The Department of Aerospace Engineering, at the Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh organized a National Seminar and Flying Competition - “DRONEVERSE 2.0” in association with Aeronautical Society of India (Chandigarh Branch) from 7th to 8th March, 2025. This event is a perfect blend of sharing of advanced knowledge and technology demonstration. The Inaugural Ceremony was graced by Prof. R.S. Pant (IIT Bombay) as the Chief Guest and keynote speaker, along with Sh. Aurbindo Handa (Ex-DG, AAIB), and Dr. Shashi Poddar (Principal Scientist, CSIR-CSIO) as keynote speakers. Esteemed Director of PEC, Prof. Rajesh Kumar Bhatia (Ad Interim), Prof. Rakesh Kumar (Head, AED & Coordinator), PECOSA President Er. Manish Gupta, Dr. Poonam Saini (Coordinator) and Sh. Vivek Kalotra (Coordinator, Honorary Secretary & Regional Director of RCMA, Chandigarh). The event was sponsored by Sh. Prasoon Sumeshwara Yadav (Aerospace alumnus, Batch of 1989) through PECOSA, Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI) and SoFly Innovations.The inaugural ceremony began with auspicious lamp lighting and floral welcome of the dignitaries.
Prof. Rakesh Kumar extended a warm welcome to all dignitaries and participants, he also provided a brief overview of the event. He emphasized on how Drones are becoming an integral part of life and will significantly impact almost every industry. He remarked that Drones are going to revolutionize human life in the near future in a positive way. Dr. Poonam Saini elaborated on the fusion of Artificial Intelligence with drones, highlighting real-time applications, challenges and the importance of fostering a responsible UAV ecosystem.
Further, the esteemed Director, Prof. Rajesh Kumar Bhatia, remarked that drones are now everywhere across fields, from healthcare to defense, and he also praised DRONEVERSE 2.0 as a crucial platform for expert discussions and hands-on demonstrations.
Chief Guest, Prof. R.S. Pant shared very nostalgic memories of his time at PEC, recalling how he was just a year junior to Dr. Kalpana Chawla. He provided deep technical insights into UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), Drones, emphasizing the importance of technical expertise, theoretical knowledge with Practical Experience. He encouraged the students to actively engage in drone technology, he remarked, "Go out in the field, fly UAVs—fail if you must, but gain experience!"
A major highlight was the inauguration of Aeronautical Society of India (AeSi) Student Chapter by the dignitaries. The event witnessed enthusiastic participantion from Kalasalingam academy of research & education, Tamilnadu, Uttaranchal University, UPES, Uttarakhand University, Dehradun, Chandigarh University and PEC. Lastly, Sh. Deepak Lekhi provided the vote of thanks. This two day event would feature drone flying competitions and poster presentations, offering students a platform to showcase their technical expertise and innovations in UAV technology.
