supershashikant : story of Mini-Bo

It was December 2008 when I was running sort of any good name for my ****** account. Actually I was in search of such a name that was unique or which give zero result or at least very few results on googling it. Then the word supershashikant triggered in my mind and I adopted it as my web nick name. The best part is that ‘supershashikant’ was completely free from the reach of any other web walker and thus I landed on a safer name. well…..exception exist everywhere  to create some dilution in the symmetry and so happened with my super name at youtube. But it’s not the juiciest topic to talk upon. So I will decompose this topic here and take a new route.
    My last two posts were dedicated to the Ojass : our annual techno-management fest. Now It’s over and it held very nicely. It is one of the few events which cost great deal of mental and physical labour of students. My last two posts were the combined spirit of a blogger and a P.R Team member of Ojass’11. Ojass enjoys large participation from NIT Jamshedpur and other engineering colleges of India including IITs and NITs every year. The theme of this year’s Ojass was “Going Green” emphasis was lain on using the Green Technology in everyday life. Three days; April 1 to April 3, were packed with the whole bunch of technical stuffs ranging from robotics to softrace. This year Ojass plugged many new events which were unique and still undiscovered by the tech-fest of other prominent engineering colleges of India including IITs and other NITs. For better grip, please land on the Ojass official website.
    Being a computer science student, I was ready to compete in prelims of the competitions of my concern but in addition to that I was tempted to create something physical and of course Robotics could crunch this desire. Three Shashi got together to build up our first Robot of our life. We were not placing our aim to win the event but to enjoy the building process and to play with it after its successful built-up. We all three were completely new in it and had zero experience in Robot development. After a few days we added another member to reduce the cost per person and to complete the team. We had a lot of fun in building it. There were many robotics events but we were participating in “Shape Shifter”. We were thinking freely and doing each and every job by ourselves but when we looked to the other teams, they were serious and they had big and beautiful plans for winning the event.   Contrary to this, we were tension free and we freed-up our thoughts to fly in any direction and worked according to our own thoughts. We also helped our friends in welfare for their fitness by giving them a chance to laugh after watching our Bot(Robot). When we finished with its development, it looked very strange to others. We had used very general things from our surrounding instead of buying special components and had done all jobs by ourselves to reduce the cost so that can save some of our pocket money from burning out in the Bot. We were confused in providing it a name. Since it was small, so I called it “Mini-Bo”. I got it after dropping ‘T’ from the word ‘mini Bot’. We used for our play in this process we had done a lot of practice with it. We handled it in all possible circumstances.
      Now we were in the Arena Hall. A large number of teams had participated and its count was still gearing high. We were feeling embarrassed after watching the neatly and beautifully manufactured Bots of other teams. Some Bots were looking so neatly build that i assumed it to be made by professionals of a company for the sell in the market. Anyway, we couldn’t hide our ‘Mini-Bo’ for a long as we have to get into the arena for qualifying round. We had seen many great looking Bots working so ugly that their owner could only dream to get into next rounds. Specially girls feel better to spend money than to get their hands dirty with the Bot. Few controllers were controlling their bots in such a way as they were riding a mad horse. At the arena I concluded that girls always love beauty. Their bots were looking beautiful and nice as they are crafted by experienced persons but very little work had been done on its mechanism. We were hating ourselves for not making our ‘Mini-Bo’ eye capturing, it was rather ugly.
   Our turn for performance came and we scored ...............the maximum!!!! It was not a luck but it was the result of our genuine hard work and great practice. We had worked for the thing and we got the fruits. We had watered the plant at its roots without worrying for cleaning the leaves to make it nice looking. In further rounds also we were at the top. Final was consisting of two halves. I first half we had scored much greater than our competitor and we required to just prick a single balloon to become the champion. We did more than the required and all finished for our favour.
   Later we came to know that the team which had reached in the final with us was winner of robotics event in many NITs. We were the most junior in designation, in experience and in knowledge but now, we have the trophy. Same type of matter was there when I was selected in the final round of web-weavers. My team name ‘Techflair’ was single name from first year batch and this team was the only team which had only one member, that was I, myself.
I haven’t written here to boost but I am just revealing my personal experience. Most of the first year students (if not every) have same circumstances like mine. I will suggest all first year students to take part in all such events because its for you. When we are junior we always compete with seniors or batch mates and its always beneficial. You will not feel embarrassed after losing because you have been defeated by your seniors but in case you win then it will be a great confidence booster for you. Don’t look at others for an idea or any plan. There are endless ideas sleeping in your own mind, you need to search for it.
      After this summer vacation I will be in next semester and juniors will come to cover the place behind us. Really, it is painful for me to lose the title of junior. Being junior, I have learn a lot.

