Researchers at IITM who worked towards developing strategies for imporving braking performance are
Professor C.S. Shankar Ram of Department of Engineering Design at IIT Madras and his PhD student Dr. V.S. Kesavan.

The work of researchers at IITM could help implement a braking system in Electrified Vehicles, which can improve the stopping distance and ride comfort in the presence of regenerative braking.

Researchers at IITM work for improving great performance

Although such strategies have been developed for lighter road vehicles, there is a lack of strategies through which the braking performance of heavy commercial road vehicles (such as buses and trucks) can be improved through ‘regenerative braking,’ say researchers at IITM.

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Professor Shankar said given the increasing adoption of electrified heavy road vehicles, it is imperative to study their dynamic response during on-road operation.

Brakes are used to ensure safe operation of vehicles, and this research focusses on the braking of electrified heavy road vehicles, he said.

Speaking further about braking system, researchers at IITM said there are two types – Friction Based Braking System and Regenerative Braking System.

Friction Based Braking system is where the drivers in conventional fossil fuel based heavy vehicles uses brake pedal to regulate a pneumatic system whose output force is used to stop the vehicle using friction braking, said researchers at IITM.

The kinetic energy of the vehicle due to its moving state is converted to heat energy.

Thus, a part of the energy obtained from burning the fuel is wasted in the form of heat energy dissipated during friction braking.

The regenerative braking does not turn sufficient in all conditions, said researchers at IITM.

When the battery is fully charged or when the speed of it goes down beyond a particular limit, regenerative braking is not available, total brake force has to be applied only through friction braking, said researchers at IITM.

Researchers at IITM said taking into consideration the above situation, both the braking systems – friction braking system and regenerative braking system must be used in a cooperative manner so that energy is also conserved and vehicle also stops within a reasonable distance.

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If cooperative braking system is used, electrified vehicles could get the best of both the systems.

However, the question is how to ensure both the systems work efficiently so that vehicles stop within a reasonable distance with no jerks experienced during the shift between the two braking systems for good ride comfort, said researchers at IITM.

Professor C.S. Shankar Ram said due to the faster response of regenerative braking, its switch-off can cause momentary perturbations in vehicle’s deceleration and its associated vehicle dynamic parameters until the friction brake system increases its brake pressure to meet the desired brake demand from the driver.

This situation disturbs the driver’s brake feel momentary due to the difference in the dynamic response characteristics of these two braking systems, he said.

The researchers at IITM tried to understand what happens when both the braking systems are applied together in heavy vehicles.

Also, researchers at IITM evaluated how braking performance is affected when the regenerative brake is switched off instantaneously and gradually.

Researchers at IITM studied the effects of these strategies on both laden and unladen heavy road vehicles and considered two types of roads, i.e., dry and icy.

Various strategies were evaluated through appropriate experiments performed in a Hardware-in-Loop experimental setup equipped with ‘IPG TruckMaker’, a commercially-used vehicle dynamic simulation software.

What was the result? Researchers at IITM found out that on a dry road, use of both brake systems reduced the vehicle stopping distance by 2.1 m (about half a car’s length).

Researchers at IITM also found that when the regenerative braking was switched-off gradually, the effect of different dynamic characteristics of friction brake and regenerative brake reduces the percentage of momentary variation in the longitudinal deceleration by 80%.

In the pitch motion by 79%, in the suspension deflection by 87% and in the wheel slip ratio by 90% compared with instantaneous switch-off.

These provide better driver braking feel, ride comfort and vehicle stability.

Hence, the strategies developed by this study will ensure that one can get good ride comfort along with meeting desired brake demand and is therefore important for consideration by the electrified vehicle market.

Researchers at IITM expect that the vehicle dynamic performance during active braking control would improve due to smooth dynamic transition between friction braking and regenerative braking which would help in the appropriate design of active safety systems for electrified vehicles.

The event was hosted along with 50 other nodal centres across the nation by KCG College of Technology which is a part of Hindustan Group of Institutions.

Organizers

SIH 2024 was organized by All India Council For Technical Education (AICTE), Ministry of Education of Government of India, Institute Innovation Council (IIC) of Ministry of Education.

Union Education Minister emphasized that hackathon is a fine platform for nurturing the nation’s future. He further spoke on the youth of India.

Their role is crucial when it comes to nation’s transformation into a knowledge economy and global growth engine, said Union Minister.

Prime Minister

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the participants on the first of the contest. He praised the extraordinary talent of Indian youth.

Solutions generated through hackathon have been immensely useful for the nation.

He expressed confidence that the ideas developed in the hackathon would contribute significantly to strengthening India’s leadership in technology and innovation.

Theme

Theme provided to KCG College of Technology was ‘Revolutionising India’s Postal Infrastructure through Technological Innovation’, a problem statement issued by the Ministry of Communications’ Department of Posts to modernise one of India’s oldest institutions.

