The department has 9 active research groups working on various areas of Instrumentation Machine Sensing and Artificial Intelligence based stress diagnosis of plants Plants being verbally mute to abiotic and biotic stress factors, offers visual and olfactory response to these stresses affecting their health. Visual responses include change in physical properties viz. colors, size, shape, while olfactory responses includes changes in Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emission. The Research aims at analyzing these specific responses using machine sensing technique which are otherwise illegible for human perception. The research group have converged on Machine olfaction technique for sensing the VOC emission profile alteration on stress affected plants, using array of gas sensors, colloquially called “e-nose”. Sensor responses acquired by the data acquisition system developed are put through Machine Learning based decision making classifier algorithms to predict the stresses present in the plant. Research Group: Prof. Utpal Sarma, Instrumentation and USIC, Gauhati University Ms. Chayanika Sharma (INSPIRE PhD Fellow) Past Members: Dr. Sudipta Hazarika Dr. Rajdeep Choudhury Implementation of Instrumentation for Process Condition Monitoring in Tea Factory and Study it’s Impact on Tea Quality Tea quality is influenced by several factors of tea processing stages. The biochemical reactions start just after the plucking of leaves from the bush. So the quality control in the processing stages becomes an important issue to get good quality end product. The main quality attribute of tea is developed in these stages, so the conditions in these stages should be maintained at optimum level. This group aims to develop the instrumentation needed to monitor different process conditions like moisture content of tea leaves at withering stage, temperature and relative humidity of fermentation and Dryer temperature etc. In the second phase of this study, the process parameters are correlated with the final tea quality to get the optimum process conditions. Research Group: Prof. P. K.Boruah (Retd.), Instrumentation & USIC, Gauhati University Prof. Utpal Sarma, Instrumentation and USIC, Gauhati University Dr. Debashis Saikia, Assistant Professor, Instrumentation and USIC, Gauhati University Ms. Sharmistha Mazumdar, (UGC-JRF PhD Fellow), Instrumentation & USIC, Gauhati University Ms. Priyanka Sarmah, Research Scholar, Instrumentation & USIC, Gauhati University Past Members: Dr. Nipan Das Advancing Antenna Technology: Design Innovations for Defense, Small Industries, and Vehicular Communications This group works on RF front end designs specially the antennas and other System Design for small scale industries. Various types of antenna fabrication and testing are being carried out in the lab, with special emphasis on designing optically transparent antenna and SIW based antenna for vehicular communications. The primary objectives of this group are: To design and implement antennas tailored for wearable defense applications, ensuring reliable communication in challenging environments. To advance RF front-end designs with a special emphasis on small-scale industries, integrating cutting-edge features for improved performance and reliability. To explore and optimize various antenna fabrication and testing techniques, particularly focusing on optically transparent antennas and substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) based designs for vehicular communications. To advance vehicular antenna technology, enhancing performance and reliability for automotive applications through innovative design and rigorous testing. To develop antennas operating within the 20GHz - 30GHz bandwidth range, crucial for applications in satellite communications, 5G wireless networks, radar systems for aerospace and defense, and point-to-point wireless links. Research Group: Dr. Pranjal Borah, Assistant Professor, Instrumentation & USIC, Gauhati University Mr. Ashiesh Sharma, Research Scholar, Instrumentation & USIC, Gauhati University Ms. Riki Baruah, Research Scholar, Instrumentation & USIC, Gauhati University Studies on Implementation of instrumentation for precision horticulture Agriculture mainly depends on the atmospheric conditions and changes over time. To understand the past, present and potential future climate conditions, there should be a meteorological database. To do this, a high quality and low cost system, which can give the required dependable database in a standard format is designed. After analyzing the data gathered, stored, viewed from the system, a profitability decision with less risk in farm management can be taken. This group works on developing a low cost, reliable and user friendly wireless sensor network for collection of relevant physical parameters for precision horticulture and based on the collected data, decision is taken for best management practice of the farm. Research Group: Prof. Utpal Sarma, Instrumentation and USIC, Gauhati University Ms. Anandita Dey (UGC-JRF PhD Fellow), Instrumentation & USIC, Gauhati University Past Members: Dr. Manash Protim Goswami, Assistant Professor, Instrumentation & USIC, Gauhati University Piezoelectric based MEMS energy harvester Microelectromechanical system (MEMs) piezoelectric devices are used to scavenge energy from wasted vibration sources. Such devices are performed to convert energy from mechanical domain to electrical energy. The advancement in the invention of the devices that does not require replaceable power supplies has attracted for researches. Our team are working on piezoelectric MEMS energy harvester. The main focus of our research is to optimize power from piezoelectric array configuration and optimization of cantilever shape configuration for absence of proof mass of cantilever which results in the reduction of the size of harvester. The most important strategy of future designing MEMS vibration energy harvester is to obtain maximum power with maximum bandwidth at low-frequency vibrations. Research Group: Prof. Utpal Sarma, Instrumentation and USIC, Gauhati University Ms. Hiramoni Khatun (INSPIRE PhD Fellow), Instrumentation & USIC, Gauhati University Past Members: Dr. Babak Montazer Accelerated materials discovery and Design for next-generation devices The research group is dedicated to advancing the field of materials science by leveraging innovative techniques to accelerate the discovery and development of new materials for a wide range of applications. By integrating simulation methods with emerging materials, machine learning, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and hands-on synthesis and characterization, the group creates a comprehensive workflow for rapidly identifying and optimizing novel materials. The primary objectives of this group are: Simulation