   If you have done really very well in AIEEE exam, then you can opt NIT Jamshedpur at higher place in the counseling. I welcome my potential juniors for the next batch...........Take care........I'll be back here in a couple of days.....
    

  

Pwn2Own 2011 hacking contest set to roll on

  Do you consider yourself a hacker, efficient enough to crack world's top four browser and can dive deep into them to catch bugs. If yes then continue reading and jump over to the contest(whose name is pinned at the title itself) after finishing with this post.

The contest, which starts March 9, pits researchers against four browsers -- Apple's Safari, Google's Chrome, Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) and Mozilla's Firefox -- as well as against smartphones running Apple's iOS, Google's Android, Microsoft's Windows 7 Phone and RIM's BlackBerry OS.
       As the Pwn2Own contest gets closer, browser vendors are toughening up their browsers for the upcoming onslaught. Recent releases of the Firefox  3.5.17 and 3.6.14, and Thunderbird 3.1.8 have patched a number of vulnerabilities in the browsers that could have been exploited during the contest.
This comes just a little while after Google patched a number of vulnerabilities in its own Chrome browser, in advance of the competition. A total of $125,000 are at stake this year out of which $20,000 comes from Google themselves, for those who can crack the Google Chrome browser.
The order in which researchers will tackle a target is assigned by a random drawing, and the contest is winner-take-all: Only the first to hack a browser or Smartphone walks off with the money.
And that has Charlie Miller, an analyst for the Baltimore-based consulting firm Independent Security Evaluators (ISE), -- and the only researcher to have won at Pwn2Own three years running.
As per Pwn2Own rules, TippingPoint's Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) bug bounty program acquires the rights to the winning vulnerabilities and exploits, and swears the researcher to secrecy. ZDI then reports the bugs to the corresponding vendor, and gives that vendor six months to patch the problem before releasing any information to the public.

Aaron Portnoy, manager of TippingPoint's security research team and the organizer of Pwn2Own for each of its five years, won't distribute cash prizes for all successful hacks this year -- a practice it did in 2008, when it gave $5,000 for each zero-day exploit-- it will pay for bugs that researchers don't get a chance to use.

"We are still offering money through the normal [ZDI] program for any vulnerabilities the contestants didn't get a chance to use," said Portnoy. "In fact, we are likely able to offer a higher amount of [ZDI] reward points if the submitted information is legitimate and exploitation is demonstrated."

ZDI does not disclose its bug bounty fee schedule, but awards “reward points"-- akin to frequent flier miles -- that contributors can cash in for one-time payments.

Pwn2Own is scheduled to run March 9-11 at CanSecWest a security conference held each year in Vancouver, British Columbia.
     Let your hands dirty with codes and show off your 1337 geek snoozing inside you......Are you ready...!!!!
  

