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Mangaluru: Supreme Bajaj launches world’s first CNG bike ‘Freedom 125’

 Supreme Bajaj unveiled the world’s first CNG bike, the Freedom 125 NG04, under the theme ‘Freedom Ride the Change’ on Wednesday, August 14, at its showroom in Balmatta.

During the launch event, Col Nitte Sharath Bandhary, president of Mangaluru University College Alumni Association, expressed his admiration for the innovative vehicle, stating, “Riding two-wheelers has always been a pleasure for me. The Freedom 125 is special because it runs on both CNG and petrol, making it economical and environmentally friendly. I’m delighted that this dealership has thrived for 57 years, thanks to the exceptional leadership at Supreme Bajaj Motors. As they continue to grow, focusing on service will help expand their reputation across the state.”

Aroor Kishore Rao, director of Supreme Auto Dealers Pvt Ltd, emphasized the company’s commitment to customer satisfaction, remarking, “Bajaj vehicles are trusted nationwide for their innovation and service. My father founded this showroom, and it has grown over 57 years to include four dealerships across the state, with immense support from our customers. The Freedom 125 CNG bike can cover up to 300 kilometers on a single fill, and with around 30 CNG filling stations available, it’s set to become a game-changer.”

Aroor Arjun Rao, director of Supreme Auto Dealers Pvt Ltd, Sai Shankar, GM of GAIL Gas Ltd., Shiva Prasad (DGM), Guruprasad (DGM Service), Raghavendra Prasad (AGM 3 Wheeler), Shankar Bhat, Manager, and other dignitaries were also present at the event.

Key features of Bajaj Freedom 125 NG04:

  • World’s first CNG bike, featuring a 125cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine compatible with both CNG and petrol.
  • Equipped with two tanks: a 2 kg CNG tank and a 2-litre petrol tank.
  • Available in three variants: NG04 Drum, NG04 Drum LED, and NG04 Disc LED.
  • First-in-Class Mono Linked type Suspension and a fully digital speedometer with Bluetooth connectivity.
  • Priced from Rs 95,000 for the base NG04 Drum variant to Rs 1,10,000 for the NG04 LED Disc variant.
  • Tested rigorously for customer safety, passing 11 additional safety tests.
  • Customers can enjoy up to 50% savings on rides and up to Rs 1.34 lakh in overall savings with the CNG bike.

“We have received over 120 bookings, and today, we are proud to deliver the first batch of these vehicles to our esteemed customers,” Aroor Arjun Rao announced.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: SPACE & SATELLITES: Pixxel opens new spacecraft manufacturing facility in Bengaluru

Pixxel has launched three of its satellites – Shakuntala, D2, and Anand – in collaboration with ISRO and Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

Bengaluru-based space data company Pixxel inaugurated its first spacecraft manufacturing facility in Bengaluru on Monday. The new facility holds significance as it targets to launch six satellites this year and 18 more by 2025, further advancing its mission of building a “health monitor” for the planet.

Spread across 30,000 square feet, the facility, at its full capacity, is equipped to handle more than 20 satellites simultaneously that can be turned around within a timeframe of six months, making possible a total of 40 large satellites per year.

The facility was inaugurated by S. Somanath, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), who said, “Space sector is something very tough in terms of technology, market penetration, profitability… Coming into the sector and creating an impact is difficult, as it requires determination, resilience, and time. I congratulate Pixxel for having envisioned, created, and sustained the business for the last five years without losing momentum.”

Pixxel has launched three of its satellites – Shakuntala, D2, and Anand – in collaboration with ISRO and Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The Bengaluru startup further plans to launch Firefly, a constellation comprising six high-resolution hyperspectral satellites, in June. This would be followed by the so-called Honeybees constellation, another satellite constellation that will improve image resolution and the wavelength range of Pixxel’s satellites.

“The inauguration of the new facility marks a momentous milestone as Pixxel nears its fifth anniversary since inception. It will bolster our mission to build a health monitor for the planet. By increasing our capacity to build more satellites, we will deliver even more critical data to our customers faster so they can make informed decisions and address the needs of key industries such as agriculture, energy, forestry, and environmental monitoring,” said Awais Ahmed, CEO, Pixxel.

