Category Archives: Science & Technology

Robots welcome guests at this new eatery in Hyderabad

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, Travel, World Opinion

This is not the first such restaurant in the country to have a robot on its staff. The first eatery namely ‘Robot’ was opened in Chennai during November 2017 and started with a team of four ‘AI waiter


‘ROBO KITCHEN’ – The Robot Themed Restaurant first time in Hyderabad, Which Robots serves food to the costumers table from Kitchen what they ordered has been opened at jubliee hills in Hyderabad. (Express|S Senbagapandiyan)

Hyderabad :

The newly-launched Robo Kitchen in Hyderabad is the first-of-its-kind restaurant where customers are greeted by robots. 

“The main attraction of our newly-opened restaurant is that robots will serve food to customers,” Robo Kitchen’s owner Manikanth told ANI.

“We have named the robots as Beauty Serving Robots. So far, we have been receiving great response from the customers, especially from old aged people as they are enjoying a whole new experience as robots are serving food to them.”Robo Kitchen provides a tab on every table for the customer’s comfort. “Guests can easily place an order from their table, which will be received by the chefs working in the kitchen. The food ordering process will complete in the span of two to five minutes,” said Manikanth. The aim is to provide a holistic and pleasing experience to the customers, especially families. The robots need three hours charging to work throughout the day.

“At present, we have four robots. We are in the process of updating their programming so that they can interact with the customers,” stated Manikanth.

This is not the first such restaurant in the country to have a robot on its staff. The first eatery namely ‘Robot’ was opened in Chennai during November 2017 and started with a team of four ‘AI waiters.’ 

A few days ago, Chennai’s Porur also got a smart restaurant where robots not only serve as waiters but also interact with customers in English and Tamil.The eatery located at Mugilivakkam Porur has a team of seven robots designed in blue and white. They welcome customers and serve meals with exotic drinks on tables.A female robot at the reception gives a response to customers’ queries and guides them about their table numbers. The restaurant serves Indo-Asian cuisines. Each robot in the eatery costs about Rs 5 lakh. The hotel staff has been trained and is in touch with manufacturers to tackle any emergency.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by ANI / February 09th, 2019

Powering through challenges to reach a unique half-century

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology

TS-Transco chairman and managing director completes 50 years of service in power utilities today

Putting in 50 years of service in a public sector organisation with an unblemished record all along is no mean task, more so when 27 years out of that are spent in holding key executive positions in power utilities that are directly linked to almost every household.

However, for Devulapalli Prabhakar Rao, the chairman and managing director of TS-Genco and TS-Transco since the formation of Telangana State, it has been a smooth journey except for some “occupational hazards” linked to every responsibility.

He has been the Man Friday to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao in tackling severe power shortage, one of the major fallouts of the bifurcation of combined Andhra Pradesh.

Efficiency in functioning of the power utilities of Telangana was under scrutiny of general public and also those in power from the day of State formation as it was one of the first challenges faced by the State government with farmers taking to the streets demanding supply of power to save the standing crops.

“We could overcome the problem and reached a position of supplying seven-hour power to the farm sector within six months with support of the government, particularly the Chief Minister,” says Mr. Prabhakar Rao recollecting the challenges he faced in the initial days of State formation what with 2,700 MW shortage of power compared to the demand.

“Industrialists taking to the streets, demanding adequate quality power supply was the position we inherited from combined AP,” he points out.

With a three-pronged strategy for overcoming the immediate power shortage with spot, short-term and medium-term power purchase linkages, improving the efficiency of power generation units of State utilities, and going for long-term power purchase agreements and capacity addition in power generation, the State overcame the problem of power shortage before the turn of one year.

“Power cuts were lifted for domestic, commercial and industrial sectors and nine-year supply was given to farm sector from November 20, 2014, itself. From January 1, 2018, Telangana became the first State in the country to provide uninterrupted free power supply to even the farm sector having over 23 lakh pump-sets,” Mr. Prabhakar Rao says, describing it one of the proud moments of his career.

Starting his career as a junior accounts officer on February 10, 1969, Mr. Prabhakar Rao became the financial adviser and chief controller of accounts in 1992 in the then AP State Electricity Board. He was elevated as board member (Accounts) in 1998 and it was, in fact, the first time when a non-IAS and non-engineering background official was given such an opportunity.