NIT Jamshedpur at the Top of the World

At last Indian thrust produced fruits and the year 2010 proved to be lucky for India, as first time in the last 25 years of history of Formula SAE, any Indian team won first prize. Formula SAE is a student design event conducted by Society of Automobile Engineers. It began over 25 years ago in USA with a few of universities and now serves as one of the major organizations working in the field of spreading automobile knowledge. The event is organized in 8 different countries round a year that includes Australia, UK, Germany, USA, Italy, Brazil, and Japan. In 2010, it held from December 9-12in Melbourne(Australia)
  Drift Racing Team of NIT Jamshedpur won the title for COST REPORT and PRESENTATION EVENT and became the first Indian team to win this and first team in the world to win it in its very first event. The 13-member team Team could not take part in dynamic events but participated in static events and won the event of cost report (the most economic car )which is meant for making the best car with optimum resources and cost without compromising the performance. It was the only team there that was not with the car but amazed the judges by winning the Cost event.
   For better detail and more information continue reading the following 'Drift Racing Team- Press Release 16-12-2010'

Drift Racing Team- Press Release 16-12-2010

 Formula SAE

Formula SAE is a student design event conducted by Society of Automobile Engineers. It began over 25 years ago in USA with a few of universities and now serves as one of the major organizations working in the field of spreading automobile knowledge. The event is organized in 8 different countries round a year that includes Australia, UK, Germany, USA, Italy, Brazil, and Japan.

It challenges students to design, built and race a one man, open wheeled race car assuming that they have been engaged by a manufacturing firm to produce a prototype car for evaluation as a potential production item. The resisted car engine capacity and a set of rules lay by SAE forces students to widen their realm of creativity and imagination and think out of box. The vehicle is tested for its aerodynamic design, high performance, acceleration, braking and handling.  It also engages student to master skills of both engineering and non-engineering fields.

History in India

The following colleges in India have participated in International Formula SAE competitions:       

Delhi College of Engineering,Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University,Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay,Indian institute of technology  , Delhi,Indian institute of technology  , Kharagpur,K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai,Laxmi Devi Institute of Engineering and Technology,Manipal University,Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology,Thapar University and others……..

Formula SAE has also been started in India last year and is strengthening with more than 60 colleges participating this year.

 “Drift Racing Team”- from National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur representing INDIA,  successfully participated in the static event of Formula-SAE Australasia 2010, and finished 1^st  in the event-“COST REPORT and PRESENTATION EVENT” among 30 teams from different universities  of Australia, USA,  Japan  South Korea ,New Zealand and India.

·         Formula SAE Australasia event is an annual International Formula SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Event, in which teams from universities across the world, design, build and race a prototype racing car. The event was judged by engineers from eclectic international Automobile companies such as Ford, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Hyundai.  This event was held at Victoria University, Australia.

·         For the year 2010, Drift Racing Team owes its success to NIT Jamshedpur as well as its Golden Sponsor TATA STEEL for its constant support for our endeavor. We are very thankful to our honorable Chairman Mr. B. Muthuraman and our Director, Prof. Rajnish Srivastava, without whose support and encouragement such an achievement would not have been possible.

·        We would also like to thank our bronze sponsors- AIADA Industrial region which includes Shokhi Engineering Company, Hard Rock Fabrications, Ramakrishna Forging, Auto-Fibre craft, and Garg Industries for their support and also Eaton Electronics, USA for their technical support.

·         However, we could not take our car to Australia due to lack of sponsorship funds and delay in arrival of imported automotive parts from abroad. But still, we never gave up our hope and gave our best effort in spite of such conditions.

·         Moreover, the future looks bright for our car and we will be able to upgrade our car with new imported parts by March 2011 and participate in FORMULA STUDENT UK, which will be held in July 2011.

·         Drift racing team is the First Indian team to win in an international Formula SAE event and is first team to win in its very first event. Earlier Drift racing team was second runner up at FSAE India design challenge 2009.

We could not participate in the dynamic events as we did not have the car but the team  won the static event of cost report (the most economic car )which is meant for making the best car with optimum resources and cost without compromising the performance. Ours was the only team there that was not with the car but amazed the judges by winning the Cost event.

The team had crossed many hurdles while designing the car. Though we did our best to design the car virtually on paper and computer monitors but we couldn’t manufacture the car on time due to lack of funds, also the members who had made India proud at Australia had to participate in the event on their own expenses. Now, we are planning to participate in FORMULA-SAE U.K. from 13^th July, 2011 to 17^th July, 2011 with the same spirit and positive hope.

