Mumbai: In an event that brought together some of India’s brightest minds, teams from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) emerged as key victors at the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024.
This year’s hackathon, the largest open innovation model in the world, challenged students to tackle pressing real-world problems through interdisciplinary collaboration and technological innovation. Organised by the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell and AICTE, SIH 2024 concluded on December 15, following five months of intense competition.
Three teams from IIT-B secured the coveted “SIH Grand Finale Winner” titles in their respective problem categories, showcasing solutions that ranged from advanced wireless charging systems for electric vehicles to AI-powered tools for Indian Sign Language translation.
The teams, comprising a total of 18 students, were supported by the Institution’s Innovation Council, which facilitated their participation and mentorship.
One of the the winning entries from IIT-B came from Team HexaSAR_2024. Led by Abhinav Verma (a PhD student at the Center of Studies in Resources Engineering), developed a framework for detecting human-made changes in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images.
Using the Dual-pol Radar Built-up Index (DpRBI) and the Google Earth Engine platform, the solution offers applications in infrastructure planning and disaster management.
Team Evibe_2024, led by Animesh Jain (Bachelor of Science, Chemistry), devised a dynamic wireless charging system for electric vehicles, enabling charging on the move. The system features anti-collision mechanisms and efficient cooling, contributing to sustainable transportation.
Team Alerta_2024, led by Mukund Kushwaha (B.Tech, Aerospace), created an AI-powered tool to translate audio-visual content into Indian Sign Language (ISL) and vice versa. This transformative tool enhances accessibility in education, healthcare, and communication for the hearing-impaired.
While IIT-B made a significant mark, it was not the only institution to celebrate victory. SIH 2024 witnessed participation from thousands of students across India, with several other universities demonstrating their innovative capabilities.
Teams from institutions such as IIT Madras and Delhi Technological University were recognised for their contributions in fields like renewable energy optimisation, healthcare accessibility, and sustainable urban planning.
This year’s hackathon saw a diverse range of problem statements from government departments, industries, and NGOs, underscoring its commitment to addressing complex societal challenges. Projects included tools to enhance disaster response systems, applications for improving agricultural efficiency, and technologies to reduce urban carbon footprints.