“My successful career of 50 years in the power utilities has been a possibility only with the support of all employees,” he says, adding that there were some minor aberrations when he had to quit first in 1991 and later in 2002 due to professional differences with his peers but it was thanks to the support the organisation as a team offered that helped him power ahead.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by B. Chandrasekhar / Hyderabad – February 09th, 2019

City girl to represent country at UN Youth Assembly 2019

Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Later she got an opportunity to participate in Jagruthi Yatra, where she travelled around 8,000 km for 15 days across the country.

Hyderabad :

A Hyderabadi girl who has worked for empowering villagers into sustainable communities is all set to make her way to the United Nations Youth Assembly 2019 in New York University, New York City this month. Harshitha Chintam is a B.Tech graduate from Sree Nidhi Institute of Science and Technology, who later pursued MBA from Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) and joined ITC as a Business excellence officer.

“I received a sapling as a token of appreciation from UNICEF during my school days for my charity work. That gave me the motivation to work for the betterment of the people” reminisces Harshitha. With the opportunity to work with SAFA, an organisation that works for the empowerment of women from urban slums, she realised the potential and the zeal residing within her. Harshitha worked in building up the brand image and attract more supporters for the cause.

Later she got an opportunity to participate in Jagruthi Yatra, where she travelled around 8,000 km for 15 days across the country. We reached out to rural areas across the country, from Kanyakumari, Dharmashala, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of North India, it was a great learning experience”, reflects upon her 15-day journey across the country, where she got an opportunity to interact with the President of India Ram Nath Kovind.

This journey sparked off her interest in the concept of sustainable cities and self-sufficiency and she worked with ‘Barefoot College’ in Tilonia district of Rajasthan, an NGO that empowers the rural residents. She worked in documented and published the teaching and training manuals of these model villages in making them self-sufficient and sustainable, which can be implemented anywhere in the world. Upon a friend’s suggestion, she applied for the United Nations Youth Assembly.

After thorough verification of the documentation and her works, followed by a few rounds of interviews, she got selected as the India representative for the UN Youth Assembly 2019, which is to be held from February 15-17. She will be talking about Sustainable development goals – ‘Sustainable cities and communities’.

“I want the voice to be heard and showcase the reality of the state of India, also learn from other leaders across the world, I look forward to more people to joining hands and work for the common good of the society,” says Harshitha. She is also an associate with Make A Wish Foundation.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Venu Srikanth, Express News Service / February 05th, 2019

Local hand in ISRO’s satellite success story

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Hyderabad firm manufactured fourth stage engines of PSLV

When Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C44) successfully put Microsat-R and Kalamsat-V2 satellites into their designated orbits last month, joyous scenes were witnessed not only at Sriharikota but also at the city suburbs of Kandi in Sangareddy district.

Here, right opposite the IIT-Hyderabad, lies a nondescript firm, ASACO, which has been playing a significant role albeit in a low profile manner in several of the launches as they have mastered the manufacturing of complete integrated PS4 engines or the fourth stage engines of the PSLV under ISRO tutelage.

In fact, 13 minutes 26 seconds after the lift-off of the latest launch, Microsat-R was successfully injected into the intended orbit of 274 km. Soon after, the fourth stage or PS4 of PSLV was moved to a higher circular orbit of 453 km after two restarts to establish an orbital platform and Kalamsat-V2, the student payload is the first to use it, said Ajit Mohandas, joint managing director of ASACO.

“We are the only company in India manufacturing the complete integrated PS4 engines of PSLV and we have been doing all the engine chamber parts since 1986. ASACO has been the sole supplier of these engines from 2008 and also the ‘PS1 RCT Engines’ including assembly of the first stage roll control system,” says Ajit, alumnus of HPS-Begumpet and IIT-BHU.

His father and ASACO chairman K. Mohandas had established the company in 1969 having decided to take up the challenge of making critical engines for launch vehicles of ISRO based on designs submitted by the latter. The precision machine components are also applicable in fighter jets and naval ships besides launch vehicles.

Crucial function

In every PSLV launch, two of these fourth stage engines take the satellites into their final orbits. “Whether it was Chandryaan 1 module, Mangalyaan or the recent world record 104 satellite launch, PS4 Engines have the crucial function of delivering each and every one them into their initial orbits around the earth,” explains Ajit, in an exclusive interaction.

The same engines are now performing a unique function of serving as the orbital platform for the Kalamsat V2 for the brief period of 14.5 hours after deployment — time needed for Kalamsat V2 to perform its experiments — instead of ending up as space debris!

