In view of unprecedented rains and consequent massive floods and disruption in communication (including courier service) in many areas of the country, the last date for acceptance of Admission against 1st offer of Admission 2010 has been extended to August 02, 2010.

Three students of GIK Institute from Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering are sent overseas
 
1) Ansab Aijaz  to present a research paper on "hardening keystrokes management" to the International Conference on Security Practices in Nevada, USA.
 
2) Khurram Sohail  to present a research paper on "crowd simulations using for disaster management" to the International Modeling Simulation and Visualization (MSV) Conference in Las Vegas, USA.
 
3) Shaheer Hassan  to National University of Singapore Summer College of Entrepreneurship.

Cheers to Ayesha Altaf, Hafiz Zeeshan Wasim, M. Razzaq Chishty,Nasreen Shayeq and Syeda Hifsa Kazmi for making GIK Institute feel pride.

Team comprising students from Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering has won the Mobilink Super Engineer Competition 2009. The competition was initiated in July 2009 and the students were given various information technology based projects to show case their skills. The competition started last summer between students from GIKI, NUST, FAST and UET. Each team was assigned a different project having a deadline of about 3 months. GIK team was assigned to develop a "Traffic Analysis and Measurement System for IP/MPLS Environment". The students performed exceptionally good from all over Pakistan and at the end it was GIK's team which completed the project within the  stipulated time frame and won the contest.

Engr. Shams ul Mulk, President of Society for the Promotion of Engineering Sciences and Technology (SOPREST) in Pakistan announced that GIK Institute has named Administration Block as H. U. Beg Administration Block and the Central Workshop Complex as Brabers Building.

 

Late Mr H U Beg was the first Executive Director of SOPREST and late Prof. Dr Martin J. Brabers was the first Rector of the Institute. The buildings were named after them to commemorate and perpetuate their memory in recognition of meritorious services rendered by them for strengthening GIK Institute in its formative phase.

The Admission Test Results for 2010 have been compiled.

The following link will take you to a Lite page to offer best possible bandwidth to you.

You are reminded that your username and password are both your Admit Card number.

Enter the number as a five digit number, omitting any leading zeros.

The Results can be found here.

Results for the Semester of Spring 2010 have been announced. To save bandwidth, only the Lite results system has been employed.

See the Results here.

Undergraduate Admissions in the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute for the Academic Year 2010 are now open. Please visit the Admissions Page more details.

The following is the published Team Story of the Team Aqua, in line for the Shell Eco Marathon, 2010, Malaysia.

I still remember the night I received a call from Fraaz Tahir back in May 2009. I was studying for my Computer Architecture end term exam when he called and said that there is this International competition of building the most fuel efficient car and he wants to work on this project. The idea got me excited the minute I heard about it but I thought it was just wishful thinking on his part. My first reservation was that nobody in our country will be interested enough to fund such a large student project. I thought it was almost insane to even start working on this; we did not have the technical expertise or resource to design, build and then transport the car to Malaysia and back. Fortunately, I was wrong; my team was adamant that we should work with belief and dedication and they turned out to be right.

The resolution of team Aqua has reaffirmed my belief in human effort and the doctrine that anything is possible if we really put ourselves in. We knew from the very beginning that it was going to be a large project and we needed people with a resolute will, technical knowledge of varied nature, resourcefulness and an ability to convince people in a country like Pakistan to complete this project. We divided ourselves in design, manufacturing, engine and liaison teams and the collective effort of our team has brought us to the point that the dream of completing our car and taking it to the Sepang International circuit in Kuala Lampur is looking like a reality.

We had designed, redesigned and re-redesigned our car by the end of September and all we needed was the financial resources to implement it. Initially, there were many disappointments. People did not seem very enthusiastic about the project. They had the same reservations that I initially had that as undergrad students, we did not have the expertise to go all the way. Nobody wanted to invest in a lost cause and we were stranded in no man's land. There were days in those weeks when it all looked quite hopeless. Some of us thought that maybe we made a mistake to start it in the first place. There were doubts in our belief and we began to fear that our assiduous hard work will all go to vain.

