VELLORE: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing an Acoustic Sensor for forecasting and management of tsunami, A. Sivathanu Pillai, CEO and MD of BrahMos Aerospace and chief Controller of R&D, DRDO said here today.
Participating at the inauguration of 18th National level Symposium on ‘Ultrasonic’ at VIT University organised by School of Advanced Science, VIT University in association with Ultrasonic Society of India (USI), he said that the DRDO had joined with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for developing a system to detect tsunami. ISRO would be launching a satellite within two to three months for detecting tsunami using the sensor that would be produced by DRDO.
He said that the prototype of sensor had already been produced and tested. Network and transmission have been checked. At present, DRDO was in the task of identifying which were possible places prone to tsunami.
Dr.Pillai said that ultrasonic had now become an important tool for Underwater Acoustic Imaging. The capability to image underwater objects with high resolution had now become important in many scientific, defence and engineering applications.
Underwater vision system was gaining prominence due to ocean surveillance for internal security along coastal waters. Further, acoustical imaging was the principle means of sight in harsh ocean environment.
He said advances have been made in the field of sound transmission. Sound transmission had been playing an important role in health care, defence, marine navigation, material sciences and disaster management. Similarly, DRDO had been involved in serial production of missiles. DRDO was now competent and self-sufficient in tactical sonar system including submarine based sonar, ship based sonar and dunking sonar.
Health sector
Talking about the importance of ultrasonic in biomedical field, Dr.Pillai said ultrasonic had huge applications in health care system. The system was being used to speed up bone healing, detect kidney stones, to probe depth of bones, identify tumours, angiogenesis and detect osteoporosis. Even, it was possible for insulin delivery through ultrasound patch. Ultrasound was also being used to locate internal bleeding and arrest it. Surgery could also be performed through Ultrasonic.
He said that DRDO had developed a life detecting device called Sanjeevani. It was a device to detect human beings trapped under the debris and avalanches. The device was also used to rescue people who were trapped during earthquake that occurred in Gujarat. The system proved to be successful.
Referring to the progress made in the field of aerospace, the Chief Controller of DRDO said after the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Medium Combat Aircraft have been manufactured. At present DRDO was in the stage of manufacturing fifth generation aircraft in collaboration with Russia. Memorandum of Understanding had already been signed with Russia in this regard.
On the cruise missile BrahMos, he said DRDO had been working on a system to induct the missile in Indian Air Force aircrafts it had been already successfully inducted in Indian Navy and Army.
G. Viswanathan, Chancellor, VIT University, Sekar Viswanathan, G.V. Selvam, pro-chancellors and Krishna Lal, president of Ultrasonic Society of India spoke. A souvenir was released on the occasion.
Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/22/stories/2009122252950300.htm
