Axis '13 newsletter (issue 1)

ISSUE 1

O

ne can feel it in the air. The atmosphere is electrifying, the SAC is bubbling with students running helter-skelter, the first years are religiously attending every possible workshop (at the moment, they probably would be having more registration coupons than currency notes in their wallets.), the tense event managers are engrossed explaining the nuances of crisis-management to their juniors, our dearest „Hao-Na‟s are busy arranging for transportation facilities to get things where they need to be, the lasses around here are busy playing the damsels in distress in order to get their work done from others and amidst all the commotion is our beloved core committee providing meaningful direction to the activities around them. Yes, it‟s all happening here at Central India‟s Largest (....seriously, when are we going to go beyond the boundaries of Central India?) Technical Extravaganza – AXIS‟13.

The core says that, “with a cornucopia of events, workshops and competitions lined up from the fields of Automation and Robotics, Construction, Design & Architecture, Software and Electronics and Management, AXIS‟13 promises to sow the seeds of scientific perfection and technical innovation amongst us budding engineers”........and we are every bit ready to believe their words. After all why shouldn‟t we?

For one, we have the wonderfully designed AXIS T-shirt available on time, for all, this year. Yay! We also have a novel Android App for AXIS on Google Play, which keeps you updated on all the news about events in AXIS‟13 and lastly, simply because, the fact that you are holding this literary masterpiece in your hand means that everything is going smoothly, down at the docks.

Speaking of which, we – the Literary Team - a group of devoted and steadfast individuals – solemnly pledge to bring you the latest happenings (and some random ramblings here and there) of all that goes on here at AXIS‟13. And you can share our world by making sure that you demand for your copy of this work of art (......Ahem) from the reception desk and „tech-a-step‟ towards actuating a revolution.

Whazzappening !!!

Crepido

Wall Street Ever wondered what the bull and the bear do in a stock market?

Pondered how people are brought down to penury in one blow just by fluctuation of a few digits? This is what wall-street is all about.

You trade, you sell, you lose but you are always a winner in this mock stock exchange event. So you think you can hit a fortune or even dare to be the biggest loser. Then gear up for Wall Street.

P.S.- All mutual funds are subject to market risks. Please read the offer documents carefully before investing :-P.

Ice-Cream sticks aren‟t crap anymore. They can build bridges which may even carry 300kgs! Make way for one of the most amusing events of AXIS‟13. Build bridges using ice-cream sticks to certain specifications and excite everyone around you by showing off your creation. Model your bridge on the world‟s famous bridges and make sure your bridge can tolerate what Civil Engineers of VNIT call U.D.L i.e. Uniformly Destroying Load.

221B Baker Street

Pascal Trouble

“Observe Watson, Don‟t merely watch.” You might have laughed at Watson‟s helplessness when Benedict Cummerbatch a.k.a Sherlock utters this in high speed. So you think you observe much better. Well, get ready to crack clues and riddles with the major online event of AXIS 2013 221B Baker Street. The all night puzzle solving event keeps everyone awake just to prove that they too are in league with the legendary Sherlock. Prepare to be SHER-LOCKED.

Yes you love Pascal‟s Law. It took you to VNIT.Because it was as simple as that. Now all you have to do is procure some water, some syringes, and your engineering skills and build hydraulic machinery and save those poor lads stuck in floods. With a few knocks here and there and a little bit of Pascal‟s law, you can be a superhero. So you Pascal‟s Lovers. Gear up.

Freak-O-Matix

Math has done wonders enough. Your shocked face when the profs fill the boards with countless equations and integrals is a proof to that.Well,lets have change .For those math lovers who love to put their brain open to the wonders of mathematics here is Freak-O-Matix.The event where you just need your pencil and lot of mind power to spare. Face it and ace it or be FREAKED.

www.axisvnit.org

Blitzo 13.0 AXIS‟13 has a new member in its family. It doesn‟t do any work, doesn‟t bring any sponsors, doesn‟t decorate the auditorium, doesn‟t help event managers. Nope. Nothing at all (………. We know whom you are thinking about, but no we are not referring to them…. they at least did some work.).

And still it will be the most adored one during AXIS. What are we talking about, you ask? Ladies and Gentlemen, put your hands together for the one and only – “Blitzo 13.0” – AXIS‟13‟s mascot!!!

Just look at him (or her….. your wish)! Isn‟t he a cutie-pie. And guess what? It has been rumoured that he will be roaming around the campus during the entire fest! So get ready for some „Jaadu ki Jhappi‟ :D

AXIS is not all about just events and competitions. Here’s why: Unleash the Lost World!