Somewhere at the end of fall '09, Pakistan Science Foundation agreed to fund a part of our project. We were overjoyed. I remember thinking at that time that this is how the first drop of rain in a scorching desert must feel like. Our sleepless nights and bus rides to Islamabad and Lahore all seemed worthwhile now that we had something to go on. It wasn't only the financial help that lifted our spirits; the symbolic importance of that first step fueled our efforts throughout most of our journey these past few months.

We had enough resources to start manufacturing our car now and then the real problems started pouring in. It was difficult to design a car from scratch; it was difficult to sell the idea far enough to generate funds; but it was more than difficult to manufacture a car. We did not know where to begin. It was hard enough to find the right grade of Aluminum and then we were unable to find the right facility to do its welding. Then there was the problem that all of us were full time residential students and between our classes, exams and other activities, we had to scamper for time to go to the city for manufacturing. When the main body was actually manufactured, we found out that our clutch wasn't working. Further, we found a facility to make a better outer body and we had to re-do everything. Meeting after meeting went by and the centrifugal clutch won't stop slipping.

Then, there was the little problem that we did not know how to get our car to Kuala Lampur with the meager resources we had. Another round of sponsorship presentations started; another round of disappointments we had to endure. We were agonizingly close and yet so far. Finally, we got the good news that LMKR, Higher Education Commission, and Fauji Fertilizer Company have all warmed up to the idea of supporting us. The overwhelming support and encouragement we received from both our faculty and our sponsors made it all possible. Cheers!

A team from Pakistan participated in the RoboCup Iran Open, 2010, held from the 5th to the 9th of April, and successfully qualified for the RoboCup Finals, to be held in Singapore in June, 2010. The team consisted of students from the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI), and participated in the Real Rescue Robot League of the RoboCup. The competition was held in Tehran, Iran's capital city.

RoboCup is an international research and education initiative. It is an attempt to foster AI and intelligent robotics research by providing a standard problem where wide range of technologies can be integrated and examined, as well as being used for integrated project-oriented education. It is the premier robotics event of its kind. RoboCup comprises of many leagues, including the Rescue league that focuses on Urban Search and Rescue.

RoboCup Iran Open 2010 is the first ever competition of its series that witnessed the participation of a Pakistani Rescue Robot, "SAVIOUR", designed and fabricated by a multidisciplinary team of the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology. The team was selected from hundreds of applicants. It is worth noting that in a highly mechanized world, very few Pakistani institutes are constructively working on autonomous, flexible and tele-operated robotic mechanisms. The same team has previously competed in the RoboCup Finals 2009, in Graz, Austria, adding to the rich history of success for the team.

More than 350 teams from 10 different countries were competing in different leagues.

SAVIOUR was designed and built by a team led by Muhammad Fahd Waseem. The rest of the team comprised of Muneeb Saleem, Arsalan Khalid, Saad Noor, Faisal Kalim, Farrukh Sohail and Waqar Chughtai. SAVIOUR means "Semi-Autonomous Vehicle for Identification, Observation and Ultimate Rescue". The robot completes its tasks using various sensors and is controlled via a wireless network for full remote mobility. The tasks involve the location and mapping of 'victims' in a simulated earthquake hit 'arena'.

The project was supervised by Dr. Junaid Mughal, Dr. Shafat Bazaz, and Mr. Muhammad Farooq (all of the Faculty of Electronics Engineering). From the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the adviser was Dr. Sultan.



For more information, please visit www.projectsaviour.co.cc and http://projectsaviour.co.cc/contact-us/

On the 14th of April 2010 the Central Workshop of GIKI presented a totally different look; an awaited one, and an event that attracts everyone from freshmen to seniors and faculty alike. This year the Open House was a joint effort of the administration and the SOPHEP (Society for the Promotion of Higher Education and Professional excellence).

