Technologist of the Year - Vinod Karar

D. Vinod Karar, Chief Scientist, Imaging, Avionics & Display Systems, CSIR-CSIO, Professor & Coordinator, AcSIR-CSIO. Born on 04 July 1971, he did his B.E. (Electronics), 1992, NIT Bhopal; M.E. (Electronics), 1999, PEC Chandigarh; Ph.D., 2014, Thesis: Tunnelling effect mitigation through the artificial neural network-based head-up display switching system, Thapar Univ. Patiala

Professional Membership:
Fellow: IETE, IEI, OSI
Member: IEEE, IEEE Vehicular Technology Society, IEEE Aerospace & Electronic Systems Society, OSA, AeSI, ACCS, ISSEIndia, Society for EMC Engineers (India), IAENG

Position Held:
(i) Chief Scientist: Jul’14-till date; Head, Optical Devices & Systems Unit (Nov’12-Jun’21); Professor, AcSIR: Aug’11-till date; Coordinator, AcSIR-CSIO: Feb’17-till date)
(ii) Sr. Principal Scientist, CSIR-CSIO: Julâ’09-Jun’14; Team Leader Electronics (Feb’05-Oct’12) (Merit Promotion)
(iii) Principal Scientist, CSIO: Jul’05-Jun’09, (Merit Promotion)
(iv) Scientist E1, CSIO: Jul’02-8 Jun’05
(v) Scientist C, CSIO: Jul’1998-Jun’02
(vi) Scientist B, CSIO: Jul’1993-Jul’1998

Technology Development:
Technology Commercialised: 23 Nos.; Lab prototypes: 08 Nos.

Projects as Theme Leader/Alternate Nodal Officer:
(a) CSIR Programs (comprise 25 projects): 02 mega theme-based programs @ INR 89.99 Cr
(b) External: 20 projects @ INR 96.13 Cr
Publications: Technology Documents/Reports: 235/18; Journal/Conf. Publications: 67/166; Patents filed: 02; Books Chapters: 06
Invited talks: 51

PHD/PG/UD SUPERVISION: 28; UG: ~70; PhD Completed/In Progress: 08/06

Achievements & Awards:
(i) MIL-STD 704D-F, MIL-STD 461C-E, MIL-STD 810D-F Certifications: 10 Nos. of Aircraft Equipment
(ii) Type approval & Full Operation Clearance: HUD Mk1-LCA
(iii) CEMILAC/ADAQA Approval: 08 Ground equipment
(iv) Awards: 10 Awards; Best paper awards (as author/co-author): 13 Awards

1. HEAD-UP DISPLAY, PILOT DISPLAY UNIT, OPTRONIC SIGHT, AIRCRAFT EXTERIOR LIGHTS, VISUAL LANDING & NAVIGATION AID SYSTEM, MARINE BEARING SIGHTS
(1) Head-Up Display HUD Mk1: LCA-AF Mk1 Aircraft
(2) HUD Mk1N: LCA-Navy
(3) HUD Mk-1NP: LCA-NP
(4) HUD H-Series: Hindustan Jet Trainer Aircraft
(5) Pilot Display Unit: Hawk-i Aircraft
(6) Optical Gun Sight: Dornier DO-228 Aircraft
(7) Taxi & Landing Lights (TLL): LCA
(8) NVG compatible LH Wing Navigation Light: LCA
(9) NVG compatible RH Wing Navigation Light: LCA
(10) NVG compatible Fin Navigation Light: LCA
(11) NVG Compatible Visual Landing Aid Systems for Helicopter and Fixed-wing Aircraft Landing on Naval Ships and Aircraft Carrier: Precision Optical Landing System, LSO Operated Standby Visual Landing Aid System for Aircraft Carrier, NVIS Compatible Helicopter Deck Visual Landing Aid System
(12) Marine Bearing Sight for Naval Ships and Submarine
(13) HUD Alignment Tool for MIG-29K
(14) Beam Combiners for Hawk and Sukhoi Aircraft
(15) IRST Faring for Sukhoi Aircraft
(16) Aviation Cockpit Display Validation Platform, HUD test Platform, Automate HUD Test Equipment
(17) AirField Ground Lighting System
(18) HANSA NG Aircraft Exterior LED-based Lights: 8 Types
(19) COVID TECHNOLOGIES: Foot Operated Water Dispenser, Foot Operated Sanitizer Dispenser, Safety Goggles for Healthcare Professionals

II.I. AS LEADER OF PROJECT & DEPARTMENT
(i) Technology Commercialised/Prototypes: 23/08
(ii) Projects as Theme Leader/Alternate Nodal Officer: CSIR Prog. (25 projects): 2 mega theme-based CSIR programs @ INR 89.99 Cr; Ext.: 20 projects @ INR 96.13 Cr
(iii) MIL-STD 704D-F, MIL-STD 461C-E, MIL-STD 810D-F Certifications: 10 Nos. of Aircraft Equipment
(iv) Type approval & Full Operational Clearance for HUD Mk1 for LCA-Mk1: 115 HUD Mk1 produced, Order of 120 Nos. with BEL
(v) CEMILAC/ADAQA Approval for 08 Nos. Defence ground equipment
(vi) Revenue Generation:

User/Prod. Agencies (current + projected): Defence: INR 1202.49 Cr; Societal: INR 180.05 Cr

CSIR-CSIO: Defence: INR 297.32 Cr; Societal: INR 5.91 Cr

II. EXECUTION OF 12FYP PROJECT “OPTO-MECHATRONIC TECHNOLOGIES FOR NEXT GENERATION SENSORS & APPLICATIONS”:
Budget: INR 65.82 Cr; Total 14 projects; Major Outcomes/Outputs: (i) Technology transfers/developed: 5/12 (ii) New R&D facilities: 8 Nos. (iii) 9 external projects @ INR 37.39 Cr (iv) 14 new projects (v) (a) Publications: Journals/Conf.: 82/134 (b) Patents/Copyright: 04/01 (c) HRD: PhD/Proj. Fellows: 40/42; PG: 75; Trainees/Apprentice: > 250 (d) Training programs: 04

III. PROJECTS EXECUTED UNDER THEME “AEROSPACE, ELECTRONICS, INSTRUMENTATION & STRATEGIC SECTOR” AS THEME LEADER: Comprised 11 projects @ INR 11.16 Cr

IV. TEAM LEADERSHIP: (i) Team handled as HOD: Scientists/Tech. Staff: ~29/25, ~ 35 Proj/Research Fellows, ~25 UG/PG/PhD students (ii) CSIR 12FYP project: ~Scientists/Tech. Staff: ~40/20, PhD/Project fellows: 40/42; PG: 75; Apprentice > 200 (iii) CSIR AEISS Theme Projects: Scientists/Tech. Staff”~35/25, PhD/Project Fellows: ~72/21, PG: 5; Apprentice ~ 15

V. AS COORDINATOR, ACSIR-CSIO: Started AcSIR-CSIO student chapters of IEEE, SPIE, OSA, IEEE-NTC & M.Tech in Adv. Instrumentation from 2018; Facilitated students to work on 64 societal problems

VI. NEW INITIATIVES: Periscope, Augmented, Head Up, Enhanced Vison & Helmet Mounted Displays, Aviation Lights