Additionally, Pixxel will also be rolling out its geospatial analytics platform, Aurora, by June 2024. The company’s satellites are used in the environment, agriculture, and mining sectors to detect oil spills, vegetation, and other geographical issues, respectively.

Pixxel has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Agriculture to provide hyperspectral imagery. Pixxel said 98 per cent of its customers are global, including clients such as British Petroleum, Google, and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

Talking about customers, Awais said that the total customer base is divided into three divisions as of now – 40 per cent agriculture, 30 per cent resource companies, and 30 per cent government. Pixxel expects 85 per cent of the revenue to be generated from its commercial side and the rest from the government’s side by 2025.

“We expect 15 per cent of the revenue to come from the government’s side in 2025… We expect this to go up to 40 per cent in 2026,” said Ahmed.

Backed by Google and Lightspeed, Pixxel started operations in 2019 and last raised $36 million in a funding round in June 2023.

source/content: business-standard.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: INDIA’S FIRST: Kollegal lass becomes country’s First Woman Flight Test Engineer

Sqn Ldr Ashritha V. Oleti of Indian Air Force, hailing from Kollegal in Chamarajanagar district, has been selected as the country’s first woman Flight Test Engineer and has brought laurels to the State.

Daughter of late O.V. Venkatesh Babu and O.V. Vani couple, she has obtained degree from Indian Air Force Test Pilot School, one of the most prestigious training schools in the world. This degree is said to be most difficult and challenging but she has passed out with flying colours, thanks to her grit and determination.

This training school was started in 1973 and so far, 275 persons have obtained degree from this prestigious training institute. She has become the first woman to obtain this degree from this training school.

The job of Test Pilot Engineer is to examine thoroughly any new induction of airplanes.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

INDIA @ PARIS OLYMPICS 2024 : Mysuru City’s Sanjana Kiran Mentors Athletes To Olympic Success At Paris 2024

Sanjana Kiran, Mysuru-born sports psychologist, who has made a name for herself as a Mind Coach for athletes world over is now in Paris. Sanjana is currently handling 53 athletes, including those from India and other countries, at the Paris Summer Olympics 2024, mentoring them. Sanjana Kiran spoke to Star of Mysore from Paris. Excerpts…

Star of Mysore (SOM): What brings you to the Paris Olympics?

Sanjana: I have been working with sportspersons since the 2004 Athens Olympics. This is my 10th Olympic event, which includes seven Summer Olympics and three Winter Olympics. I have handled about 300 athletes, and more than 150 of them have achieved podium finishes. Currently, I am working with 53 athletes, including 11 from India and others from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, the USA, and the Netherlands, at the Paris Olympics.

SOM: How different are the athletes to handle, especially in an event like the Olympics?

Sanjana: It depends on individual sports, countries, and the Olympic cycle. During the London 2012 Olympics, my clientele consisted of athletes aged 20 years and above, except for gymnastics. Things have changed since then. During the 2016 Rio Olympics, the age group of the athletes dropped considerably, with 70-80 percent of my clientele under 20 years and 60 percent within the age group of 17 years. I have been working with elite athletes since my first Olympics, and the success I have achieved over the years has only increased my clientele.

SOM: There are comparisons made between athletes from India and other countries. What do you think about this?

Sanjana: Comparing one athlete to another is not beneficial. Every athlete I work with presents a different challenge. The more elite the athlete, the greater the challenge. Managing their emotions at different levels is crucial.

In my opinion, wisdom gained through experience is not always the best friend for an elite athlete. The more you know, the more you tend to focus on minute details. While they may be happy with their performance, they are often not satisfied because they overthink. Motivation and focus are not issues for them, but converting their high and low emotions into positive results requires a lot of courage.

SOM: You have seen athletes from various countries competing at the highest level. How do you rate the progress of Indian athletes?

Sanjana: Progress has been good with a new approach and an increase in representation. However, more can be done to tap into our country’s abundant talent. Over the past year, we have been implementing new strategies based on our experiences. While winning a bronze medal is an achievement, getting a podium finish at the Olympics is a different                                        experience altogether.