Sole supplier

“We are proud that the engine for which we have been a sole and dedicated supplier for decades continues to perform in versatile ways, thanks to ISRO’s ingenious ways of using them. We are grateful for the faith shown in our capabilities,” he says.

ASACO has aggressive growth plans and is “fully geared” up to take up more challenging work from ISRO, he adds.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V. Geetanath / Hyderabad – February 03rd, 2019

Foxconn to set up R and D centre for artificial intelligence in Hyderabad

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Hyderabad :  

In a major development that will place Hyderabad in an advantageous position in “smart manufacturing”,  the Taiwan-based Foxconn Technology Group has decided to set up an advanced Industrial Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Centre in Hyderabad. 

Foxconn Industrial Internet Company Limited (FII), a subsidiary of Foxconn Technology Group, has chosen Hyderabad to set up the  Advanced Industrial Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Centre in collaboration with the State Telangana.  This is Foxconn’s first centre in Industrial AI research outside Taiwan.

According to sources, the research and development platform would provide technological services and smart manufacturing solutions to Foxconn Group with a vision to integrate and incorporate cloud computing, mobile devices, IoT, big data, AI, network transmission, and automated robotics with 8K+5G, according to a release.Foxconn will set up this in collaboration with the academic and industrial ecosystem in India with Hyderabad as its base.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Business / by Express News Service / January 31st, 2019

Indo-German expertise for infertility treatment

Science & Technology, World Opinion

An Indo-German initiative of fertility specialists, Morpheus Kasturi International IVF Center, Secunderabad has recently unveiled its range of infertility treatments for couples. 

Hyderabad :

An Indo-German initiative of fertility specialists, Morpheus Kasturi International IVF Center, Secunderabad has recently unveiled its range of infertility treatments for couples. The procedures include IUI (Intrauterine insemination), ICSI (Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection) through treatments such as PESA (Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration) for those with blocked ducts and TESE (Testicular Sperm Extraction), for couples having low sperm count and TESA (Testicular Sperm Aspiration) and MESA (Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration) for those with no sperm cells in their sperm.

The institute also has advanced techniques like Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection (IMSI), which enables to select the best shape and size sperms for injecting into the egg; Laser Assisted Hatching (LAH), for thinning of the thicker than the usual egg covering, to ease hatching of the embryo and Zona Birefringence, for selection of better oocytes resulting in good quality embryos.

Core Fertility Specialist Dr Kalpana said, “The key to improving success rate in IVF treatment is appropriate diagnosis and fertility specialist’s expertise to determine the apt treatment option for the patient.” “We are confident of replicating the care and success rate being achieved at our facilities in Germany and across India, which will set a benchmark for others,” said Dr Ulrich Gohring, Principal, IVF University of Tubingen, Germany.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / January 14th, 2019

Indywood carnival honours doctors

Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology

Personality of the year healthcare award being presented to Gauthamadas Udipi at the Indywood medical excellence awards in HITEX. | Photo Credit: K.V.S. GIRI

Twenty five medical practitioners were awarded Indywood medical excellence awards, which was organised as part of Indywood film carnival-2018.

The awards are meant for felicitating healthcare practitioners and organisations who offer healthcare services to the society.

Dr. Gauthamadas Udipi, Professor of Psychiatry was awarded the personality of the year in health care sector, this year.

Indywood’s life time achievement award was given to Dr. Kamini Rao (Golden Pioneer In Gynaecology), Dr. Mohan (Specialist Care Diabetologist) and Padma Shree Dr. Ahmed Ali (Surgical Wizard Of Gastroenterology).

The awards were presented by Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qahtani who is with Saudi Armaco, Saudi Arabia and Ravindra Arora, president of Bharat Cine and TV writer & TV writer association. Mr. Arora is also a committee member of Dada Saheb Phalke Academy, Western India film producers association.

Other awards which were presented during the day were in two categories including medical excellence among individual and organisations of medical excellence.

Winners in the organisations category included Apollo Remote Healthcare Services for largest telemedicine network, Maa ENT Hospital, best ENT care hospital, Grewal Eye Institute as best hospital for opthalmic care, Aster MIMS for excellence in patient care, Fathima Healthcare Group in best overseas healthcare insurance firm and Sai life sciences limited for being leading organisation in integrated CRO.

At the event, Mr. Arora congratulated all award winners and requested them to continue their services in the health care segment, “for that is important to build a healthy India”.