Specification Sheet of the Car:

Car Type	4 wheel, single open cockpit, formula style
Frame Construction	Steel space frame using SAE 4130 steel tubes
Overall Dimensions L/W/H (mm)	2100mm/1450mm/1180mm
Wheelbase	1575mm
Track Width (front/rear) in mm	1250/1200mm
Target weight with driver	270kg
Suspension	4 wheel independent, push rods actuated non-parallel ‘A’ arms
Drive Type	Rear Wheel driven
Differential	Chain drive
Brake System	Twin rotor on front and single differential mounted rotor at rear, bias adjustable
Steering System	Customized steering design
Tyres	Goodyear R13 , D2696
Engine	HONDA CBR 600cc mpfi, supercharged by EATON M24 supercharger
Fuel	93-100 octane Petrol

  

Comments by judges

Technical judges present at the event said that the car was designed after a “lot of hard work” and was “innovative” and the reports made were “different from other teams” and “very comprehensive” as compared to other FSAE teams. The SAE President along with other SAE officials also said that with the DR211 design, the NIT team would have been “very competitive” and “would have definitely done well” at this year’s competition.

Cost Estimate for Project Formula SAE-NIT Jamshedpur  2010-2011 INR Competition Expenditure I. Registration for Formula SAE Australasia(in July 2010) 1,73,000 II. Car Shipping* 7,00,000 III. Team travel & Accomodation* 5,00,000 Cost of the Car DR211 I. Engine (Honda CBR 600cc superbike) 2,80,000 II.Engine Modification# 1,20,000 III.Chassis 40,000 IV. Suspension# 90,000 V. Tyres( 2 set)* 90,000 VI. Alloy Wheels (2 set)* 60,000 VII. Brakes* 25,000 VIII. Steering* 20,000 IX. Electrical* 15,000 X. Transmission# 75,000 XI.Gear Shifter 60,000 : XII. Driver's safety Equipments* 90,000 XIII. Outer Body and wings* 80,000 XIV. Aerodynamics* 10,000 XV. Miscellaneous (Nuts , Bolts & Tools)* 25,000 Car Development Cost: 10,80,000                                                                   Total cost: 24,53,000 *-yet to be procured #-partially procured

The Team:

Faculty Advisor: Prof. Shalendra Kumar

Captain: Uttam Kumar

S.NO	NAME	BRANCH
1	Uttam Kumar	Mechanical Engineering
2	Turam Purty	Metallurgical Engineering
3	Saikat Shekhar Sardar	Metallurgical Engineering
4	Rahul	Mechanical Engineering
5	Rahul Singh	Mechanical Engineering
6	Rahul kumar	Mechanical Engineering
7	Alok kr. Verma	Civil Engineering
8	Nitin Agarwal	Civil Engineering
9	Tahir Sousa	Electronics & Comm. Engg.
10	Vamsee Krishna Tangirala	Electronics & Comm. Engg.
11	Aditya Kumar	Mechanical Engineering
12	Soumyadeep Viswas	Mechanical Engineering
13	Alok Srivastava	Mechanical Engineering

Saikat Shekhar Sardar, Nitin Agarwal and Tahir Sousa went to Australia for participation in FSAE Australasia 2010 on their own expenses due to lack of funds.

  

The Wired Station

The wired image

computer = comput+er= computing error

 Reaching sky

No network......Brain Hacked....

The Tech Pack Here

This blog is dedicated to all the those geeks as well as non-geeks who wish to walk parallel with the world and can think something out of the box. This place is supposed to be the next ideal stoppage for technocrats of the future. This blog is promised to to be the tool of all your technical needs and help. Don't be shy of putting comments and let us know your views. You can demand the topics to get pinned at this blog, related to any technology under the sun.
         Just keep your fingers crossed and we are here to provide you all those dreamy technological stuffs, reviews of products, queries about study materials...... list is long enough to make this first post a full length article...so we invite you all to enrich your nerves with The Technical Flair.