Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) Thiruvananthapuram and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Palakkad on 19th August 2024 to enhance academic and research collaborations. This general MoU will facilitate further cooperation between the Institutes in student exchange, joint supervision of research projects/thesis, collaborative use of laboratories, academic interactions under NEP framework etc. MoU document was signed by Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director IIST and Prof. A. Seshadri Sekhar, Director, IIT Palakkad.

The project titled “Generative Design and Topology Optimization Studies on Aerospace Components for Additive Manufacturing”, completed by Mr Aakash Preetham Vadlakunta (Currently Scientist /Engineer in SDSC- SHAR), under the guidance of Dr V. S. Sooraj, Associate Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIST in collaboration with Dr. V Anilkumar and team from MME, VSSC has been recognized as the best project by Society of Aerospace Manufacturing Engineers (SAME).

The invention is a closed loop MEMS Accelerometer implemented using suspended gate field effect transistors (SGFET) and the method of fabricating this sensor. This closed loop accelerometer (Closed loop in plane movable SGFET-CLIP-SGFET) has an in-plane movable suspended gate FETs in the differential amplifier configuration. In the closed loop operation, the CMOS-MEMS SGFET differential amplifier’s output voltage is used, through a closed loop controller and a high voltage charge pump to drive an actuator which brings the gate back to its resting position.