The 30 finalists of KPIT Sparkle 2018 showcased their projects at a public exhibition, held at the premises of the event’s academic partner, Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering (PCCOE), Pune.
The finalists were evaluated based on the novelty, affordability, and commercial viability of the proposed ideas. The winners of the contest were evaluated by a panel of eminent jurors and announced at an award ceremony on 18th February 2018, where cash prizes of INR 21 Lakhs were awarded to them.
This year the projects which came to finale were implemented on actual vehicles. There were Green Technology projects like energy production using Fuel Cell and Hydrogen being used as fuel for automotive applications, compressed air engines. Interesting projects like climate control without using refrigerants, recycling of plastic to form building material. Projects which were aimed at end user Convenience like a dynamic time table for busses depending on ridership, predictive path for ambulances, overtake assistance systems etc. Projects which dealt with Safety like Vehicle flow optimization, collisions avoidance systems, Smart Helmets etc.
At the grand finale of KPIT Sparkle 2018, the winners were felicitated with cash prizes and medals. Students were awarded in the presence of Dr. K Radhakrishnan, Former Chairman, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Harkesh Mittal, Adviser, Member Secretary, National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB). The august gathering also included Ravi Pandit, Chairman and Group CEO, KPIT Technologies; Dr. RA Mashelkar, Chairman, KPIT Innovation Council and Dr. AM Fulambarkar, Principal, PCCOE, in addition to the jurors.
Team Electrodes from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur won the Platinum award of Rs. 10 lakhs for their project Bacteria Powered Battery
Team SmartGears from SAHYADRI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & MANAGEMENT, Mangalore won the Gold award of Rs. 5 lakhs for their project Smart Helmet
Team NanoKnocks from PUNE VIDYARTHI GRIHA'S COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, Pune won the Silver award of Rs. 2.5 lakhs for their project Organic Nano Material for cleaning Oil Spills
Team Thermo from PAD. DR. D. Y. PATIL INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING, MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH and PIMPRI CHINCHWAD COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, Pune won the Silver award of Rs. 2.5 lakhs for their project Converting Waste Heat into electricity
Team Path Predictor from NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, HAMIRPUR won the Most Popular Award of Rs. 1 lakh for their project Predictive Path Analyzer for Priority vehicles. This team received highest no of votes across India.