PIXXEL: CAPTURING EARTH'S ESSENCE FROM THE SKY

In today's world most of the mobile buyers used to buy mobile phones with best pixel quality. Why do they do so?. Because they want to take a best selfies for them and to take a pictures which remains as a memory in their future. 

For taking our own pictures itself we are taking this much care. Anyone thought of taking the pictures of our planet earth in a best pixxel quality. 

The idea of the above strike in the minds of two  Awas Ahmed and kshitij khandelwal, Which made then to form a company called " Pixel"

The promoters of the company are graduated from BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI.

How their journey started

In 2017, A team of young BITS pilani engineering student were competing at the Space x Hyperloop pod competition in Los Angeles. They were the only team from Asia at that edition. Though they missed the winners trophy, the seed of innovation had already been sown in the mind of Awas Ahmed.

The seed has germinated to become "Pixel Space India Private Limited" a space tech start up company founded in the year 2019 by Awas Ahmed and his batchmate and friend kshitij khandelwal. 

Ahmed recalls " When pixel was found in 2019, his primary thesis was that the extant satellite data was not enough for advanced applications. Pixxel's focus was therefore on solving for such application with hyperspectral imaging satellite.

The company has bagged a five-year contract from the US National Reconnaissance Office to provide hyperspectral imagery.

Recently, PIXXEL has won a multi crore grant from IDEX (Innovation for Defence Excellence) for the mission def space challenge under IDEX PRIME (space) to manufacture miniaturised multi payload satellites for the Indian Air force

Generally people will think what is the use of this hyperspectral imagery of earth?

Let us explore the areas in which this can be used

With the help of real time capturing of the earth's image  and with the help of data analytics, water pollution level can be identified, it can be used in agriculture for observing crop growing, it can be used in mining industry, it can be used to monitor the gas pipe lines connections across the country, deforestation can be controlled, even the nuclear bomb testing by any country  can also be identified, type of minerals can also be identified with the help of those hyperspectral images, in simple it is an health monitor of a planet earth.

As per the latest news, PIXXEL has raised $71 Million with the investors such as Google, Radical Ventures, Lightspeed, Blume Ventures, growX, Sparta and Athera.

PIXXEL a leader in cutting-edge hyperspectral earth-imaging technology, announced a partnership with Sanborn, a leading geospatial solutions company at the forefront of spatial data collection.

Using Pixxel’s hyperspectral dataset, Sanborn will equip their customers with advanced insights to solve problems as varied as agriculture crop and forestry health monitoring, exploration for minerals and mining, natural resource management, monitoring the impacts of extreme events - flood, storm, wildfire - and much more...

Generally motivators make the sky as your limit for your ambitions but the founders of The Pixxel company made the earth as the limit from the sky to observe. 

Some of the Hepersectral Images taken by PIXXEL

 

STONES THAT SPEAK STORIES

STONES THAT SPEAK STORIES

Every January, as the Pongal festival brings joy to our taste buds, I eagerly anticipate the Chennai Book Fair, an event that is a true feast for the mind. This year, my visit yielded not just a collection of books but an encounter with a captivating title that led me on a journey into the enchanting world of stone statues and their untold stories.

Among the books that beckoned me, one small book stood out—a work inspired by a speech delivered by the esteemed Tamilnadu politician, Mr. Tha. Pandian. He has delivered a speech about a title called "கல்லும் கதை சொல்லும்" (STONES THAT SPEAK STORIES) in a book fair festival held at Erode on 04.08.2011. He delivered his speech for an about 1 1/2 hour about the title at the book fair. The same was replicated in the above book published by "New century book house" written by T. Stalin Gunasekaran. The very essence of this title had me intrigued, prompting me to explore its depths.

I was engrossed with some of the details which Mr. Tha Pandian has delivered in his speech. Will provide with some details which inspired me as a Tamilian and an Indian. 

In his speech which was written as a book, he has explained about the Natarajar statue of Chidambaram temple. Once he had an opportunity to meet a foreign research scholar who used to research about the statues in temples. He asked him, whether he has seen the the natarajar statue closely at the Chidambaram temple. For this, Tha. Pandian replied casually that he has seen the statue, the deity will be in the dance form etc., The research scholar still asked him, did you find any difference in the statue. For this also, he answered that the sculptor would have depicted the deity in a dance position, since the deity is a specialist in a dance style called bharatham (which is a dance style practiced in South India). The research scholar now started to explain the details of the statue which the sculptor carved the deity with minute details. The most important body parts for the dance is, foot, eyes, and lips. All these brought the statue to life. If one dances, means the back of the foot will have some reactions. For example, the tissues, muscles, nerves at the back of the foot will be seen prominently based on the dance positions you perform. The sculpture has carved such intricacies in the back of the foot of Natarajar statue.

The scholar proclaimed, "It was not the statue made in dance form, it was the statue that was actually dancing (சிலை நடனம் ஆடுகிறது)." The stone, through masterful craftsmanship, became a vessel for the dance itself.

Mr. Tha. Pandian's speech transcended the physicality of statues, delving into the essence of Tamil culture. His storytelling and insights left a lasting impression, reminding us of the depth and richness embedded in our heritage. 

As a fitting conclusion to the exploration, I share a beautiful Tamil saying, "கல்லிலே கலைவண்ணம் செய்தான் நம் தமிழன்" (Our Tamilian has crafted art within the stone).

For those seeking a deeper understanding of the profound connection between art and culture, I recommend exploring the works of the renowned YouTuber PRAVEEN MOHAN, who dedicates time to studying the sculptures adorning our ancient temples in Tamilnadu.

 

https://youtu.be/VLQ-Q53HgsY?si=TV8ib0OMZxJ3Fprj