IDDCA for Indigenous Thermal Imager

RAVINDER PA

Solid State Physics Laboratory, Delhi

Abstract: In present day warfare, night fighting capability is extremely essential for Army, Navy, Air-force and para military forces in various terrains likes desert, jungle, mountains, as well as sea and air. Night fighting is carried out with the aid of Electro-optical instrumentation for surveillance and tracking. High performance thermal imagers are backbone of modern warfare, with their applications ranging from weapon sights to long range ground/airborne surveillance as well as missile guidance. Thermal imagers and missile seekers developed as well as those under development such as Hand Held Thermal Imagers (HHTI) and Commanders Thermal Sight (CTS) are currently based on cryogenically cooled Focal Plane Arrays (FPA) operating at 77K or higher temperatures. The FPA is packaged as Detector-Dewar-Cooler-Assembly (DDCA) cooled by the Joule-Thomson (JT) cooler for missile seeker applications requiring a fast cool down time and as an Integrated-DetectorDewar-Cooler-Assembly with a miniaturised Stirling cooler (IDDCA) for thermal imagers requiring long operation times. As per a general assessment, there is an enormous requirement of thermal imagers for the Indian armed forces for a variety of applications-the numbers may be in the range of few tens of thousands. The core of any thermal imager is an Infrared Focal Plane Array used as detector for passive infrared imaging. IRFPAs, however, are very high end technology products and have been developed by only a handful of countries. DDCA/IDDCA essentially consist of a two dimensional photo-voltaic infrared photo-detector array hybridized with a compatible SiCMOS switch multiplexer through indium interconnects and packaged in cryostat called dewar having provisions of electrical feed-through and integrated with a miniature Joule Thompson (J-T) or Stirling cycle cryocooler. Indigenous development of high performance cooled infrared detectors in DDCA and IDDCA formats for critical defence applications of thermal imaging is reported in this paper. The detector array that serves the HDTV compatible format has been developed for the imaging and missile seeker applications. High end cutting edge sub technologies have been developed and taken to the level of production for complete self-reliance of the IDDCA production in the long run. IRFPAs are sealed and evacuated in dewar and interfaced with a cryo-cooler. Process methodology adopted for the fabrication of MWIR photovoltaic arrays in 384×288, 640×512 and 1280×1024 formats having 15 and 12 µm pitch is presented in this paper. A state of the art dedicated facility with production machines to take the indigenous IRFPA and IDDCA technology to the level of manufacturing for huge current and future terrestrial and space requirements has been established now.

Brief Introduction of Dr. RAVINDER PAL

Dr. Ravinder Pal completed M.Sc. (Physics), M.Tech. (Solid State Materials) and Ph.D. (Semiconductors) from I.I.T. Delhi in the years 1987, 1989 and 2000 respectively. He joined DRDO in the year 1989 as Scientist “B”. Currently he is serving as Scientist “H” & Outstanding Scientist, Associate Director in Defence Research & Development Organization, Solid State Physics Laboratory, Delhi. He has dedicated himself towards solving critical problems in DRDO and Higher Education Institutions. He has formulated, executed and reviewed high value projects of national importance. He has developed critical technologies worth 2200 crore. He established production center and transferred technology for production and delivery of niche systems to the users. He has guided 07 Nos. of Ph.D. students and more than 100 Nos. of UG and PG research projects. He has also served visiting faculty at The University of Western Australia and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. He has established collaboration with several international universities and industries. I have established laboratories, manufacturing institutions and centers of excellence. Institution building, capacity building, fiscal management, material management, team building, motivation have been my strong points

Range of the future: how the Telemetry architecture is evolving?

Abstract: Test ranges, flight test centers and space ports in the US and around the world are facing emerging challenges with Test and Evaluation (T&E) of more complicated platforms and weapon systems. It materializes in higher cadence of flights / launches, tests involving up to 10 TM equipped vehicles flying at the same time, much higher rate of the downlinked Telemetry or test articles going further and faster. The concept of Range of the Future (RotF) encompasses the evolutions required at the range and its architecture to support those new requirements. This tutorial will focus on Telemetry part of the RotF and provide an overview of the range architecture, and then touch on the various solutions, either already available or under development like Digital Beam Forming (DBF) antennas, Multi-channel Digital TM receivers, Data Quality Metric for Best Source Selection, Telemetry over IP (TMoIP), unmanned TM collection platform (maritime and airborne) and finally Space based Telemetry

PIERRE BASTIE – VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AT SEMCO

Pierre Bastie has been working in the Telemetry field for 15 years holding several positions at various telemetry vendors encompassing business development, sales, strategy, program management and technical support. Today, he is the VP of Business Development at SEMCO, a world-renowned designer and supplier of telemetry products, especially TM receivers, SEMCO flagship product, selected by the Eastern and Western ranges for the US Space Force Assured Access to Space (AATS). Recognized expert in the AMT field, Pierre is a frequent speaker at Telemetry conferences like ITC, ETC and ITEA, and chairs the RF Vendor Working Group, that fosters exchange and collaboration with the Range Commander Council (RCC) RF system. Pierre lives in Encinitas, Ca. and works from the SEMCO facility of Vista, Ca.