The class of 2010 (Batch 16) unveiled their Final Year Projects to the students and the visiting companies. The first day of the event was open for everyone, students from the junior batches especially those of the first year showed a lot of interest in getting acquainted with subjects out of the scope of their studies. The FYP group members presented their projects to underclassmen, explaining both practical applications and theories. There were a total of 81 projects at the Central Workshop.

The Media Fest '10 was held from 26th - 28th February. It was a highly anticipated event and saw a great number of participants from all over the country. The event saw participants battling it out in the following six categories: Animation design, Poster Design competition, Short Film Competition, Photo-Essay competition, On spot Photography competition, On spot Short Commercial competition.

The event commenced with the Opening ceremony at 6pm on Friday. The topics were announced for the on-spot photography and short commercial competitions that were supposed to be submitted by early morning on the last day of the event.

The topics in the photography category were: Colors of life in Black and White, Light of the Night, Dynamic world - photoset in time, The best pictures are the funniest and Panorama.
The topics for the short commercial were: BATA, Gaye Soap, Pampers and Cerelac.

Then screening of some of the entries in the short film competition and the animation competition was done till 11 pm in AHA Auditorium.

The second day of the event began with a hiking trip and participants were shown around GIKI.Screening of more short films was then done in the afternoon and then the movie "Kung fu Panda" was played in the evening. The gala dinner took place at 7pm in central workshop, where event videos and candid interviews were played.

The final day of the event began with the screening of the remaining short film competition videos. Then the entries of the on spot photography competition were screened followed by short commercials. This was followed by closing ceremony at 6.30 pm. With this, a highly successful and richly entertaining Media Fest '10 came to a close.

In the short films category the winners were Riphah International Institute of Media Sciences for their video titled "Bab-e-Jannat".
In the poster design category, Air University emerged victorious.
Best animation went to "IMS-Peshawar".
In the short commercial category top prize was bagged by the Riphah International Institute of Media Sciences.

GIKI Science Society is one of the leading societies at GIKI. The concept behind the Science Society is to act as a platform for the promotion of Engineering and Science related activities. For this purpose, it conducts various events throughout the year.

The All Pakistan Science Fair is a premium event, and is in essence, a culmination of all efforts put together in one. It essentially acts as a platform for students all over Pakistan to demonstrate their ideas and innovations. 11th GIKI Science fair 2010 was held from 19th to 21st February,2010. It was a mega event with over 250 participants from all over the country.

On the first day the event commenced with an orientation in the auditorium followed by Astronomy night (live photos of moon and mars were taken and displayed on a projection screen). A lecture was delivered in this regard by the Khawarizmi Science Society.

The second day of the event saw students participating in Eureka, in which using minimum apparatus and best approach they had to perform different physics experiments. Model making, where many projects were displayed which reflected the creativity of the young minds of Pakistan. There was also an Exhibition where projects were put on display. The Kasoty (quiz round) was then conducted in auditorium. In the evening, entertainment night and gala dinner were arranged by the science society for the participants.

On the final day of the event another round of Kasoty took place (three teams qualified for these finals).

Beaconhouse Liberty emerged as the winner.
 
Peshawar Medical College won the exhibition at the university level and Beaconhouse Gulberg Campus, Lahore won at the college level. Prize distribution ceremony in auditorium was then followed by the closing ceremony.

Competition, however, was just one aspect of the event. The Science Society tries to ensure that the contestants get a chance to socialize and develop lasting friendships.
 
The Science Society tried to ensure that students from all across Pakistan came to the event. This year, teams came from Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, Multan, Hyderabad, Rawalpindi, Quetta, and other areas, which showed the scope of this event. All told, it was one of the biggest and powerful events held in GIKI.

GIK Institute is participating in the Educational Expo 2010 organized by the Dawn Group to facilitate enrollment of Pakistani students in universities and institutes of higher learning.

