Critical motor for ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 moonshot by Sona College of Technology researchers
Tech firm Vee Technologies ‘makes in India’
As the world’s eyes are glued to the launch of Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) indigenous spacecraft to the moon, Chandrayaan-3, at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, researchers at Sona College of Technology, Salem will follow the event with bated breath.
ISRO, which entrusted the creation of a variety of motors for its space mission to the Sona College of Technology’s SonaSPEED team in the past, has picked up a stepper motor created for use in the Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM 3) to launch Chandrayaan-3. For travel into space, Chandrayaan-3 launch vehicle, the LVM 3, was successfully integrated with Chandrayaan-3 last week.
The SonaSPEED’s simplex permanent magnet stepper motor is used in the actuator assembly of the LVM 3 for controlling the rocket engine’s liquid fuel and oxidizer mixture ratio.
“We are privileged to contribute to ISRO’s moon mission through R&D work at the Sona College of Technology. The research team is committed to supporting ISRO’s future space missions too,” said Prof N Kannan, Head, SonaSPEED.
“Successful integration of SonaSPEED’s simplex stepper motor in the Chandrayaan-3 launch vehicle is a tribute to the supremacy of India’s engineering talent in indigenising ISRO’s pathbreaking missions,” said Chocko Valliappa, CEO, Vee Technologies – the technology firm that was entrusted with manufacturing and quality assurance of the motors by SonaSPEED.
Access to this homegrown technology spurs Vee Technologies’ motor division to participate in India’s strategic space and defence sector with confidence.
The division undertakes precision engineering, addressing requirements for high-quality products required for defence, space and automotive markets.
SonaSPEED research team that specialises in electrical machines celebrates 20th year of its founding this year.
SonaSPEED has been a reliable partner for developing indigenous technology products like rocket motors for mission critical applications of ISRO. The pioneering R&D efforts of researchers and faculty at SonaSPEED have led them to supply ISRO special purpose BLDC (Brushless DC) motors for satellites and rockets as well as lunar robot for previous space missions.
Sona College of Technology students, along with students from 5 other colleges, launched a student PICO satellite from ISRO facilities in September 2017.
About Vee Technologies
Bengaluru-New York headquartered IT Services firm Vee Technologies services its global customers in healthcare, engineering and design space, through proprietary platforms.
Vee’s software, analytics and strategic IT services clients are made up of leading hospitals including six of the top 10 US healthcare groups, deploying proprietary platforms and tools. Vee Technologies’ product engineering team works on Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) design assignments for global customers that include designing many iconic structures and a large percentage of American Fire engines.
Access to the SonaSPEED’s technology and its successful engagement with India’s recent space missions spur Vee Technologies’ motor division to associate with India’s strategic space and defence sector with confidence.
Vee Technologies has delivery centres in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Salem and Trichy in India, in Philippines and the USA.
About Sona College of Technology
Established in 1997, the Sona College of Technology offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in the areas of engineering, technology, and management.
The full-time faculty and researchers that include around 200 doctorates, Fulbright and Chevening scholars, has topped the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) outcomes nationally four times.
The NIRF India Rankings 2023 place Sona College of Technology in the 151-200 Rank-band: among Engineering institutions, the only institution from Salem. The college has 36 R&D laboratories for cutting-edge research and through which it strives to bring in new-age skills.
Sona College has been recognised as the ‘Best Industry-Linked Institution’, by the Confederation of Indian Industry and All India Council for Technical Education (CII-AICTE), for the past eight years.
The undergraduate and postgraduate programs at the Sona College are offered in Mechatronics, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Robotics Process Automation, Data Science, Computer System and Design, and Healthcare Analytics, in addition to foundational areas like Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, and Fashion Technology, among others.
As an autonomous institution for over a decade, the College additionally offers 18-monthadvanced diplomas that can be pursued concurrently in AI/ML, Data Analysis, Data Design, Drone Technology, Wearable Technology, Smart Manufacturing, Cyber Security, Electric Mobility, and Smart Systems.