Machine Learning in Image Analysis: Surveillance and Strategic Applications in Defence

Abstract: Intelligent, Automated and Optimized Image Analysis is the demand of the days in defence surveillance and strategic applications in terms of target detection, object recognition, detailed scene analysis etc. The continuous capturing of image/video signal leads to huge data and their automated analysis becomes challenging; challenges further get intensified as Onsite sensor (camera) involved in scene capturing may be of limited resources or needs faster acquisition, hence, data capturing to be done at one end and analysis at far end Monitoring Station (MS) (having resources with enough storage, power and computation) constrained by sub-sampled data and security threats on transmission. This automated and intelligent image analysis, with the above challenges in defence applications, become pertinent as some of the places/locations are sometimes human inaccessible, hence, surveillance and strategic applications need continuous monitoring, analysis (risk assessment) and appropriate decision operations (resource allocation, action recommendation, scenario prediction) through reliable (high data rate reception), authenticated (data source authentication) and secured (prevention from reception and decoding) image transmission between Onsite to MS. Of late diverse machine learning (ML) techniques are being explored extensively to address the different challenges. This lecture will discuss the scope of few ML techniques- supervised, unsupervised and reinforcement learning- involved in image capturing, source authentication, secured communication over challenging wireless environment to their analysis at MS.

Dr. Santi P. Maity

 Dr. Santi P. Maity joined the faculty of Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, India (IIEST Shibpurat) (formerly BEC(DU), BESU Shibpur) in the year 2000, where at present, he is a Professor (HAG) in Dept. of Information Technology. He served as the Head of different of various academic units of the Institute, namely Dept. of Information Technology, Purabi Das School of Information Technology (PDSIT), School of VLSI (SVLSI) and School of Mechatronics and Robotics (SMR) and School of Advanced Materials, Green Energy and Sensor Systems (SAMGESS). He received his B.E. degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from National Institute of Technology Durgapur and M.Tech. in Microwaves from the University of Burdwan, India in 1993 and 1997, respectively.  He received his Ph.D. degree in Engineering from IIEST Shibpur in 2008 and did Post-Doctoral work from January 2009 to July 2009 and February 2011 to July 2011 at the Laboratoire des Signaux et Systems (CNRS–Supelec–Universite Paris-Sud 11) in France. His research interests include Cognitive Radio Networks, MC-CDMA systems, Digital Image Watermarking and Secret Sharing, Compressed Sensing based Image Reconstruction and Disease Diagnosis, and Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD) based Gradation on Diabetic Retinopathy. His current research areas also include the use of Reinforcement Learning (RL) in Spectrum Prediction, Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) in D2D communication and optimal placement of charging stations in Electric Vehicle (EV) systems. He has published more than 325 research papers in International journals, International and National conference proceedings, and book chapters. He has guided 20 Ph. D theses so far and examined more than 60 Ph. D theses of various institutes that include foreign institutes, State universities, Central Universities, NITs, IITs and IIITs. He has delivered so far more than 80 invited, keynotes and tutorial talks in International and National conferences, seminars, workshops, symposiums and FDP program.

Topic

Abstract: This presentation highlights Weibel’s latest advancements in radar technology, focusing on performance verification using non-cooperative satellites like Sentinel 3A to validate range, velocity, and angle measurements. It covers key improvements in instrumentation radar, including enhanced range, accuracy, and real-time data acquisition for complex missions such as range safety operations. Additionally, it explores refined calibration methods and advanced motion compensation strategies that improve tracking precision in dynamic environments, supported by real-world case studies. The session concludes with an overview of Weibel’s growth, global presence, and strategic goals to maintain leadership in Doppler radar technology.