Hardcore Console Gaming, here I come!

Ever wanted to pull out that single piece of bone from a huge dinosaur skeleton and watch it collapse to pieces? NO? Well, even so, AXIS‟13 is planning to give you an experience close enough. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is conducting an exhibition displaying various precious fossils form the Jurassic era. Hmm... Dinosaur eggs, they say.....Godzilla we think…

Both Microsoft and Sony had approached us; for they wanted their next-generation gaming consoles XBOX One and PS4 to have their launch at AXIS‟13.

But due to technical and logistic difficulties we had to refuse their offer. We do not accept anything less than perfection you see.

The Liquid Nitrogen Show It exists in cryogenic environments only, but trust Raman Science Centre to make it accessible to us all, through the show where you might just watch the air around you being cooled down to its liquid state. And no, you can‟t re-chill your cold-drinks out here. Sorry!

It’s a Mini Hakone out here The men from Team AXIS‟13 always wanted to play Paintball with Penny. Penny we couldn‟t arrange for (Kaley Cuoco firmly refused :‟( ......), but Paintball we do have :D

But worry not fellow gamers, for thou shall not be saddened. You can still get your sore thumb on the Dual-Shock and XBOX 360 game controllers during the FREE PS3 and XBOX 360 gaming events. The Uncharted Series, HALO, The Last of Us, Infamous 2, Gears of War, Forza Motorsport, Saints Row, Killzone, Gran Tourismo....... God! I‟m perspiring already!

Food. Period.

“Great Food Stalls are the indicator of any fest‟s success”, said no one. But that doesn‟t deter us from erecting stalls that please your varied taste buds. So if you are engrossed in examining fossils, or dipping your hand in liquid nitrogen, or jamming the D-pad of the gaming controllers, or simply thinking about Penny, you know you can do all that with your mouth-full. Munch On!

Also rattling your centre of balance is Body Zorbing, and activities that can be done whilst in the zorb include: Footbal Matches, Sumo Wrestling, Arena Battles, Last Man Standing, King of the Hill, BodyBumping and so on....Out of my way Sheldon!

Bots, bots and……. Bots!

Aqua-Doze Who amongst us hasn‟t fantasized about being the Jack who sacrifices himself to rescue his Rose?

(Or perhaps a reverse scenario for the ladies :-P). Well, in Aqua-Doze, you have to do just that, albeit in a manner that avoids the unpleasantness of death, of course.

In Aqua-Doze, contestants have to create and operate their own robot in order to rescue the victims of a sinking ship. The arena is filled with water, with the ship placed in the center. Small blocks serve as stand-ins for the victims. Your bot has to rescue as many victims as possible before the ship sinks and another masterpiece of a movie is created.

Autobot While we may not be able to create WALL-E as yet, we can come close with line-follower robots. It is basically a robot which follows a path, however twisted and convoluted, from start to finish. It may sound simple, but trying to make one is a real pain in the LED sensors.

That, however, is the challenge contestants for Autobot will have to tackle. They have to create an autonomous line-follower robot good enough to complete the course set by the organizers, in as little time as possible.

Robo Lava Indiana Jones gets a sci-fi twist in Robo Lava, where contestants have to create and operate a robot in order to rescue the inhabitants of a volcanic island, which is just about to erupt. There is also the additional task of repairing a bridge in order to rescue more survivors. The bots must be rugged enough to traverse treacherous terrain and sophisticated enough to rescue victims perched in precarious positions. Will you lasso your way to glory, or will the volcano be your doom?

Robowars After watching Transformers, no one in their right mind would refuse the chance to watch two battle -hardened robots dueling it out. Robowars is AXIS‟s biggest event, and rightly so, for it involves the most potent surge of adrenaline, the headiest mix of excitement, and the most glorious showcase of steel on steel you will ever see.

The rules are simple-create a robot to destroy all challengers (or immobilize them if you‟re feeling merciful). The last robot standing will be crowned the victor. Who needs movies when you‟ve got real steel right here in V.N.I.T.?

The Literary Brains behind this Mardi Gras accept all your praises (and insults…...I hope not) - The editorial team : Vignesh. V, Jacob Bay, Shubhra Jha, Heba Jamal, Roli Gupta, Sukhada Joshi, Apurva Sharan, Arjun Ashok and Abhijeet Krishnan.

- Design : Bhavesh Bhojwani (Bhoju…. :-P)