Indywood also awarded media excellence awards-2018.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – December 05th, 2018

Kanti Velugu lighting up lives

Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology

Kanti Velugu lighting up lives

Hyderabad:

Kanti Velugu scheme, the mega health initiative, aimed at providing all services related to eye care, has touched a unique milestone by screening a whopping one crore persons in the State.

The scheme was launched on August 15 and by December 3, has managed to screen 1,00,02,544 persons for various eye related ailments. In fact, the scheme has also achieved a unique milestone by distributing close to 17 lakh reading glasses to persons who underwent screening.

According to the latest statistics, the Health Department had distributed nearly two lakh prescription glasses to persons, who were diagnosed with eye-defects, during the course of screening.

Senior doctors have pointed out that the distribution of such large number of reading and prescription glasses is quite unprecedented because it was never before attempted in the country.

The mega eye screening camps created a large number of referrals for tertiary and secondary care. Thanks to Kanti Velugu, now there are 4.50 lakh persons who will undergo cataract surgeries at various secondary eye-care institutions, which have been identified across the State.

The scheme has also identified close to 2.5 lakh persons, who need to undergo complicated eye related procedures, at tertiary eye care institutions including SD Eye Hospital in city, Regional Eye Hospital in Warangal, Pushpagiri Eye Institute, Secunderabad and LV Prasad Eye Institute.

source: http://www.telanganatoday.com / Telangana Today / Home> Telangana / by Telangana Today / December 05th, 2018

Raghu Ram elected president of ASI

Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology

P. Raghu Ram

P. Raghu Ram, director of KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases here, has been elected the president of Association of Surgeons of India (ASI), considered the largest surgeons’ organisation in the Asia Pacific region that represents the fraternity across India.

According to a press release, the election saw highest ever polling in the history of ASI elections. Dr. Raghu Ram, a Padma Shri and B.C. Roy national awardee, has become one of the youngest surgeons in the country to be elected to the post of president of the association.

Arvind Kumar, who acted as the chief election officer, declared the results on Friday after the counting process was completed at ASI headquarters in Chennai. Dr. Raghu Ram has polled 4,450 votes compared to 2,621 votes polled by the other contestant, Tamonas Chaudhuri, from Kolkata.

Established in 1938, the ASI is widely considered to be the “voice for surgery” in India. Started with 112 members, the association has grown into the largest surgical association in the Asia Pacific region and the second largest in the world after the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Raghu Ram, the immediate past president of the Association of Breast Surgeons of India, has excelled all along in his surgical career spanning over 23 years. He is instrumental in implementing the South Asia’s largest population-based breast cancer screening programme in partnership with the governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh across 4,000 villages since 2012 and reaching out to over two lakh underprivileged women.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – November 16th, 2018

Solar panel maker to scale up operations in Hyderabad

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

Solar photovoltaic (PV) cell and module maker RenewSys India is planning to grow the capacity of its Hyderabad facility to 1 GW and establish a 500 MW plant near Mumbai, both by next year-end, with an investment of $25 million.

A part of $350 million Enpee Group, most of whose companies are based in Nigeria, the firm graduated from being a manufacturer of EVA backsheets used in solar panels to making solar cells and modules when it acquired the assets of Solar Semiconductor three years ago.

Briefing presspersons at the facility in Fab City on the outskirts of Hyderabad, RenewSys managing director Avinash Hiranandani said the company had acquired the assets, of the sick unit, in June 2015 for around ₹100 crore. With new machinery, the solar panel manufacturing capacity over time increased to the 400 MW. The facility also has 130 MW solar PV cell capacity.

Necessary equipment to add 300 MW of solar panels have arrived, he said, adding by next month the capacity would touch 700 MW. The company wanted to increase the capacity of the Hyderabad plant, located on 50 acres, to 1 GW by end of 2019.

On investments, he said $100 million has been made so far and the expansion proposed by next year would entail $5 million more. The investment on the plant proposed near Mumbai, on about 8 acres, is expected to $20 million. The capacity of the Bengaluru plant where encapsulants and backsheets are made is also to be increased, he added.

To queries, Mr. Hiranandani said profitability in solar panel business, in the face of intense competition from China, is possible only with scale of operations. In 2017-18, the RenewSys’ turnover was ₹256 crore, which the management is targeting to take to ₹600 crore this fiscal and over ₹1,500 crore in 2019-20.

The potential for growth was good, he said, pointing out that only 45% of India’s solar panel requirement is being met by domestic manufacturers.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities > Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – November 14th,2018