Eduardo Elías de Molíns

Eduardo Elías de Molíns is an experienced Business Development and Engineering professional with a strong background in radar systems and defense solutions. Currently, he serves as the Sales & Business Development Director for the Asia Pacific region at Weibel Scientific in Denmark, where he leads strategic sales initiatives and fosters key client relationships to drive growth in the region. Before taking on this leadership role, Eduardo worked as an Aftermarket Service Engineer at Weibel, where he ensured the reliability and longevity of radar systems worldwide. His responsibilities included providing technical support, conducting troubleshooting, and offering client training to maintain optimal system performance. Eduardo also brings valuable experience from his time at everis Aerospace and Defense in Spain, where he worked as an IT Project Management Consultant for nearly six years within the C4ISR division. In this role, he managed complex projects, identified business opportunities in the defense and security sectors, and collaborated with major clients such as EDIDP, NATO, and Frontex. He was also responsible for vendor coordination, cost control, and client negotiations. Earlier in his career, Eduardo spent a decade in the Spanish Air Force as an Air Operations Specialist, where he developed strong leadership skills and a commitment to values such as loyalty, duty, respect, and integrity.

RF Sensing and Applications

(Unlocking the Potential of Wireless Technology for Advanced Applications)

Abstract: Radio Frequency (RF) sensing has emerged as a transformative technology, enabling a wide range of applications without requiring dedicated sensing hardware. RF sensing refers to the ability to detect and interpret the characteristics of RF waves in a given environment. RF signals, including those transmitted by Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular networks, can be captured and analysed for various purposes such as motion detection, location tracking, environmental monitoring, and gesture recognition. RF sensing relies on the fact that RF signals interact with objects and surfaces in a manner that can be measured, allowing for the extraction of valuable information. Advanced signal processing techniques and machine learning algorithms can be applied to the received data, allowing systems to infer details such as location, movement, and even the presence of people, without the need for direct line-of-sight or specialized sensors. This talk delves into the fundamental principles of WiFi sensing, exploring how channel state information (CSI) and received signal strength indicator (RSSI) variations can be leveraged to infer environmental changes, detect motion, and even recognize human activities. By repurposing existing Wi-Fi routers and access points, it is possible to detect motion, map the layout of environments, and even detect abnormalities in real-time. We will first provide an overview of the underlying physics and signal processing techniques that enable Wi-Fi sensing. The discussion will cover key aspects such as multipath propagation, channel estimation, and Doppler shifts which contribute to extracting meaningful features from wireless signals. Following this, we will examine the state-of-the-art methodologies, including deep learning approaches that enhance accuracy and robustness in various scenarios. The latter half of the talk will focus on applications spanning multiple domains, including WiSE (Wi-Fi Sensing Enabled) homes, healthcare, security, and industrial automation. Examples will include human presence detection, gesture recognition and human computer interaction, vital sign monitoring, and real-time environmental monitoring while highlighting how Wi-Fi sensing is shaping the future of Industry 5.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT). Finally, we will discuss open challenges and future research directions, including scalability, privacy concerns, and standardization efforts, paving the way for further advancements in this exciting field.

Prof. Siba Kumar Udgata

WiSeCom Lab
(https://wisecomlab.github.io/)
School of Computer and Information Sciences
University of Hyderabad (Institution of Eminence), India.
Email: udgata@uohyd.ac.in

Dr. Siba K Udgata is a Professor in the School of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Hyderabad which is an Institution of Eminence. He is also the Director for Centre for Modelling, Simulation and Design (CMSD), which is a high-performance computing center, established by Dept of Science and Technology, Govt. of India situated at University of Hyderabad. He has a Masters and PhD in Computer Science. He is a fellow of Telangana Academy of Sciences. He was a Fellow of United Nations and worked in the United Nations University/ International Institute for Software Technology (UNU/IIST), Macau as research fellow. He is a recipient of IBM SUR (Shared University Research) award grant for the project “Mobile Sensor Network based Disaster Management System with special emphasis on Rescue Management System”. His research focus is on intelligent algorithms for wireless communication, mobile computing, IoT and sensor network. He has worked as principal investigator in many funded research projects (funding of Rs. 6.0 crores of rupees approximately). He has worked in International collaborative projects in collaboration with Stanford University, University of California, IIT, Delhi, IISc, Bangalore and few other institutes. He has published more than 175 research papers in many peer-reviewed international journals and conferences, and filed four Indian patents and one is granted. He has edited more than 10 international conference proceedings published by Springer publication house and also co-authored a book "Internet of Things and Sensor Network for COVID-19" published by Springer Nature which is one of the most downloaded books. He has visited many countries including USA, China, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, United Kingdom, Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and a few other countries as a visiting professor and to deliver talks. He is currently working on funded research projects for use of Wi-Fi sensing and sensing without sensor models for developing different societal applications.

