Keynote Speaker

 

 Keynote Speaker: Dr. M. Lakshminarayana Scientist-H (Retd.) DRDO & Head R&D, Unistring Tech Solutions Pvt. Ltd

 Keynote Talk: '"Technologies for Anti-Drone Systems"

  Dr. Lakshminarayana Merugu did B. Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) from JNTU, Hyderabad; M. Tech in Microwave and Radar Engineering from IIT Kharagpur; Ph. D from Queen’s University of Belfast, United Kingdom on Commonwealth Fellowship.

Dr. Lakshminarayana joined Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, DLRL, DRDO, Hyderabad, as Scientist ‘B’ in Jan 1981, and superannuated in April 2015. Over 34 years in DRDO, he immensely contributed towards indigenous development of Electronic Warfare Systems, antennas, and microwave components for various projects. Significant assignments held include:

  • As Project Director, and subsequently as Associate Programme Director, he successfully completed the indigenous development and production of Radar Electronic Warfare System for Indian Army.
  • He was Project Director for indigenous development of Advanced Communication ESM Technologies, achieved some reduction of gap in self-reliance.
  • He was responsible for successful flight-testing of Communication Support Measure (CSM) System on an Aircraft.
  • He was Programme Director of Naval Indigenous Electronic Warfare Programme.

With 34 years of R&D experience, Dr Lakshminarayana superannuated from DRDO service in April 2015 as Scientist ‘H’ (Outstanding Scientist) & Associate Director DLRL.

After retirement from DRDO, Dr. Lakshminarayana worked as Professor in ECE & Principal of Kshatriya College of Engineering, Armoor from May 2015 till Aug 2017. From Oct 2017 he is working as Director R&D with Unistring Tech Solutions, Hyderabad, engaged in development of Radar & EW activities.

Dr. Lakshminarayana has more than thirty publications in National and International Conferences and Journals. He guided several M. Tech Scholars for their projects. Two Scholars were awarded Ph. D. degree under his guidance.

          Dr. Lakshminarayana is a Fellow IETE, Fellow Institution of Engineers (India) (IE(I), Member of AOC, Member of ACM, and a Life Senior Member of IEEE, USA. During 1997-2006, he served IETE Hyderabad Centre as Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary and Vice Chairman. During 2008 to 2019, he Volunteered IEEE Hyderabad Section as Secretary, Chairman of IEEE MTT/AP/EMC Joint Societies Chapter, Vice Chairman, Chairman and Chair Nomination Committee of IEEE Hyderabad Section. Presently he is engaged in establishing IEEE India Region Centre of Expertise (IRCoE) in Industrial Electronics.  

Valedictory Talk:  Dr KS Sastry, Musti

Dr KS Sastry, Musti is an accomplished academic with more than 30 years of professional experience. He obtained his BTech in Electrical Engineering from JNTU, Kakinada (A.P.) in 1990, MTech and PhD from NIT, Warangal in the years 1996 and 2002 respectively. He started his career as lecturer with NIT Warangal and served as full time faculty for 10 years and moved to the Energy Industry. He was with Global Energy Consulting Engineers, Hyderabad and worked as Assistant General Manager and actively with several turn-key projects in different states of India. Then he moved to the Caribbean to work with University of West Indies under a joint appointment by two universities in Trinidad and Tobago at the level of Program Coordinator. Dr Sastry provided leadership in securing international accreditation for BTech Programs in 2009 and also for Masters' programs in 2016; both from IET, UK. He has been a full tenured faculty with the University of West Indies and has served for 15 years. Then he moved to Africa in 2018 and joined Namibia University of Science and Technology where he currently serves as Associate Professor. Presently he is involved with several projects in the areas of energy systems, big data and Demand Side Management. Apart from Energy Systems, his teaching portfolio includes Software Engineering and Systems, Database and Information Systems. Dr Sastry has significant interest in core and multidisciplinary research. His research interests are in the extended areas of Big data, Data visualizations, Energy Economics. He has published several research articles and book chapters in various areas of Engineering. Dr Sastry has visited various universities across the globe to serve in different capacities. He is a visiting professor with ESIGELEC, Rouen (data sciences), France; Sophia University, Japan (data sciences), University of Turabo, Puerto Rico (Energy Systems) and KL University, India. He is on the panel of accreditors of IEEE/ ABET, USA and visited a few universities as part of ABET accreditation process. Dr Sastry is a senior member of IEEE, USA; member of IET-UK and a Life member of IE, India. He is a Registered Engineer in Canada, India and also in Trinidad and Tobago.