NCETIS

THE SENTINEL
Volume -1 July 2022

Dear Readers,
Warm Greetings from NCETIS, IIT Bombay!
As you may be well aware that the National Center of
Excellence in Technology for Internal Security was envisioned
with a mission to develop indigenous, state of the art, self-
sufficient technology solutions to address internal security
challenges faced by Indian security forces and law
enforcement agencies. NCETIS aims to be a resource center
for technology needs for internal security forces.
It has now been more than seven years since we started this journey. The challenging
Covid times taught us to embrace the uncertainty and enjoy the becoming, when
nothing is unequivocal. The past couple of years have taught us to be resilient and
harness our inner strength. As we envisage the new reality, it is time to adapt to these
changes and work towards realizing our aspirations.
At NCETIS, we remain resolute in accomplishing our mission of building innovations
and elevating technological competencies of security forces.
With the gradual return of normalcy, our activities at the Center have also gained
momentum. While we continue with our virtual programs, we are also now beginning to
push forward and recommence the physical aspects of our projects. The Center has
already embarked on the physical trials and testing of technologies. We are also
rebooting our educational courses with the intent of elevating the aptitude and
proficiency of security forces.
We were recently graced with the presence of the Hon. Shri. Balaji Srivastava, Director
General, BPR&D. We explained him the NCETIS projects and initiatives. His inputs were
really encouraging and motivating.
Our Webinar series also saw the delivery of some very interesting and thought-
provoking lecture sessions. Enthusiastic feedback and avid participation from the
audience makes the sessions all the more enthralling.
Recently the Center was able to successfully conduct the demonstrations of Video
analytics and Ground Penetrating Radar for CISF. The responses received are promising
and have paved the way for many more such trials in the future.

Contents In addition, the NCETIS ambit is expanding at a rapid rate, with new projects and
avenues opening. We hope that these new approaches will find the light of success they
In Conversation with deserve.
Director IITB As they say, “To really find out how strong and resilient you are, you must embrace
Visiting Dignitaries uncertainty. Feel the fear and do it anyway!”, I’d like to sign off this address by
expressing my appreciation and acknowledging the efforts of my fellow colleagues and
Beyond Research
staff for their uncompromising attitude towards taking NCETIS to new heights.
Spotlight
Milestones B G Fernandes
Upcoming Events Coordinator, NCETIS IIT Bombay
 In conversation with the Director IIT Bombay
Question:- Where do you see India's internal security
as compared to other nations?
Prof. Chaudhuri: Seeing India’s geopolitical situation,
internal security is very important. India is a very densely
populated country and people’s safety is a prime concern.
It has to be IIT Bombay’s responsibility to see that some
of these aspects are taken care of and our researchers do
look into those problems. It is very important that proper
emphasis be put in as the technology is moving very fast
Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri
and so is the opportunity on the other side to abuse the
technology. Also, it's not a one-time effort, it is a effort to get to the market. And the products related to
continuous effort. With the speedy movement of Internal security are not like consumer products, if one
technology, we have to keep updating to newer individual doesn't take it, somebody else would be happy
technology. You have to absorb quickly and make sure to take it. It's something that is adopted by security
that our peacekeepers, the police force and the armed agencies. The entire agency takes up the same product.
forces actually get access to such modern innovations So at the time of development, we should work with the
and we need to develop things that are very specific to the security agencies so that it actually sees the light at the
requirements of the Indian subcontinent. end of the day.

Question :- As a research institution, how do you think Question:- From the policy point of view, how can the
we can make that impact? Are we moving in that government intervene? Startups would only jump in if
direction? Is a research institute the best way to handle things make sense for them from a business point of
that or should some other entities, like the industrial view. How can the government facilitate this by policy
setup be more responsible for it? making?

Prof. Chaudhuri: See, the research Institute can provide Prof. Chaudhuri: When I'm talking about the policy, there
you with proof of the concept and this technology could are certain cases which require the product to serve a
even be absorbed or maybe would need a little bit of fine- specific type of application. In those cases, it is required
tuning. But if you look at the overall scenario of the that a government provides its requirements and
country, a technological institution cannot create final provides hand holding. In earlier days we used to have
products and commercialize. That's not the job of the different PSUs. They came out because the government
university. For that, you need your startups and industry, looked at various possibilities and felt that there’s a need
whether private or the government. That has to be done to create certain kinds of industries. As a result, PSUs like
because India’s a big country. The scale is important. ECIL, BEL came out. They had a mandate. Now those are
Universities are not meant for scaling up your products. the PSUs, but in case of individuals, they have to invest
Product development has to be taken up by the industry. their own money. These investors also have to see that
And, in India, when you do something new, we should the money gets back to them with a certain amount of
encourage companies to take it up. But we'll also have to profit at the end of it. So PSUs are maybe more like a
see that they have a business model because sometimes government organization having a different proposition.
some technologies may not have a market beyond Now if you are taking up a private initiative, you’ll see if
peacekeepers. there is a benefit in terms of getting into the
This needs a proper policy by the government. When commercialization. It's not that the government doesn't
institutions like IITs create certain kind of products and have policies to support it. For example, ‘Make in India’ is
indigenous technology at some kind of a readiness level, one such initiative. It provides a support mechanism to
there should be hand-holding with companies or start- promote things made in India. If the product delivers to
ups. They should be given all the facilities to see that their the expected user needs at a fair price, maybe not
product has a market otherwise who would come forward compared to the L1 products globally, but still it has a
to do that ? I would say the industry has to put in a lot of good price, then the government can also purchase it. The

