The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) Researchers partnered with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Scientists to develop cutting-edge sensor technology for underwater communications, which will be advantageous to defence applications, especially in the Navy.

The indigenous development of this technology enables the nation to fabricate the devices at a relatively lower cost than the internationally available foundries where the cost of fabrication is high and the number of foundries is also limited according to researchers.

The ‘Piezoelectric MEMS technology’ is required to develop high-performance thin films and convert ‘piezo thin film’ into state-of-the-art futuristic Naval Sensors and devices for underwater applications. Piezo Thin Films are one of the vital components of Piezo MEMS devices and are considered for acoustics and vibration-sensing applications.

IIT Madras Researchers led by Prof Amitava Das Gupta and Prof Boby George along with Dr E Varadarajan, Scientist, and Dr V Natarajan, Senior Scientist of DRDO at the DRDO Industry Academia – Ramanujan Centre of Excellence (DIA-RCoE), IIT Madras collaborated for the project.

The new technology allows the nation to execute the strategic operations of critical applications. The large area piezo thin films and MEMS process technology will support the ongoing/ futuristic technologies for the Next-Generation SONAR programme of DRDO for the Indian Navy.

Dr O R Nandagopan, Director, DRDO Industry Academia- Ramanujan Centre of Excellence’ (DIA-RCoE), IIT Madras, said, “This technology is matured enough to convert it as a system with the support of Indian Industry.  This technology will be a disruptive technology in this domain and our country achieved ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ in underwater materials and micro device processing technology.”

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