Inauguration at KCG College of Technology

The inaugural ceremony held at the nodal centre of KCG College of Technology was
held in a grand manner and Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Former Director General of Police and Member of the Fifth Police Commission, Government of Tamil Nadu was the chief guest.

Dr. K. Radhakrishnan speaking at the inauguration at KCG College of Technology said technology isn’t just about gadgets—it’s about making life better, building trust, and creating solutions that change lives.

Addressing the participants ,he said ‘Your creativity, drive, and passion have the potential to shape not just industries, but the entire country.”

He also highlighted the role of the Smart India Hackathon in bridging the gap between education and industry, empowering young minds to tackle real-world challenges.

She said Smart India Hackathon is not just a competition; it is a celebration of innovation.

Dr. M. Muthukannan, Principal of KCG College of Technology welcomed the gathering.

Dignitaries present during the inauguration were K A Devaraj, Director, Postal Service (HO), TN Circle, Ankur Tiwari, Deputy General Manager, Parcel Directorate, M Pattabhiraman, Deputy Manager, CERT, Mohandoss K, Deputy Manager, CEPT, Samrat Shinde, Principal Engineering Manager, Persistent Systems Ltd, Anand Sivaraj, Manager (IP & Technology Transfer), AICTE Innovation Centre, Chennai.

Contest

The event witnessed a rigorous two-round mentor discussion and three-round evaluation process, say sources from KCG College of Technology.

Following each discussion, participants refined their codes and presented updated work for evaluation, showcasing their adaptability and dedication to innovation.

The event also featured an engaging cultural programme, organised by the college’s music and dance clubs, which included songs in different languages , Tamil Nadu’s traditional folk dances like Karakattam and Silambattam, alongside contemporary Western performances, adding a fun dimension to the intense innovation marathon.

Valedictory

Valedictory ceremony for the event was held on the second day. Chief guest for it was Mr. Kuhan Madhan, Associate Vice President, Guidance Tamil Nadu.

He is also a notable alumnus of KCG College of Technology from EEE of 2005-2009 batch.

Mr. Madhan’s return to his alma mater for this prestigious event symbolised the enduring connection between the institution and its graduates, showcasing the impact of KCG College of Technology in shaping successful professionals.

Dr Annie Jacob speaking at the valedictory highlighted the transformative potential of technology in reshaping India’s future.

She said that through the theme ‘Revolutionising India’s Postal Infrastructure through Technological Innovation,’ we’ve witnessed how technology can transform even the most time-honoured institutions, paving the way for a modern, future-ready India.

Winners

Winners for four problem statements were announced during the valedictory.

For the problem statement ‘Measurement and Monitoring of Counter Services’, the first prize was awarded to the team HexTech1 from Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana, for developing a user-friendly AI-powered application to monitor and enhance counter services across India Post, ensuring a seamless customer experience.

For the problem statement ‘Road Transport Network Telematics’, the first prize was awarded to the team Abhyuday from Bansilal Ramnath Agarwal Charitable Trusts Vishwakarama Institute of Technology, Pune , Maharashtra for creating a telematics solution that enables route optimisation, live tracking, and optimal capacity utilisation for long-haul trucking operations across India.

For the problem statement ‘A Digital BRSR Platform for India Post Network’, the first prize was awarded to the team Mini Juris 2.0 from Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, for developing a digital platform to implement the Business Responsibility & Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework, positioning India Post as a leader in environmental and social sustainability.

For the problem statement ‘Bridging the Measurability Gap’, the first prize was awarded to the team Bhoomik from Ajay Kumar Garg Engineering College, Ghaziabad , Uttar Pradesh for designing a digital solution to ensure adherence to validated Citizens Charter norms across all public interfaces of India Post, enhancing service quality and accountability.

Each winning team was awarded a cash prize of one lakh rupees for their innovative contributions, say sources from KCG College of Technology.

Inception

Since its inception in 2017, the Smart India Hackathon has grown exponentially.

SIH 2024 marked the largest edition to date, with over 250 problem statements submitted by 54 Ministries, Departments, State Governments, PSUs, and industries. This year, over 86,000 student teams participated at the institute level, with 49,000 advancing to the national stage.

KCG College’s focus on postal innovation aligned with the Ministry of Communications’ vision for technological advancement and was widely praised for its practical, impactful solutions.

Beacon

Dr. Anand Jacob Verghese, Chairman of Hindustan Group of Institutions, remarked the Smart India Hackathon 2024 at our institution stands tall as a beacon of innovation, inspiring students to turn their ideas into transformative solutions for the nation.

‘This event reaffirms our commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial and technological talent, solidifying our position as a global innovation hub.’

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