The Impact of Machine Learning on Advanced Radio Frequency Sensing Systems

Abstract: This talk examines the transformative role of Machine Learning (ML) in Radio Frequency sensing across modern wireless standards - from millimeter-wave radars to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, and Ultra-Wideband systems. We demonstrate how ML architectures enhance sensing capabilities through optimized processing of channel state information, radar signatures, and time-of-flight measurements. The presentation explores ML-driven advances in centimeter-level positioning, multi-person detection, gesture classification, and non-contact vital sign monitoring. Through theoretical frameworks and experimental results, we examine fundamental challenges in RF data quality, model robustness, algorithmic transparency, and privacy preservation, while highlighting opportunities for innovation in ML-driven RF sensing systems.

Avik Santra

Avik Santra is a Lead Principal Machine Learning Systems Engineer at Infineon Technologies, driving innovation in advanced system solutions for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, image, and radar sensors. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical, Electronics, and Informatics from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany, and brings over a decade of expertise in sensor and radar system development. He has co-authored two books on artificial intelligence, filed more than 70 patents, and published over 60 research papers. As an Associate Editor for IEEE Sensors Journal and Machine Learning with Applications, he bridges academic and industrial insights, delivering impactful innovations in RF sensing technologies and their real-world applications.

Advances in modern radar technologies for range applications

Abstract: Radar systems are very critical for meeting range instrumentation requirements. The environment under which radar has to function for such applications is becoming more and more complex and the performance expected is very high.  Also, radar sensors for range have to be highly reliable as the opportunity to observe when needed has to be utilized else the mission may become futile and losses could be significant.  Ease of deployment and operational effectiveness also need to be ensured as the mission location and observation points also would change continuously depending on the specific mission. Observation platforms may be on ground , naval ships, airborne where sensors need to be deployed for the specific need. Advances in  Modern radar technologies enable to design highly reliable, fault tolerant and with optimal physical configurations for critical applications meeting range needs. In this presentation, we will bring out few possible architectures and technologies that may be adapted for modern radar designs for use in range applications. Utilisation of technologies such as photonics, quantum, digital hardwares and remoting of antenna including drone based synthetic antenna for radar are discussed. Also, fault tolerant processing hardwares is brought out for continuous reliable operations. Software architectures and maintenance tools required are also discussed in brief along with Applications of AI and ML. 

Dr. Viswam Gampala

Director, LRDE, Bangalore DRDO

Shri Viswam Gampala, currently working as Director at LRDE, Bangalore in DRDO. He joined DRDO in 1989 as Scientist 'B' after completing his M.Sc (Computer Science) from Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam and completed M.Tech (Computer engineering) from IIT, Chennai in the year 1997. Shri Viswam worked in various Radar projects with vast experience in Design and Development of Radar Systems, more specifically in Surveillance & Fire Control Radars of Akash Weapon System, QRSAM, Akash NG, ADFCR for Army/Air Force needs and Programme AD. He had designed and developed several time critical systems, hardware & software for Radar Control, Weapon Control & Command Guidance, Display Software, High Speed recording and Analysis, Interface systems meeting hard real-time system requirements. He was Deputy Project Director for Development of Radars for AD programme of India and was instrumental in successfully establishing a geographically distributed Integrated Weapon system network for AD Programme integrating the long range active array radars and standardization of the interfaces. His expertise includes System engineering of large scale System of Systems, Concept definition, Interface Definition, Real-time hardware & software design development using Object Oriented Paradigm, Parallel processing systems and software. He had participated in several Integrated Missions from ITR, Balasore and ensured that the long range radars of AD Programme and radars of other projects are fully integrated to the Mission Control network of ITR. He had lead the teams at LRDE for successful realization of first of its kind four wall on the move radar (configured on single 8x8 HM/Trailer) in C and X-band which completed first level trials both for Indian Army (QRSAM) and Indian Air Force (Akash NG). A new generation programmable signal processor was completely designed, developed and integrated into these radars using GPGPU hardware for the first time in Indian radars reducing the cost and complexity significantly. He is instrumental for ongoing development of fire control radars at LRDE for Naval applications. He had established required infrastructure, software development environment and integration setup for realization of new generation radars at LRDE along with extensive network of industry partners. His fields of interests include Systems Engineering, Parallel Processing using GPGPU architectures, highly time critical software & hardware systems and miniaturization reducing complexity of Radar systems. He had received Young Scientist Award 2000 and Scientist of the Year Award 2013 from DRDO. He is heading MTRDC since 1 June 2021.

