The Department of Aerospace Engineering (AED) at Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh, in collaboration with the Aeronautical Society of India (Chandigarh Branch), kicked off the two-day National Seminar and Flying Competition titled “DRONEVERSE” on March 15, 2024. The event, co-sponsored by TEQIP – 3 and SoFly Pvt Ltd, saw esteemed guests and dignitaries in attendance.
The Chief Guest, Shyam Chetty (Former Director, CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratory, Bangalore), along with Guest of Honor Dr. A.K. Ghosh (Concept Design & Consultant, TASL, Bangalore), and Dr. S.C. Sharma (Former Professor of AED, PEC and Founding Member of ASI), joined Director Deepal Lekhi, Director of PEC, and Prof. (Dr.) Baldev Setia, along with Dr. Rakesh Kumar (Head, AED) and Dr. Poonam Saini (Faculty, CSE) for the inaugural session.
Dr. Poonam Saini, in her opening remarks, provided insights into the conference and welcomed all the dignitaries to the PEC Campus. She expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest, Guest of Honor, and Director for their esteemed presence, emphasizing that “Droneverse is not just a competition; it’s a gateway to a transformative era in aviation.”
Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Head of AED, outlined the conference agenda, focusing on discussions around drone technology, applications of unmanned aerial devices, navigation challenges, and the growth of Indian aeronautics. He extended gratitude to the esteemed guests and keynote speakers.
Prof. (Dr.) Baldev Setia extended a warm welcome to all the dignitaries at PEC, praising the department’s dedication and the institute’s illustrious history spanning over 103 years. He shared the inspiring story of the Wright Brothers and highlighted the shift from the invention of the first successful airplane to the current focus on unmanned drone technology.
Prof. S.C. Sharma reminisced about the Aerospace Engineering Department’s journey and emphasized the significance of drone technology in today’s era. He congratulated Dr. Rakesh Kumar for selecting pertinent topics and wished success for the seminar.