Students are encouraged to visit the GIKI desk for counseling and information as per the following schedule:

Karachi        February 27-28, 2010    Pearl Continental Hotel
Lahore         March 03-04, 2010       Pearl Continental Hotel
Islamabad    March 06-07, 2010       Jinnah Convention Center

For more detail about the Institute, you are invited to browse our website.

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering (GIKI) beat Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in P&G University Champions League (UCL) to win the tournament trophy. The tournament was held at Lahore School of Economics (LSE), where GIKI clinched the UCL trophy after beating LUMS 2-0.

Earlier, after a round of elimination matches four teams qualified for the semi-final rounds-GIKI, FAST, LUMS & LSE.

The final match was a compelling performance between GIKI and LUMS where the former took the trophy home along with a cash prize of PKR 25,000. The matches were refereed by FIFA approved officials.

Saad Khan, CEO Gillette, in the presence of Shehzeen Rehman, HR Manager P&G, handed over the tournament trophy to the jubilant GIKI team. GIKI captain received the winning trophy and paid tributes to the efforts of P&G and the university officials for organizing such healthy activities especially for the youth.

A three day All Pakistan Electronics Olympiad was held at Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, one of the country's premier engineering institutes. Participants from more than twenty five different universities were taking part in a broad range of competitions planned in a manner to judge the technical and pure engineering design capabilities of the students.

Robothon, a competition based on an interactive race between robots on a track with different type of obstacles was the heart of the event. Participating teams came well prepared with their robots and an attractive arena designed by members of IEEE GIKI Chapter was set up.

Explore a Vision on the other hand was an effective and challenging innovation and ideas competition where different teams competed on suggesting a solution to a stated problem in terms of engineering design and economical feasibility.

Keeping in mind the wide range applications of Microcontrollers and its excessive usage in industry IEEE also arranged a Microcontroller Interfacing Competition (MIC) which was to judge Microcontroller programming skills of students in terms of speed, efficiency and design capability.

Besides this, Brainwave, which was an interactive Quiz Competition, also took place, several fields mainly inclined towards electrical, electronic, and computer engineering were covered in this competition.

Apart from these events there were several other activates such as three online seminars were arranged where high ranked IEEE officials, including Visan Koshy from India, spoke to the participants as well as the students of GIKI and question answer sessions were held. A networking dinner was arranged where the participants, faculty and members of IEEE GIKI Chapter got a chance to interact with each other on a single platform.

Finally a formal prize distribution ceremony was held at Agha Hassan Abdi (AHA) Auditorium of the institute where Dr. Fazal-e-Khalid, SI, was the chief guest. Dr. Fazal e Khalid (Sitara-e-Imtiaaz) encouraged the students to participate in such events and keep the spirit of co-curricular activities alive after that Dr. Nisar Ahmed, advisor of IEEE GIKI Chapter and Mr. Mohammad Faizan Khan, President IEEE-GIKI Chapter also spoke to the participating teams and encouraged them to participate next year as well.

The GIKI Webteam is proud to announce the official GIKI Forums.

Everyone is welcome to join. That includes prospective students who may want to ask questions, students from other universities who want to get a glimpse of things, and people just browsing around the GIKI Website. We simply ask that you maintain decorum.

GIKI Alumni are especially welcome here. All GIKIans will be granted access to a special 'GIKI students only' forum.

There are 3 things to note: i) the forums are still in beta, so there is room for improvements and suggestions, ii) it is expected that all users maintain a margin of decency and integrity, and iii) the GIKI forums will be integrated into the GIKI Homepage soon

They can be accessed at www.giki.edu.pk/forums (or 192.168.100.50/forums for internal access).

The ACM Softcom 2010 was held this weekend at GIKI.

The ACM Softcom is an All Pakistan Software & Multimedia, Quiz and Speed Programming Competition.

Participants from all the country - from many different universities and colleges - came to attend.