Directed Energy Weapons: Advancing Technology and Optimizing Test Ranges for Future Warfare

Abstract: Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system are emerging as a transformative force in modern warfare. These systems, leveraging high-energy lasers and microwave technologies, offer precision engagement, reduced logistical burdens, and cost-effective alternatives to conventional munitions. However, advancing DEW technology requires overcoming key challenges in power efficiency, thermal management, and operational integration. This talk explores recent advancements in DEW capabilities, highlighting breakthroughs in beam control, power scaling, and adaptive targeting systems. Additionally, optimizing test ranges for DEW evaluation remains critical for their deployment. The innovations in range instrumentation, atmospheric modeling technology are discussed. The laser engagement assessment techniques that enhance the effectiveness of DEW testing is analysed. By addressing these technological and testing challenges, it is possible to move closer to realizing DEWs as a decisive asset in future conflicts.

Jagannath Nayak

Jagannath Nayak is Distinguished Scientist and Director of Centre for High Energy System and Sciences(CHESS). He received M.S(Engg.) and Ph.D in Electrical Communication Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India. He started his career in Defence R&D Organization (DRDO) in 1992 and served DRDO Laboratory RCI Hyderabad for many years and took over as the Director of CHESS in year 2016. He spearheaded and led the development of Fiber Optic Gyroscopes (FOG) as Project Director and served as Associate Dean at the Electro-Optical Instrumentation Research Academy (ELOIRA), Hyderabad from 2009 till July 2016. He was the Founder Chairperson of the Hyderabad Chapter of IEEE PHOTONICS Society(IPS). Dr. Nayak has been a Distinguished Visiting Professor at IISc Bangalore and IIT Madras form 2009 to 2014. As project Director, he steered the design, development and production of indigenous Fiber Optic Gyroscopes as import substitute and turned out to be the backbone of all Missile programmes. He has been credited with the distinction of developing country’s first indigenous high Accuracy fiber optic gyroscope, at par with globally renowned peers. He has lead successful development, user acceptance and production of country’s first Anti-Drone System using Laser Directed Energy Weapon System. It is production under ToT to six Industries to meet requirements of Armed Forces(Army, Navy, Air force) , SPG, NSG, BSF, CRPF and State Police etc. He has published over 100 research papers in international and national journals and conferences in field of inertial navigation system, Directed Energy Weapon System and Related Technologies. Dr. Nayak is Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering(FNAE), Associate Fellow of Royal Institute of Navigation (AFRIN), Fellow of the Optical Society of India (FOSI), Fellow of Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (FIETE) India and Senior Member of IEEE(SMIEE He is a recipient of numerous awards and honours, namely few include the Agni Excellence Award for Self Reliance, Nina Saxena Excellence in Technology Award, Aeronautical Society of India Swarna Jayanti Award and DRDO Best Performance Award.

Deep Learning Model and Image Generation

Abstract: Deep learning has emerged as a dominant force across various fields of science and research, revolutionizing problem-solving in numerous domains. Among the diverse deep architectures, encoder-decoder structures play a crucial role in tasks such as image compression, denoising, and reconstruction. In this session, we explore a specialized form of unsupervised learning architecture known as the autoencoder, which learns efficient data representations without requiring labeled supervision. We then explore an advanced variant incorporating residual connections called UNet, which enhances feature propagation and learning efficiency. Finally, we briefly discuss the application of UNet-based architectures in unconditional discriminative image generation, highlighting their significance in modern deep learning applications.

Prof. P. K. Biswas

Prabir Kumar Biswas (Senior Member, IEEE) received the B.Tech., M.Tech., and Ph.D. degrees in electronics and electrical communication engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India, in 1985, 1989, and 1991, respectively.,He served as a Deputy Engineer at Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL), from 1985 to 1987. In 1991, he joined the Faculty of the Department of Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering, IIT Kharagpur, where he is presently a Professor and also serves as the Head. He also served as the Head of the Computer and Informatics Center, IIT Kharagpur, from March 2008 to December 2014. He visited the University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany, from March 2002 to February 2003, as an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow. His research interests include image and video processing, pattern recognition, and multimedia systems.,Prof. Biswas has served as a member of technical program committees at several national and international conferences

Coming Soon

Dr. Saumik Bhattacharya

Dr. Saumik Bhattacharya is an assistant professor in the Department of Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur, Kanpur, India, in 2017. He has published more than thirty research papers in reputed international journals and conferences. His research interests include image processing, computer vision, and statistical learning. He is an Associate of the West Bengal Academy of Science and Technology and an Associate of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics.