Bridging Theory and Practice - Silicon, Solder, and Sustainability: Inside the IITG-ADBU Two-Day Technical Workshop on Power Electronics

1. Introduction: Bridging the Gap in Modern Engineering

In an era defined by the rapid electrification of transport and the volatile integration of renewable energy, the complexity of modern electrical systems has reached an unprecedented peak. To navigate this landscape, the curriculum for the next generation of engineers must be architected to bridge the chasm between abstract mathematical modeling and physical implementation. Addressing this critical need, the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU), in prestigious partnership with the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering at IIT Guwahati, hosted a Two-Day “Technical Workshop on Power Electronics” on March 13–14, 2026. Supported by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) under the Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) initiative - a flagship program of the Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science & Technology (Government of India), the event drew approximately 100 attendees, including faculty and a diverse student cohort that featured an interdisciplinary draw of four students from the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE). Led by Dr. Chandan Kumar, Associate Professor at IIT Guwahati, the workshop transformed the ADBU Azara campus into a hub of high-level topological analysis and iterative verification.

2. A Deep Dive: The Two-Day Curriculum

The workshop was structured to move systematically from the abstract to the concrete, ensuring that participants developed a holistic understanding of power electronic systems through the following technical milestones:

Day 1: Foundations and Simulation

• Theoretical Framework: Introduction to the core significance of power electronics in global infrastructure.
• Systemic Applications: Exploration of the role of converters in electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy grids, and advanced battery management.
• Topological Analysis: Detailed examination of switching devices and various power converter topologies.
• The Buck Converter Focus: In-depth analysis of DC–DC step-down conversion, emphasizing key derivations and operating principles.
• Computational Modeling: Utilizing simulation tools to demonstrate the precise relationship between switching operation, duty cycle, and output voltage.

Day 2: From Schematic to Hardware

• System Design: Introduction to the architecture and testing of a regulated DC power supply circuit.
• Component Identification: Hands-on identification of critical hardware, including step-down transformers, bridge rectifiers, filter capacitors, and voltage regulators.
• Thermal and Physical Discipline: Practical training in precision soldering and the rigorous verification of circuit connections.
• Polarity and Verification: Meticulous checking of electrolytic capacitors and diodes to prevent circuit failure.
• Output Measurement: Utilizing the multimeter as the ultimate arbiter to verify regulated rails across +/- 5V, +/- 9V, and +/- 15V outputs.

3. Takeaway 1: The Simulation-to-Reality Pipeline

Modern power engineering demands a "simulation-first" mindset. By focusing on the buck converter—a ubiquitous component in the voltage regulation of consumer gadgets and industrial controllers—participants engaged with the key derivations that govern switching performance. This phase was not merely a precursor to assembly but a necessary analytical step to observe how micro-adjustments in the duty cycle dictate the macro-behavior of the output voltage.

"...illustrating how theoretical concepts can be implemented and analyzed using simulation tools."

This digital sandbox allows for the safe exploration of converter operation, ensuring that when students finally handle physical components, they do so with a predictive understanding of the system's behavior.

4. Takeaway 2: Power Electronics as the Green Energy Enabler

A recurring theme throughout Dr. Kumar’s sessions was the realization that power electronics serves as the invisible backbone of the global green energy transition. Efficient power conversion technologies have evolved from niche circuit design problems into a global necessity for sustainability. Whether managing the delicate charging cycles of an EV battery or stabilizing the output of a wind turbine, the buck converter and its topological relatives are the primary tools for energy efficiency.

"Power electronic converters play a growing role in various applications such as electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and battery management, making them vital to modern electrical and electronic systems."

Participants analyzed how these systems are not merely components but integrated solutions that allow sustainable technology to interface reliably with the existing power grid.

5. Takeaway 3: The Discipline of Hardware Implementation

The transition to hardware in the workshop venue revealed the visceral complexity of turning a schematic into a functional power board. The conversion from AC input to a stable, regulated DC output is a fundamental challenge that tests a student's technical discipline.

Identifying the correct polarity for electrolytic capacitors and diodes became a high-stakes exercise in precision. A single orientation error in a bridge rectifier circuit can lead to catastrophic failure, a reality that emphasizes the "measure twice, solder once" philosophy of professional engineering.

The process of generating multiple regulated outputs (+/- 5V, +/- 9V, and +/- 15V) provided a practical lesson in supporting embedded systems. Success was not found in the assembly alone but in the iterative process of "expected vs. measured" recording.

Through the assistance of IIT Guwahati research scholars, participants learned that hardware success is the product of meticulous troubleshooting. Using a multimeter to verify each rail proved that in power electronics, the difference between a functional tool and a failed experiment lies in the details of the connection.