<This news article will be updated soon with more details and pictures>

The result of Fall 2009 semester has been released.

click here to view the results

GIKI has appointed Dr. Mohammad Sultan Khan as the new Dean of Student Affairs. He is from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and has a sterling record.

More information can be accessed here.

A student from GIKI won the 2nd prize (worth Rs. 25,000) and a shield for the "Best Industrial Application" at the All Pakistan Digital Innovation and Competition Exhibition held in Lahore on 23-24th December 2009.

The title of the project is "Water Flow Simulation and Analysis of Tarbela Dam Reservoir Through Spillways"

Six projects were submitted from FME GIKI. Dr. Abid was the advisor. All projects were highly appreciated by the evaluators, researchers and the industry.

The Design, Build and Fly Competition 5 (Pakistan) Final Teams have been announced.

It was a close call, and while there are congratulations in order for the successfully shortlisted teams, commiserations to the ones who did not make it.

Click here for the list of qualified teams.

Click here for the DBFC5 Guidelines.

For more information, go the DBFC5 Subsite

Hoping to see you at the DBFC5 in GIKI in full competitive spirit!

The Cultural, Dramatics and Entertainment Society (CDES) held their second annual play on the 20th of November 2009. The play was a murder mystery, titled "Mousetrap", which had been penned down by Agatha Christie nearly half a century ago.

The play revolved around the owners and guests of a particular "Monkswell Manor Guest house" and their interconnected lives, bathed in murder, drama and mystery. The play was generally well received by the GIKI audience, making this event yet another successful endeavor by the CDES team.

The play was directed by Omair Sheikh. Members of the cast included Mir Durriya Zarrar, Ramsha Hussain, Usama bin Naseem, Waqaruddin, Abdul Ahad, Sabina Hafeez, Humayun Haroon and the director himself.

The event was indeed a fresh break from the monotonous, hectic everyday GIKI life.

An article about Ghulam Ishaq Khan recently appeared in the Frontier Post, a popular daily newspaper in the NWFP and Balochistan. It pinpoints thecreation  of GIK Institute as a high point of GIK s career. The article is reproduced below.

Ghulam Ishaq Khan s illustrious career
By Muqaddam Khan

Born in Ismail Khel, a remote village near Bannu, Ghulam Ishaq Khan (GIK) breathed his last on October 27, 2006, ending an illustrious career spreading nearly half a century. From humble beginnings to the highest caliber of power and prestige he showed traits of character which can only be described as extraordinary. In his five decades of professional life, he either participated or witnessed some of the epochal events of our nation s history.

GIK was at the centre of some of the most extraordinary developments in Pakistan s chequered history. However, he kept his cards close to his chest and the state secrets had gone to the grave with him. He even shunned the media, thereby foreclosing any chance of a journalist getting him to explain some important events in which he either played an active role or to which he had been a witness.

In 1955, GIK became irrigation secretary of North-West Frontier Province. Over subsequent years, he remained the Wapda head and Federal Finance Secretary. Later he was elevated to the governorship of the State Bank of Pakistan and secretary general of defence in 1975. He retired in the early years of Gen Zia regime, but due to his experience, shrewdness and sagacity Zia appointed him his adviser on finance, and later elevated him to federal minister for finance.

In 1985, when partyless elections were held, he became the government s candidate for a Senate seat. Soon afterwards, he was elected as the Senate chairman, a position that made him the constitutional successor to the presidential office if the incumbent died or became incapacitated.

When Gen Zia did die, in a plane crash in 1988, GIK assumed charge as the acting president, thereby ensuring a smooth transition from military to civilian rule. Both analysts and experts of South Asian region and Pakistan s history agreed that had there been any other person holding the office of Chairman Senate at that critical time, Martial Law would probably have been declared once again in the country. With the experience and knowledge of GIK and his standing as statesman, such a decision became impossible.

