In a recent development spotlighted by the news, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), in association with the NITI Aayog and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), have jointly announced the launch of CollabCAD in Atal Tinkering Labs (also known as ATL schools). This initiative has been designed to give students hands-on experience in creating and altering 3D designs using cutting-edge technology.
About CollabCAD: A Collaborative Engineering Solution
CollabCAD is a networking-enabled and desktop-based Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software system. The provision of comprehensive engineering solutions is a unique facet of this system, ranging from 2D blueprint drafting & detailing to 3D printing. It’s worth noting that 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, involves the production of three-dimensional solid objects from a digital source file. CollabCAD’s capabilities extend its utility to numerous domains, including the production of car parts, smartphone cases, fashion accessories, medical equipment, and even artificial organs.
Organizations Behind CollabCAD
This innovative project is spearheaded by the National Informatics Centre (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology), New Delhi; the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Department of Atomic Energy), Navi Mumbai; and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (Department of Space, ISRO), Thiruvananthapuram.
The Rationale for CollabCAD Launch in ATL Schools
The motivation behind the launch of CollabCAD in ATL Schools is to provide an engaging platform to students across the country. It will aid them in freely creating and modifying 3D designs, thus nurturing their creativity and resourcefulness. The software will also facilitate data creation across the network and provide concurrent access to identical design data for storage and visualization.
Atal Tinkering Labs: A Brief Overview
The Atal Innovation Mission has established Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across India, aimed at fostering curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds. It also seeks to instill vital skills such as a design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing and more. These labs serve as workspaces where the young generation can bring their ideas to life through practical, hands-on experiences, thereby enhancing their innovation skills.
The Role of AIM in Promoting Innovation
AIM is the Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the nation. Its objective is to devise new programmes and policies for promoting innovation in diverse economic sectors, offer a platform for collaboration opportunities for different stakeholders, create public awareness, and establish an umbrella structure to supervise the nation’s innovation ecosystem.
ATL’s Contribution to STEM Education
ATL provides an environment where young students can interact with tools and equipment, thereby gaining a deep understanding of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) concepts. AIM extends financial support that comprises a one-time establishment cost of Rs. 10 lakh and operational expenses of Rs. 10 lakh for a maximum duration of five years to each ATL.
Adapting to the Current Situation: ‘Tinker from Home’ Campaign
In response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the ATL program has initiated a ‘Tinker from Home’ campaign. This aims to provide children across the country with access to easy-to-learn online resources to keep them productively engaged. In addition, AIM has introduced a Game Development module as part of this campaign, creating an online platform for participants to design their own games and share them with others.