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upcoming companies need this kind of support in present with a lot of challenges and this is something that we
times. cannot just simply not do.
Question:- What is your opinion on indigenisation of Question:- How is NCETIS important to the IIT Bombay
strategic technologies? ecosystem?
Prof. Chaudhuri: If you say indigenisation, typically your Prof. Chaudhuri: In Academia, there are various types of
market, you are looking at India. It is not a global market. So problems. Some of them are very pertinent in today's
you don't have a level playing field outside. Your field of world. Some of them are very pressing in terms of requiring
action is in this country. Now, if you do that one, then we'll a solution. Some of them are intellectually very appealing
have to say that if it is indigenised we will have to go for and some of them would be futuristic. And all of them are
that kind of product. If you’re not opting for indigenised important for an academic institution.
products then things could be difficult in certain times Now, with the NCETIS project, professors and students
when there are international issues in terms of trade get to work on some real problems that are important in
policies and other restrictions. today’s time and require a good solution. Secondly, due to
But when you go for indigenised products you might not be the NCETIS’s involvement with the security agencies,
able to match with the cost and the product quality of researchers can get help and support in terms of data or in
global products. Maybe the specific problem for which you terms of evaluating the technology.
require it doesn’t need that level of high specification. In So a good ecosystem gets created in terms of doing
such cases, the security agencies can actually go for it and focussed research which is in today's need and yesterday's
say that yes, this is good enough and will fulfill their needs. need. So that's the opportunity NCETIS is providing to
Question:- So you mentioned educational institutions some of our faculty members and the students.
can also contribute in this technology development for Question:- According to you, what are the top three
internal security. What organizations does IIT Bombay innovative technologies that are required to combat the
have in order to help with this? present world threat scenarios?
Prof. Chaudhuri: We have NCETIS as a center, which was Prof. Chaudhuri: I think today one of the most common
actually created with the funding from the government threats are cyber attacks. In the past, it was a bliss that we
agencies to cater to this particular thing. It is an did not have such kinds of problems when the internet was
interdisciplinary center that brings in researchers from not there. But now the internet has become a part of our
diverse areas (Eg. Electrical, Computer science, life. It has made many things very simple. To combat cyber
Mechanical, Chemistry etc). threats, cyber security is very important in present times.
These researchers solve two issues: (i) Development of Second thing would be the physical threats. In some cases,
products and (ii) Conceptualization and Demonstration of it's a physical assault with the use of weapons or other
a new technology. Both of them are very important destructive mechanisms. Now, if you can detect them early,
because certain things may be ready for absorption at the we can get a few minutes of advantage and eventually
quickest time. Second issue is what is the path ahead? prevent a lot of damage. You have seen places like the U.S.
There is always a constant increase so you’d like to get into where school shootings are very common. Though they
that so that you don't want to get on the wrong foot at a have a lot of things in place when it comes to technology
later stage. and internal security, somehow they have not been able to
So if that's what you want, then we have this center. Now, prevent the shootings yet. Can we actually have some kind
the first phase is over and we’d like to definitely go beyond of thing in place to prevent this? In these cases life is very
this. And I think it's a wonderful initiative that was set up important and you have to protect it because there are
five years ago thanks to our funding agencies and we are always forces which actually operate on a completely
constantly in touch with them. different wavelength where the value and dignity of life is
We have also on-boarded people at various kinds of not there. So it's an indiscriminate destruction of life and
security agencies to understand their needs. This way we property. Can we prevent that? Various kinds of
can work on more appropriate things. I think that the surveillance mechanisms, other things can be very
nation needs not only one , but several such NCETIS type important in this regard.
of centers at various places because India is a big country