His well-preparedness with prodigious memory of facts and figures, logical reasoning and articulated diplomatic skill surprised the participants in the cabinet and other vital meetings. With perfect command over expression and inimitable style, he kept the audience spell-bound like a magician. "He never spoke out of turn but when he did, he was listened to in utter silence, and with great respect. You could never catch him on the wrong foot and he seldom, if ever, lost his case, for he had done his homework in depth and detail. "I became his instant admirer (nay adorer) and treated him as my Guru," says I .A. Imtiazi, former Federal Secretary. He was regarded a financial wizard (or specialist in Public Finance) yet his scholastic foresight knew no bounds.

He always made valuable suggestions and argued with logic, vigour and conviction. It was not easy to change his mind. Adopting an independent and principled stand he was never overawed even by the highest authority. Roedad Khan says: "I had witnessed Ghulam Ishaq Khan s meteoric rise to highest position that a civil servant could aspire to. As Finance Minister, Ghulam Ishaq Khan exercised practically veto power in all matters having financial implications. Zia at times disagreed with Ghulam Ishaq Khan but he rarely overruled his finance minister whom he held in high esteem."

The Indus Basin treaty 1960 when Mangla Dam was completed, the World Bank insisted that the second dam should be Kalabagh or a smaller dam and not Tarbela. The amount available in the Indus Basin Fund was insufficient for gigantic project like Tarbela. GIK argued strongly that the larger dam was essential to provide a developmental component, to compensate Pakistan somewhat for the loss of the three Eastern rivers and Tarbela was the best option available. Despite the government lukewarm support his tenacity and powerful arguments marshalled in support of his views, prevented any compromise.

Ultimately, the Lieftink Mission endorsed the Tarbela project. Today, Tarbela is producing among other benefits, hydro electricity which is the power lifeline of the country.

Mr. Ghulam Ishaq Khan made invaluable contribution to Pakistan s strategic nuclear programme in various capacities; first as a Member of the specially constituted Board where as Secretary General (Defence) he represented his Ministry and later as Chairman of the Board when he became the Secretary General-in-Chief in the Government of Pakistan. He continued to supervise the classified nuclear programme as Minister of Finance, Chairman of the Senate and later on as the President of Pakistan. His personal supervision in various capacities ensured continued funding of the nuclear organisations. He advised the then President in formulating policy positions with regard to Pakistan s relationship with the West and particularly USA. Later on as the President of Pakistan, he stood like a solid rock and took firm and unambiguous stand against all outside pressures. Gen ® Khalid Mahmud Arif said: "After Zia s death Washington tested the nerves of President Mr.

Ghulam Ishaq Khan by sending ------- envoy to Islamabad to talk tough. The visitor found Ishaq unbending to unfair demands, unyielding to pressure and uncompromising on principles. Such political perseverance prompted our scientists and technologists in achieving success."

His overall political vision, financial and administrative skills enabled the nuclear establishment to accomplish and meet the assigned goals. GIK will always be remembered as the Protector, Promoter and Preserver of Pakistan s Nuclear Programme.

There is no need to say anything about his devotion and contribution he made to the establishment of Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, a living monument to his undying memory. History will remember GIK for his professional excellence, the strength of character, the courage of conviction and his notable contribution in the development of science and technology. Once he said: "The GIK Institute is as dear to me as a child to his parents. It gives me pleasure to see that the sapling we planted in 1993 is now a flowering tree, providing its cool shed to the seekers of knowledge."

The best tribute to him would be to work hard to ensure that GIK Institute becomes a centre of excellence not only in Pakistan but also in the region and the world.

GIKI emerged victorious from the Fast University Debating Championship 2009 organized by Fast University Islamabad. Some of the best school and university teams from all over the country participated in the event spanning four days from the 2nd to the 5th  of  October. The tournament comprised of five preliminary rounds followed by the semi finals and the final.