SOM: Tell us about your preparations before an important event such as the Olympics.

Sanjana: Sports psychologists work in close physical proximity with the athletes. Taking on the responsibility of handling athletes involves a lot of running around and constant discussions with coaches and support staff. A sports psychologist must always observe the players and ensure they perform their tasks to the best of their abilities.

SOM: What, according to you, is the success mantra for an athlete competing at an international level?

Sanjana: An athlete needs to be fit both mentally and physically. Every sport is designed differently, and athletes are tested each time they compete. There is a lot of maths and physics involved in developing new strategies and game plans. Maintaining a calm head and applying the mind effectively is crucial. The battle with oneself is often more intense than battling external factors.

SOM: What is the success mantra for a sports psychologist?

Sanjana: Firstly, a person aspiring to be a sports psychologist must be ready to work behind the scenes. Efficiency comes with experience. Importantly, understanding the nuances of the sport is essential. Only someone with a calm head can be a good sports psychologist, capable of working with some of the best athletes in the world. Sports psychology is not for those seeking the limelight. —VNS

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

Accenture buys Bengaluru-based chip design company Excelmax Technologies

The investment signifies that the company is making to build semiconductor capabilities.

In its first acquisition in India in the silicon design space, IT consulting and services major Accenture announced the acquisition of Bengaluru-based Excelmax Technologies. The financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.

The acquisition enhances Accenture’s growing silicon design and engineering capabilities. Excelmax provides custom silicon solutions used in consumer devices, data centres, artificial intelligence (AI), and computational platforms that enable edge AI deployments, to clients in the automotive, telecommunications, and high-tech industries.

The acquisition will bring in 450 strong engineering team of Excelmax joining the global IT player’s team. This is the second acquisition in the semiconductor design space by Accenture. In 2022, Accenture announced the acquisition of XtremeEDA, an Ottawa, Canada-based silicon design services company.

Mahesh Zurale, global lead – Advanced Technology Centres Global Network, Accenture, said, “Accenture’s acquisition of Excelmax Technologies brings approximately 450 highly skilled silicon professionals to our Advanced Technology Centres in India. With the global demand for silicon solutions on the rise, India is becoming a hotbed for chip design. Growing our skilled talent in the country across physical and RTL design, verification, emulation, and firmware engineering will help us expand our capabilities in the silicon design space and accelerate innovation for our worldwide clients.”

Founded in 2019, Excelmax brings comprehensive semiconductor solutions from high-level design to detailed physical layout ready for manufacturing, and full turnkey execution. The company adds approximately 450 professionals to Accenture in key areas such as emulation, automotive, physical design, analog, logic design, and verification, expanding Accenture’s ability to help global clients accelerate edge computing innovation.

Growing capabilities inorganically has been Accenture’s strategy. In FY24 (YTD), it acquired 35 companies at a total cost of $5.2 billion. In the past, the company has acquired Indian and India footprint companies.

“With the rapid evolution of new technologies like generative AI and the growth of connected products, more intricate, specialized chips with enhanced performance and efficiency are required,” said Karthik Narain, group chief executive—Technology at Accenture. “Our acquisition of Excelmax enhances our expertise across every aspect of silicon design and development—from concept to production—so we can help our clients fuel innovation and drive growth.”

“Our focus has always been on developing the best talent to deliver tailor-made solutions for our global clients that help them build and maintain competitive advantage,” said Shekhar Patil, founder & CEO, Excelmax Technologies. “Joining Accenture enables us to remain at the forefront of innovation, providing new and exciting opportunities for both our clients and our people.”

The semiconductor market is experiencing a surge in demand for silicon design engineering, driven by the proliferation of data centres and the increasing use of AI and edge computing. This is further propelled by the growing consumer appetite for electronics, which is driving new investments in the chip design space.

The engineering design space, which would be a similar area as Accenture’s acquisition, has seen some of the largest M&A deals by global and Indian IT services players. Recently, Cognizant announced the acquisition of Belcan in a $1.3 billion transaction. Similarly, Infosys acquired Germany-based in-tech for $480 million.

source/content: business-standard.com (headline edited)