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Third would be the natural disaster related threats because activities that actually such institutions are supposed to do.
they can cause heavy destruction to life and property. If we Research, teaching and creating ideas, could go on the back
can create a proper mechanism through homeland safety foot if the survival of the centers like NCETIS depends on
and security for disaster prevention that'd be wonderful. how much money we make. Of course, in certain cases you
Sometimes, problems like earthquakes and floods are very could make enough money to support the center and there
difficult to predict. But even in that case a quick way of have been successful stories, but in most cases this has to
recovery and communication are still possible. That can be be supported.
done in various ways by using drones, penetrating radars
Instead of viewing this as just an investment in research for
and many other kinds of technologies. I think that these are
Homeland Security, you have to consider that you are
very useful technologies that you should invest in.
creating manpower by training people to be ready for
Question:- What are the suggestions to make NCETIS tomorrow. You are creating a human infrastructure
self-sustaining? consisting of faculty members and student researchers.
They will deliver results in the next 30-40 years. So, you
Prof. Chaudhuri: It is not so easy to become self-reliant
have to look at it as an investment.
from the funding point of view. That’s because anything you
do in a university and other research institutes is not a Of course, we should try to see that there is not too much of
profit making center. a burden to the funding agencies. If possible, we should see
that we can generate funds. But personally, I don't believe
Having a good revenue depends on what kinds of products
that we should be shooting for that. Then the key purpose
you are able to deliver in the market. Whereas a research
of the center gets defeated. Then you rather do a good
institution’s job is to create opportunities and products
business. You invest money in a share market and other
prototypes upto a certain Technology Readiness Level. If
things like this. Then you don't do research and take the
you say that our primary emphasis is to become financially
technology forward.
self reliant then you also have to see what are the other

Visiting Dignitaries

Hon. Shri. Balaji Srivastava, Director General, Hon. Shri. Balaji Srivastava
Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) with NCETIS Team

Hon. Shri. Balaji Srivastava, Director General, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) visited NCETIS, IIT
Bombay on May 26, 2022 to understand, observe and review the Center’s initiatives. The meeting was conducted to give a
detailed overview of NCETIS activities and initiatives.
The individual project investigators presented a comprehensive picture of the technologies through detailed
presentations. The meeting involved exchange of ideas and suggestions for greater collaboration between NCETIS and
BPR&D.

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 Beyond Research
The Center along with its technological endeavours, undertakes outreach efforts in the form of Webinars, workshops
and courses. These activities form the foundation for potential alliances between the Center, industry and academics.
Another motivating factor is the Center’s passion for providing a mutual platform for thought sharing and bringing
together like-minded individuals for sustainable collaborations.

Webinars
The following Webinars were conducted over the course of the last couple of months as part of NCETIS
‘Virtual Outreach Series’.
“Cyberwar: Attack and Techniques” by Mr. Suyash Jadhav & Mr. Rugved Jakka, Algosmic Cybersecurity.

“AI in Forensics: Issues and Challenges” by Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Government Institute of Forensic Science, Aurangabad.

“Drone & Anti-Drone Technology” by Mr. Vipul Joshi, Co-Founder and VP of Operations, ideaForge Technology.

Courses/workshops
TechnoSpark : “Technologies for Security” The Role of Technology in Crime & Crime Prevention

The Vertical Interaction Course on “The Role of Technology in Crime and Crime Prevention” was conducted by NCETIS
in partnership with the BPR&D from 13th to 17th June 2022. The participants were IPS and senior police officers
nominated by BPR&D from various states of India.

It was a five-day in-house course where renowned faculty from various departments of IIT Bombay and eminent
personalities from police agencies and industry delivered interactive and informative sessions on security specific
subjects. Apart from in-class lectures, the attendees also visited the Defence factory of Larsen & Toubro at Talegaon,
Maharashtra where they got a ground level experience in assembly of defence equipment and technologies.

