GTOC X: Karmarkar's Gang's Approach and Results

This paper describes the methods used and the results obtained by team Karmarkar's Gang for the 10th edition of the Global Trajectory Optimization Competition. The methods used by our team are described. These methods involve: mothership targeting flyby to target high-value stars using a single impulse, fast ships targeting the edge of the galaxy and settler ships having a fast expansion, time-optimal three impulse transfer strategy to select the targets to get fast and wide spatial distribution. It is seen that there is a scope of improvement with respect to multi-star targeting for motherships. The results of the strategy are discussed.

Low Cost Autonomous Navigation and Control of a Mechanically Balanced Bicycle with Dual Locomotion Mode

On the lines of the huge and varied efforts in the field of automation with respect to technology development and innovation of vehicles to make them run autonomously, this paper presents an innovation to a bicycle. A normal daily use bicycle was modified at low cost such that it runs autonomously, while maintaining its original form i.e. the manual drive. Hence, a bicycle which could be normally driven by any human and with a press of switch could run autonomously according to the needs of the user has been developed.