The GIKI team was represented by Hammad Nawaz, Waqar ud Din, Arsalan Burney and Faizan Rasool. After securing comfortable qualification for the knock out stages, the semi final provided a few nail biting moments for the GIKI team but they held their nerve to make it to the final. On the grand stage, the GIKI team fought tooth and nail to put up a spectacle for the audience and brought home the ultimate prize.
   
The tournament proved to be a great experience for the GIKI team where not only did they excel at debating but were also provided with the pleasure of meeting GIKI alumni including Tughral Turab and Waqar Nayyar. The concert and the comedy night organized by FAST rounded off a thoroughly enjoyable experience for the GIKI team and a proud moment for the entire GIKI.

The newly admitted batch 19 (class of 2013) was extended a formal welcome in the shape of an orientation ceremony held on 21st of August,2009.

Like yester-years, students from every nook and cranny of Pakistan joined GIKI, reaffirming it’s status as a centre of excellence for imparting knowledge in the country.

At the orientation ceremony, students were welcomed into the exciting and enriching life they would have for the next few years. They were introduced to the norms and customs of GIKI.

We welcome the new batch into GIKI.

The results for the Fall Semester 09 have been released.

To save bandwidth, the results are being provided only in Lite format.

View the results here.

A team from Pakistan participated for the first time in the RoboCup 2009, held in Graz, Austria from the 29th of June to the 5th of July 2009. The team consisted of students from the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI), and participated in the Real Robot League of the RoboCup.

RoboCup is an international research and education initiative. It is an attempt to foster AI and intelligent robotics research by providing a standard problem where wide range of technologies can be integrated and examined, as well as being used for integrated project-oriented education. It is the premier robotics event of its kind. RoboCup comprises of many leagues, including the Rescue league that focuses on Urban Search and Rescue.

RoboCup 2009 is the first ever competition of its series that witnessed the participation of a Pakistani Rescue Robot, "SAVIOUR", designed and fabricated by a multidisciplinary team of the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology. The team was selected from hundreds of applicants. It is worth noting that in a highly mechanized world, very few Pakistani institutes are constructively working on autonomous, flexible and tele-operated robotic mechanisms.

A total of 23 teams from different countries and institutes participated in the Rescue Robot league this year. The competition was held in the Austrian city of Graz, organized by the Graz University of Technology. It was a weeklong competition, from 29th June to 5th July, 2009.

SAVIOUR was designed and built by a team led by Wardah Inam. The rest of the team comprised of Muneeb Zia, Muhammad Fahd Waseem, Khwaja Umar Riaz and Nasreen Shayeq. SAVIOUR means "Semi-Autonomous Vehicle for Identification, Observation and Ultimate Rescue". The robot completes its tasks using various sensors and is controlled via a wireless network for full remote mobility. The tasks involve the location and mapping of "victims" in a simulated earthquake hit "arena".

The project was completely backed, supported and sponsored by GIKI.

For more information, please visit: www.projectsaviour.co.cc

A team from GIKI, "Herald", Team won the "Participation and Performance Award" at the National Engineering Robotics Contest 2009 held at EME-NUST. The National Engineering Robotics Contest (NERC) is a joint project to promote research in robotics.

This contest not only provides a venture for students studying in different parts of country, but also promotes interaction among these institutions.

The Herald team made an autonomous indigenous category robot capable of moving in a specified arena and placing objects at predefined points in the arena. The task of the robot was to track a line with breaks and continuous white paths, and place pegs in the racks placed at four different preallocated areas. Herald successfully managed to qualify for the finals after completing its task. 104 teams participated.

Herald group Hassan Iftekhar, Omair Khan, Bilal Hassan, Abdullah Hanif, Mosib Asad Leghari, and Muhammad Talha Malik.

It won the "Participation and Performance Award" and a cash price of worth RS. 15,000. The Herald group thanks group Advisor Dr. Asim farooqi for all his cooperation. Dr. Nisar was also present at the competition to show his support.

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