able to do better at least with respect to
the opensource platform. All the algorithms
have been developed entirely by us. These
are right now at the implementation stage.
We have developed all simulation platforms
to verify them and then we have tested
and implemented it on various different
hardware/software platforms. Right now, we
are trying to see whether we can develop our
own hardware itself, and we are trying to get
into the market.
14. What are the promising undergraduate
projects that you have encountered?
The quality of the output of the undergraduate
projects have been steadily improving. This I
think is mainly because of the wide access to
information and the increasingly low cost and
ease of access to components. Therefore,
during three months period much more
output can be achieved than before. Yet
there is a lot more room for improvement.
Being an engineer we should focus on
projects that others, who do not have an
Engineering background, are incapable of
doing. I feel that pursuing a project that does
not involve the acquisition of new knowledge
is not worthwhile doing. At this stage what
matters most is not the output. I feel that,
what matters the most is the process.
However, when someone tries to develop
something novel and significant, chances of
it being successful is also very low. This is one
of the major factors of discouragement. Even
though such a project may fail to deliver a
successful output, the experience gained
during the process will be of great help in
developing new projects after graduation. It is
by failing many times that one usually comes
up with something very interesting. Over the
years, there have been many projects from
the Mechanical Engineering department
that had the potential of being commercial
products. Every year, at least, 1 or 2 projects
can be found with the potential of producing
a marketable product.
GAUGE Magazine University of Peradeniya
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