6. Conclusion: The Future of Power Conversion

The collaboration between IIT Guwahati and ADBU successfully integrated the three pillars of technical education: theory, simulation, and hardware implementation. By moving from the mathematical foundations of switching devices to the physical measurement of regulated DC outputs, the workshop provided a comprehensive roadmap for the next generation of engineers. As we face an increasingly electrified future, the ability to navigate both the digital simulation and the physical hardware will remain a defining skill for those tackling the world's most pressing energy challenges.

When a Satellite Fails, Who Gets the Lesson?

A Window into the Experience- The High-Altitude Classroom: Why the Silence of LACHIT-1 is the Greatest Lesson for Northeast India

Executive Summary

The development of Northeast India’s inaugural LACHIT-1 satellite- a 1U CubeSat, by students at Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) in collaboration with Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space results in "knowledge equity"- comprising a functional ground station and a workforce of space-ready engineers- marks a permanent shift in Northeast India's socio-economic trajectory, as the region's geography makes it uniquely vulnerable to landslides, floods, and earthquakes- events that frequently cripple terrestrial communication networks. For decades, the Northeast was a consumer of satellite data; today, it is a developer of satellite technology. The mission focused on Store-and-Forward logic- a "celestial postman" designed to collect IoT data from remote, disaster-prone regions and relay it to ground stations when traditional networks fail. The student-led LACHIT-1 mission has successfully transferred "NewSpace" expertise to the banks of the Brahmaputra. The "technical confidence" noted by the department is a tangible asset that will fuel the region's burgeoning tech economy.

Carried on Dhruva Space’s Polar Access-1 mission aboard ISRO’s PSLV-DL-C62 rocket on 12 January 2026, LACHIT-1 was lost after an anomaly in the rocket’s third stage. Despite the technical loss of the satellite during the PSLV-C62 launch anomaly, students at Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) have successfully pivoted to a "Mission-Forward" mindset. Rather than viewing the loss as a terminal failure, the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) at ADBU has leveraged the project as a high-value crucible for industrial literacy. To formalize this transition from hardware to heritage, the department organized a comprehensive experience-sharing interaction on Feb 4, 2026. This session featured a detailed briefing by student presenters Herric Kurbah Cleven and W. Jolly Singha (B.Tech. EEE, 4th Semester), who were part of the LACHIT-1 developer team. The presenters disseminated critical technical insights and mission journey milestones to fellow students and faculty, cementing a new era of "knowledge equity" in regional aerospace. About 30 students were present in the audience.

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The Lede: The Architecture of Iteration

To look through the window of the LACHIT-1 mission is to see more than a technical blueprint; it is to witness the anatomy of regional ambition. While the physical craft may have fallen silent in the vacuum of space following the PSLV-C62 anomaly, the "High-Altitude Classroom" it created remains vibrantly alive in the laboratories of ADBU.

In the history of exploration, the line between a setback and a breakthrough is rarely drawn by the hardware that survives, but by the minds that remain. The early days of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory were defined by rockets that rarely left the launchpad; the democratization of space in the 21st century by SpaceX and ISRO was built upon a foundation of "successful failures." While a third-stage malfunction eventually claimed the physical craft, the silence that followed has become a profound statement of intent. For Northeast India, the mission was never merely about reaching orbit; it was about the intellectual architecture required to look upward.

The Context: Breaking the Celestial Silence

The ambition of LACHIT-1 (Live Amateur Communication Hub for Innovative Technologies–One) was as much cultural as it was technical. Developed in collaboration with Dhruva Space Centre, the CubeSat was designed to end the Northeast’s era of "celestial silence." Named after the legendary Ahom general Lachit Borphukan—a figure synonymous with regional resilience—the satellite was engineered to be a "high-altitude postman."

Built on Dhruva Space’s flight-qualified P-DoT platform, the technical objective was sophisticated: a store-and-forward communication system. In a region where geography frequently cripples terrestrial networks during floods or landslides, LACHIT-1 was intended to receive, store, and relay critical data packets to disaster-response centers. This was not merely a student project; it was a prototype for regional survival.

Topology meets vulnerability: A cartographic snapshot of Assam and neighbouring states, superimposed with flood, landslide and network-outage risk zones, illustrating the environment that motivated LACHIT-1’s design.

The Blueprint of Ambition: A Technical Deep-Dive

On February 4th, ADBU’s Azara campus transitioned from mission control to a masterclass. The briefing served as a comprehensive autopsy of the LACHIT-1 journey, where student presenters Cleven and Singha pulled back the curtain on the complexities of small-satellite engineering.

Architecture and Autonomy

The core of the presentation focused on the sophisticated anatomy of a CubeSat. The presenters dissected the delicate synergy between vital subsystems:

1. The Structural Chassis: Designed for the rigors of atmospheric exit.
2. The Electrical Power System (EPS): The lifeblood of the craft.
3. Onboard Computing: The "brain" managing autonomous operations.

A primary highlight was the Store-and-Forward logic—a robust communication protocol designed to act as a celestial postman. The presenters explained how this technology ensures data survival in disconnected terrains, turning a 10cm cube into a vital utility for disaster-prone regions.

