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The Indian Underwater Robotics Society or IURS (registered as Intelligent Unmanned Robotics Society) is India's first and only non-profit research organisation NGO for the advancement of low-cost robotics and intelligent systems research in developing countries. IURS also imparts education in it is focus areas to improve understanding of and representation in intelligent systems research within developing countries. IURS has held the distinction of being the first Indian team to design India's first operational AUV 〔(Indian Underwater Robotics Society's Multiple AUVs )〕〔(IURS Invents BhAUV, India's first AUV )〕 to compete at the AUVSI's International Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Competition.〔(AUVSI & ONR's International Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Competition ).〕 IURS is also the first and only Indian research and education NGO to operate in the field of robotics and intelligent systems. Ever since its inception in 2004, IURS has made many contributions towards furthering robotics education and research in India through involvement with government, universities and local and international organisations. ==History== Even though IURS officially received its registration under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 only in 2007, the organisation had been functioning in its nascent form ever since December 2004. Initially, the organisation was established with the vision to develop India's first AUV and also enable the first Indian team to compete in the 2005 International Autonomous Underwater Vehicle competition organised by the AUVSI and the US Navy's Office of Naval Research in San Diego, CA, USA.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 publisher=The Week Magazine )〕 The student team was put together after a nationwide call for applications and included members who had previously designed AUVs costing under $600 for the international competition. This student team designed the first operational Indian AUV with just a budget of $1000 and lived at relative's homes in San Diego, the competition location, to save more money. This budget was a minor fraction of what the other teams had available. A new team of individuals competed as the IURS team in 2006 with a slightly higher budget of $1500 and had by this time managed to improve performance of their AUV. Realising the dire lack of talent due to no focused and up-to-date education, and unavailability of low-cost robotics parts, in India the IURS team worked to register itself as an NGO specialising in research and education in the field of robotics. IURS designed education programs, including summer schools and workshops, to facilitate practical applications of skills learnt in and out of the classroom, while producing an environment conducive to the growth of personal, educational, resourceful and creative skills of students. The first multi-day Introduction to Robotics summer school was organised by using the in-house talents of IURS researchers in New Delhi in June 2007 and saw almost 100 participants from all across India. Better evolutions of this summer school were also conducted in the following years by utilising faculty and researchers from Universities across the globe to bring world-class research experiences within the grasp of attendees. The organisation became one of the first to launch an online robotics parts store for students. This robotics store was able to bring much needed easy-access to affordable sensors, actuators and development boards to students by passing on the import duty, tax and profit savings to students. The emergence of the online robotics store, along with the education program, launched a price-war amongst the few robotics parts retailers in India, which greatly benefited hobbyists and students. News of IURS' success and unique educational programs encouraged over 200 student and professional members to join the organisation to shape the future direction of the organisation.〔(Indian Underwater Robotics Society )〕〔(About IURS )〕 In the meantime, IURS research group members developed novel low-cost sonar, computer vision and underwater robotic systems to contribute to the scientific community at large as well. An international tutorial program to spread information regarding IURS research programs was set up in 2009. This tutorial program is also being used as a method to garner global support for spreading intelligent systems education in developing nations.〔(A Practical Approach to Machine Vision for Robot Control )〕 Since its official formation in 2007, IURS has been working closely with Indian Government organisations such as the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and other NGOs like Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) to bring together concerned research institutions, firms and individuals at one platform for futuristic discussions to create greater awareness and linkages between the potential manufactures and users of the Automation and Robotics products.〔(ASSOCHAM Conference on Automation & Robotics )〕 IURS has been working closely with policy and lawmakers to introduce regulations in the robotics education field in India, to ensure that students receive a minimum guaranteed level of up-to-date knowledge rather than being cheated by many organisations looking to quickly profit from students' eagerness to learn. A similar effort in introducing standards within robotics is being pursued to enable low-cost applications to emerge. The primary focus of research conducted by IURS scientists has since foundation been focused towards underwater robotics, however, in recent times the organisation has started foraying into underwater acoustics, general marine technology and also terrestrial robotics and computer vision systems. IURS is now in the process of setting up national research programs for students to participate in and gain valuable research experience. The funding for such programs is to be derived from third-party projects. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Indian Underwater Robotics Society」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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