school, rendered the vote of thanks

Airbnb ranks Bengaluru among top tourist destinations

Travellers are eager to visit India, and inclined to stay on for longer to explore more places, which is increasing economic opportunities for the locals, a survey by Airbnb has revealed.

Travellers are eager to visit India, and inclined to stay for longer to explore more places, which is increasing economic opportunities for the locals, a survey by Airbnb has revealed. A study of searches by international tourists for Airbnb Stays in India showed that it jumped by more than 60 per cent Y-o-Y from Q1 2021 to Q1 2022, indicating that the tourism industry is bouncing back.

Data also showed that metro cities like New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai have emerged as the most popular destinations among international and domestic travellers. Those from Canada, the UAE, the UK, Germany, and Australia were among the top origin countries for searches for India. Airbnb GM for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Amanpreet Bajaj said the uptick in preference for metro cities and tourist hotspots indicates people have resumed travelling along with workstations and vacations.

nie

Leading the way: Mysuru engineering students build automated stick for visually impaired

Four students from Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering (VVCE), Mysuru, have developed an automated stick as a supportive device for the visually challenged.

Constant worry about potholes and obstacles affects the confidence of the visually impaired when they step out of their home. The stick helps them traverse safely, identifying potholes and hurdles while moving in crowded places, according to the students.

The stick developed by the students uses ultrasonic sensors for obstacle detection and pothole detection for ensuring timely alerts to the visually challenged person.

Smrithi Baliga, a third-year Electronics and Communications Engineering student at VVCE, was worried seeing visually-challenged persons facing difficulties while crossing roads.

Teaming up with enthusiastic classmates Sapna H.M., Shreyas N., and Yogesh Gowda V., Ms. Smrithi came up with the idea of developing the stick. The Internet of Things (IoT)-based stick with an obstacle and pothole detection system using ultrasonic sensors was developed with guidance from Chandrashekar M. Patil, professor and Head, Department of ECE, and Girijamba D.L., assistant professor.

B. Sadashivegowda, principal, VVCE, said: “We are proud of our students for taking up the project. In recent times, technology has helped improve healthcare across the world. Through this project, our students have proven how technology could be used to fight visual impairment. The automated stick helps visually-impaired individuals move freely with confidence.”

The students have proposed to bring in some improvement to their product. Voice output via Bluetooth; upgrade of pothole detection from ultrasonic sensors to image-processing technique; LDR to sense lighting conditions; RF remote to locate the stick itself are among the additions, a note from the college said.

Swiss firm Hitachi sets up new facility at Doddaballapur

It has invested ₹100 cr for manufacture of power quality products

Hitachi Energy, a technology player that offers advanced solutions for a sustainable energy future globally, set up a new facility to manufacture power quality products (devices that test and check the quality of power) at Doddaballapur on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

The Indian arm of the Switzerland-based Hitachi Energy has invested ₹100 crore to set up this new facility that has a production capacity of 20,000 units of advanced capacitors, banks and power electronics compensators for low, medium and high-voltage systems that are used in power utilities, industries, renewables and transportation segments, as per the company.

“We have a rich heritage and extensive footprint in this country and this new manufacturing unit for power quality solutions reinforces our commitment to facilitate India’s energy transition to net-zero,” said Claudio Facchin, CEO, Hitachi Energy.

“The expansion also strengthens our long-standing presence in Karnataka as we look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders in the ecosystem,’‘ he said in a media round table held at the facility on Tuesday.

Karnataka was fueling its ambitions of industrial growth through a prism of sustainable development goals, said Basavaraj Bommai, Chief Minister, at the facility opening ceremony held separately on the day. “Karnataka is a leading contributor to India’s industrial ambitions. With long-term committed partners such as Hitachi Energy, we continue to invest to make the state a global manufacturing hub,’‘ the Chief Minister further said.

Manufacturing of electrical equipment was an energy-intensive process. Keeping sustainability goals in mind, Hitachi adopted innovative processes at this factory that were capable of reducing electrical energy consumption per process step by almost 40%, said N Venu, Managing Director and CEO, India & South Asia, Hitachi Energy.

According to the International Energy Agency, the energy demand in India is set to double over the next 20 years driven by urbanization and industrialization.

Hitachi Energy employs around 38,000 people in 90 countries and generates annual business to the tune of $10 billion. The company, which forayed into India in 1962, claims it has one of its widest manufacturing bases.