From Cleanrooms to Ground Stations

The narrative bridged the gap between theoretical schematics and industrial reality. Through the lens of Dhruva Space’s Polar Access-1 programme, the presenters shared the rigors of satellite integration and the technical orchestration required to manage a functional ground station. This was about more than code; it was about the technical exposure gained from industrial visits and research facilities, providing a tangible roadmap for real-world electronics and satellite engineering.

The Crucible: A Trial by Fire

The transition from the laboratory to the launchpad is where theoretical physics meets the "cruel mathematics" of aerospace. The recent briefing at ADBU, led by Herric Kurbah Cleven and W. Jolly Singha, did not shy away from the events of January 12. The PSLV-C62 mission, while proceeding normally through its initial phases, encountered a critical malfunction in its third stage (PS3), preventing the payload from reaching its intended coordinates and achieving orbital insertion. Near the end of the third stage of the four-stage Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, ISRO reported a disturbance and flight-path deviation; as a result, the rocket could not complete orbit placement and all 16 satellites aboard, including LACHIT-1, were lost to space. A failure analysis committee has since been convened to examine telemetry and data.

This outcome is stark: there was no recovery of the flight hardware, and the satellite itself did not become operational in orbit. Yet not all material progress vanished with it. The intellectual and infrastructural investments remain intact.

To the uninitiated, the loss of hardware represents a void. However, in the sophisticated theater of "NewSpace," this was a trial by fire that provided data points no classroom could simulate. Under the ASTRA (Accelerated Space Technology Readiness & Access) programme, these fourth-semester students moved through the entire lifecycle of a space mission—from interface validation to the rigors of launch-readiness reviews. They witnessed firsthand the synergy of subsystems- Electrical Power Systems (EPS), Onboard Computing, and Telemetry- facing the unpredictable variables of flight. The setback was objective, but the educational yield was absolute.

The Knowledge Equity: The Pivot to Resilience

The narrative of LACHIT-1 has successfully pivoted from "what was lost" to "what was retained." This is what economists and educators call Knowledge Equity. While the satellite may rest at the bottom of the ocean, the intellectual infrastructure at the ADBU campus is more robust than ever.

During the February 4th briefing, Cleven and Singha highlighted that the mission’s most critical components remain on the ground, ready for deployment:

• Functional Ground Infrastructure: The university’s VHF/UHF ground station facility at the Tapesia campus, integrated with Dhruva Space’s mission-operations suite, is fully operational. It remains a permanent piece of space-infrastructure, capable of tracking and data reception for future missions, effectively putting the Northeast on the global amateur radio map.

• Industrial Literacy: Over 50 students across five states have been trained in satellite integration and mission operations. This specialized workforce is now ready to feed into India’s $13 billion space economy—a feat that would have been impossible through theoretical study alone.

• Verified IP: The store-and-forward logic developed for the mission is now verified intellectual property, a blueprint that is already being refined and hardened for the next iteration.

Future Horizons: The Road to LACHIT-2

The horizon for the Department of EEE is now defined by a "sophisticated optimism." The anomaly of PSLV-C62 is being treated not as a disaster, but as a result that dictates the next experiment. The university is already positioning itself to lead a "Northeastern Space Consortium," sharing its integration expertise and ground-station-as-a-service (GSaaS) capabilities with neighboring institutions.

The road to LACHIT-2 is paved with the technical confidence gained from the first mission. Redundancy planning and launch-vehicle dynamics are now part of the student vocabulary. By participating in the NewSpace philosophy—leveraging private sector infrastructure to empower academic innovation—ADBU has ensured that the "first-mover" advantage remains with them. The mission has redefined success; it has proven that technical excellence is geographically agnostic.

Key Quotes

• "We didn't just build a satellite; we built a space program in a region that was told to keep its eyes on the ground." — Mission Briefing Note.

• "The Department is immensely proud of our students. They have demonstrated that in science, there are no failures—only results that dictate the next experiment." — Department Statement.

• "LACHIT-1 represents the Northeast's intent to contribute meaningfully to India's space ecosystem, combining rigorous learning with real-world application." — Fr. (Dr) Jose Palely, Vice-Chancellor, ADBU.

Conclusion: Looking Up from the Brahmaputra

The briefing in Azara was not a conclusion, but a commencement. LACHIT-1 has proven that the only true barrier to the stars is the limit of one's ambition. As the briefing ended, the message to the junior batches was clear: the hardware is replaceable, but the culture of research and the "Lachit spirit" are now indelible parts of the university's DNA.

The stars have not moved. They are simply waiting for the next pass. The university now invites its students and the broader technical community to engage with the Mission Control Room at the Tapesia Campus, where the pulse of the Northeast’s aerospace future continues to beat, louder than ever.

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Written by Jesif Ahmed