National Programme on Micro and Smart Materials and Systems

(NPMASS, 2007–2015)

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and four other science and technology departments of the Government of India, initiated and ran two large research programs, namely, National Programme on Smart Materials (NPSM, 2000–2006) and National Programme on Micro and Smart Materials and Systems (NPMASS, 2007–2014), with a combined budget of nearly Rs. 270 crores ($45 M today). Hundreds of researchers have been involved in more than 150 projects funded by NPSM and NPMASS.

As a result of these efforts, India today is proud to claim its presence in the field. Many researchers from the academia and government research laboratories contributed to NPSM and NPMASS, which were admirably administered by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the guidance of the Board for Smart materials Research and Technology (B-SMART).

Programme Assessment and Recommendation Committees (PARCs) looked after the technical details of the funded projects. Five PARCs were consituted – (i) R&D (ii) Human Resource (iii) aerospace Applications (iv) Bio-medical Applications (v) Automobile Applications.

I was the Chairman of the Automobile Applications PARC. Under this PARC several successful activities were undertaken including development of

(i) Pressure Sensors (MAP & T-MAP sensors)

(ii) Hall Effect based Speed Sensors

(iii) Gas Sensors – for sensing Cox & Nox emmissions

(iv) Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM)

Activities have been accomplished in all aspects - development of microsensors and microactuators; material processing and characterization; fabrication; advanced modeling, design, and simulation; and systems design. Packaging and transfer of technology have also commenced.