of devices using new and emerging prospective materials: This allows us to virtually test and optimize potential materials before stepping into the materials synthesis lab. With these methods, one can explore how these materials interact with light, heat, magnetic field or electricity, giving valuable insights into their suitability for specific device applications. Machine Learning methods applied to materials science: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning often combined with density functional theory calculations have emerged as a powerful tool in materials classification, rapid design and development. The power of machine learning can be utilized to analyze vast datasets of material properties and identify trends. This allows us to predict properties of new materials based on existing data, accelerating discovery and classification. Materials synthesis and characterization for device applications: Once a promising material is identified through simulation and machine learning, it can be synthesized in the lab and characterized for their properties using various analytical techniques. This validates the theoretical predictions and helps to understand how well the material performs in real-world conditions. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation of materials: DFT is a powerful tool for calculating material properties from first principles. By simulating the electronic structure of materials, a deeper insight into their behaviour can be obtained and further refinement of materials property predictions can be achieved. By combining these approaches, a powerful workflow can be created for rapidly identifying, designing, and synthesizing novel materials with specific functionalities for future devices. This integrated approach holds immense potential for breakthroughs in areas like solar cells, batteries, transistors, and many other applications Research Group: Dr. Madhurjya Modhur Borgohain, Associate Professor, Instrumentation & USIC, Gauhati University Ms. Riddhi Bordoloi, Research Scholar, Instrumentation & USIC, Gauhati University Mr. Tapan Talukdar, Research Scholar, Instrumentation & USIC, Gauhati University Ms. Karishma Azad, Research Scholar, Instrumentation & USIC, Gauhati University Hardware Design & Modelling Techniques for Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) The aim of this research is to create a robust, user-friendly and advanced Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) processing system using the latest hardware and signal processing techniques. The work will primarily focus on Design and fabrication of highly efficient, high gain, low profile wideband antennae for use with our GPR system. Compare the efficiency of existing techniques and study of continuous wave and pulsed RADAR systems. Use and development of advanced simulation tools and data interpretation tools. The work will enable other researchers and scientists to benefit directly from the results, innovations and advanced processing algorithms. This will allow the GPR community, to easily create and run such models for further improvement of the project’s results. We hope to develop better GPR modelling frameworks which will increase our ability to model GPR data in greater detail and accuracy. Primary application of our research will be in the use of Non-Destructive Testing used for quality assessment and inspection of key infrastructure elements such are buildings, roads, railways and Geophysical probing of archaeological sites and monuments. Research Group: Prof. Utpal Sarma, Instrumentation and USIC, Gauhati University Dr. Nairit Barkataki, Assistant Professor, Instrumentation and USIC, Gauhati University Mr. Ankur Jyoti Kalita (INSPIRE PhD Fellow), Instrumentation & USIC, Gauhati University Advanced Meteorological Analysis and Instrumentation for Severe Storm Detection in Complex Terrain In the North East region of India, where complex terrain shapes cloud formation, this group focuses on understanding and detecting severe storms, crucial amidst climate change. Leveraging satellite reanalysis datasets, numerical modeling, and instruments like ST radar, micro rain radar, and disdrometer, they analyze cloud properties comprehensively. Committed to developing cost-effective meteorological instruments such as automatic hail pads, electric field mills, and aerosol sample collectors, they aim to fill observational gaps. Deploying these instruments strategically forms an observation array, complemented by machine learning techniques for enhanced analysis, all to deepen insights into cloud dynamics and contribute to effective storm management. The primary objectives of this group are: To investigate the dynamical and microphysical properties of cloud systems. To design and develop cost-effective meteorological instruments, including automatic hail pads, electric field mills, and aerosol sample collectors. To seamlessly connect all meteorological instruments via IoT and harness the power of machine learning for data analysis, with the goal of creating an advanced real-time thunderstorm monitoring system. Research Group: Prof. Utpal Sarma, Instrumentation and USIC, Gauhati University Mr. Bijit Kumar Banerjee, Instrumentation & USIC, Gauhati University Non-Invasive Health Monitoring through Advance Sensor Technologies and AI-Driven Analysis Non-invasive techniques play a crucial role in modern healthcare by reducing the need for painful and invasive procedures, thereby improving patient experiences and outcomes. Recognizing the paramount importance of non-invasive techniques in healthcare, this research group is dedicated to developing sophisticated methodologies that enhance patient comfort, safety, and compliance. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, the aim is to revolutionize healthcare diagnostics and provide more accessible, efficient, and accurate diagnostic tools. The primary objectives of this group are: Developing gas sensor-based systems to monitor breath odor, establishing correlations with a range of metabolic and health indicators. Designing innovative sensor-based systems for the analysis of saliva, employing soft computing techniques to detect and monitor health conditions with high precision. Creating customized sensors using advanced nanocomposite materials, ensuring accurate and reliable detection of blood sugar levels and other biomarkers from non-invasive samples such as saliva. Harnessing the power of machine learning and artificial intelligence to analyze the data from sensors, enabling the prediction and early detection of various health conditions, including diabetes. Research Group: Dr. Debashis Saikia, Assistant Professor, Instrumentation and USIC, Gauhati University Ms. Priyanka Sarmah, Research Scholar, Instrumentation & USIC, Gauhati University Next