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 Spotlight
Rovers
Question- Please let us know about your journey with
Prof. Anirban Guha
rovers- Success and Tribulations.
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Prof. Guha: - Rovers occupy a unique position. Being without force feedback in the latest Rover being
bound to the surface, they can be amongst us and be an fabricated. It will also have the highest transporting-
enabler for a crucial task, namely our safety. My first brush object-weight to self-weight ratio compared to any Rover
with Rovers was when I heard of them being used for Moon in the world. Its rocker bogie locomotion mechanism will
exploration as long back as in 1970 through Luna17 - ensure reliability as well as reasonable obstacle
Lunokhod 1. The more recent efforts by NASA and the
negotiation capability.
European Space Agency for Mars exploration had
rekindled interest on this topic. The challenge of A low self-weight of 20 kg will allow it to be carried by a
developing Rovers for terrestrial applications was taking single person and be easily deployed in completely off-
care of the wide range of scenarios that they were road locations. A 140 kg Rover built has a much larger
expected to work in. The variation in tasks that they were reach of the Robotic arm and can lift a 10 kg object of
expected to perform was also a challenge. But, after a long
dimensions of 300 x 300 x 300 mm at one meter from the
journey, I can look back with satisfaction on a path which
front edge of the Rover. It can climb 45-degree ramps and
has defined the way in which design of Rovers should be
200 mm high steps and has a three-hour single battery
attempted.
charge capability. Another 70 kg Rover designed has the
Question- What are the Unique features of Rovers same reach of the arm and dexterity and can lift objects up
developed in NCETIS? to 3 kg. Its ability to go up 45-degree ramps and negotiate
steps remains the same. The Robotic arms and several
Prof. Guha: There are four functions needed to be other internal components of the 140 kg and 70 kg Rovers
integrated in the Rover design: can be exchanged. This is a capability that other
The first is an ability to grip the suspicious object and pick manufacturers of multiple Rovers have not attempted.
it up. The second function is the ability to transport the
object which its arm had picked up to a location where its A 27 kg Rover with a track-based locomotion mechanism,
unexpected detonation would not cause harm to humans. has also been built at NCETIS with the same one-meter
The third function is the capability to transmit information reach of arm. Its ability to lift heavy objects is less than half
about its actions to a base station in real time and the a kilogram. It can climb 30-degree ramps and 150 mm high
fourth function is the ability of a remote operator to steps. All these Rovers have three cameras giving
control the Rover with a degree of finesse. continuous video feedback to the control station from
where all the actions, locomotion as well as robotic arm
Finally, all of these need to be fail-safe. This requires
and gripper can be controlled. Fine control of these actions
design redundancy to be the guiding principle for all of
has been facilitated by a joystick-based control. The
these.
control station along with the unit for displaying the video
The guiding principles mentioned above formed the basis
feedback has been designed to be mounted on a backpack
of design of the Rovers built under the aegis of NCETIS, IIT
for easy transportation.
Bombay. A patented Robotic arm-gripper design ensures
near zero tilt object lifting and no slip object transport

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Question- What is the role that Rovers can play in the Rover-submersibles. The large area scanning capability of
internal security of our country? drones may be compromised in the presence of foliage.
Prof. Guha: Apart from removal and safe disposal of a This is where a Rover on ground can augment its capability.
suspected improvised explosive device, these Rovers can Additionally, delivery or removal of delicate payloads in
also become the platform for integration of multiple regions of dense foliage may require help from a ground-
devices. The ability of a shotgun, a water cannon and an X- based Rover. A Rover mounted tether has the potential to
ray device to be mounted on the robotic arm of a Rover has overcome many barriers. Submersibles too often need to
also been demonstrated in a Rover built in IIT Bombay. communicate continuously with a surface vessel for
Throughout the process of design and development, we navigation. The transfer of information from the surface
have realized that every unit of every security agency has a vessel to a land-based Rover designed specifically for this
unique requirement. So, the appropriate policy is to design purpose may improve the operational reliability of the
custom-built Rovers for every security agency and perhaps mission.
for a specific unit of a security agency. All these futuristic applications may be nearer than we
Question- What is your future vision for Rovers? think, and I look forward to the deployment of custom-
Prof. Guha: Rovers occupy a key role in the troika of drone- built Rovers all around us for a safer world.

Mile Stones
Heartiest congratulations to Prof. Vikram Gadre for being inducted on the Technology and Architecture Review Board
(TARB) of UIDAI as an invitee.
A Startup named Geo Radar AI Pvt. Ltd has been incubated for the Ground Penetrating Radar. The startup participated
in the Phase-II of the BSF-BHUMI Challenge.

The Center conducted trials for the ‘Ground Penetrating Radar’ and ‘Video Analytics Tool’ for the Central Industrial
Security Force (CISF) on 13th April 2022 in IIT Bombay. Both the technologies received positive response from CISF.
The respective teams are now working on improving the technologies based on the feedback received.

The center has also produced 10 patents through its research and published 75+ publications in national and
international conferences.

The handheld Explosive Detector- Beaglez (Bigtec Labs) & The Video Analytics Tool (SrivisifAI Technologies) have
been successfully commercialized. Both are available on the GeM Portal.

Startups name MCLabs from the ‘Broadband Critical Communication System’ project, JanYu Technologies from the
‘Rovers’ project & Geo Radar AI Private Ltd. from the ‘Ground Penetrating Radar’ project have been incubated.

Upcoming Events
The Center will be conducting trials of its technologies for the personnel from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National
Police Academy (SVPNPA) in the month of July-August 2022.

Another technology trial will be held in July for the team visiting from the National Security Guard. The team are
specially interested in the demonstrations of technologies related to explosive detection and Radio Frequency Sensors.

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 Editorial Team
Editors Journalists Designer & Photo Journalist
Smita Bhattacharjee Beena Menon Sandip Tirmare
Suhas Rautmare Animesh Singhal Salam P.
Arush Gupta
Shardul Parab

Email: ncetis@ee.iitb.ac.in Address: Room No. 318, 3rd Floor,

Project Manager Industry Liaison Officer