Indian Space Research Organisation not only builds satellites and launches rockets, it also uses the knowledge to develop software to help industry.
Hyderabad: The Indian Space Research Organisation not only builds satellites and launches rockets, it also uses the knowledge to develop software to help industry. One such software, Finite Element Analysis of Structures (FEAST) was celebrated at the IIT-Hyderabad on Saturday.
Representatives from the automobile, civil, and mechanical engineering sectors which use the software, developed by Isro’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) were present at the 8th FEAST Users’ Meet here a major leap in India’s indigenous engineering capabilities with the launch of the latest version of FEAST. Also present were over 250 experts from academia, industry, and research institutions to discuss advancements in finite element analysis, aerospace engineering, and India’s push for self-reliance in technology.
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, in a video message, talked about the growing role of indigenous software in India’s space missions, stating that tools like FEAST were essential for the design and structural analysis of future projects, including the Gaganyaan, the human spaceflight mission, Bharatiya Antariksh Station, and the next generation of rockets.
The meet was inaugurated by Dr S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of VSSC, who noted that FEAST had seen multiple upgrades over the years and had 4,000 licencees. He said Isro was also developing Pravaha, an indigenous computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, which is expected to be launched commercially soon.
Speaking at the event, Prof. B.S. Murty, IIT-H Director, stressed the role of FEAST in India’s manufacturing sector.
An exclusive exhibition on FEAST’s evolution and applications was inaugurated by Prof. Murty. The event also featured design competitions, quiz contests, and parallel technical sessions on statics, dynamics, thermal analysis, and advanced structural modelling, engaging students and young researchers in cutting-edge innovations.