Kanpur, September 11, 2026: The Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems (HFSS) Studios, Department of Design, IIT Kanpur, in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), conducted a three-day training program on Human-Machine Interaction (HMI) Design for Interfaces in Defence Applications.

The opening ceremony was inaugurated by the Guest of Honour, Prof. Jayandharan G. Rao, Dean of Research and Development, IIT Kanpur, who described the program as an important step that would greatly benefit the country's defence ecosystem. Scientists from various DRDO labs in the electronics and communication systems cluster attended the workshop. The program was led by Prof. Vivek Kant, Associate Professor at IIT Kanpur.

Sessions covered Human-Machine Interaction and hands-on practice in interface design and usability evaluation for mission-critical defence systems. Human-Machine Interaction is the field of study that designs usable interfaces to support operational requirements. In this course, the focus was on designing interfaces for complex defence equipment and systems to support Indian soldiers and defence personnel in field operations. This field of study is important because it makes complex defence equipment easier to use, reduces training time for soldiers, and enhances operational readiness.

The classroom lectures involved the details of design processes, principles, and frameworks of Human-Machine Interaction. The hands-on activities, conducted in HFSS Studios, involved participants using these methods, as well as associated software, to create a usable design for complex defence systems. The entire course was conducted over 3 days on the IIT Kanpur premises.

The valedictory session featured Shri Prabhakar Rao Gomekar, Outstanding Scientist and Director (Admin), Office of the Director General, ECS, as the esteemed guest, and Mr S.D. Suresh, Scientist G, LRDE, DRDO, as the chief guest.

All the Participants and guests alike emphasised how critical it is to consider the end user and adopt human-centric design methods in defence systems development. In the future, other similar programs on Human-Machine Interaction are planned with DRDO and the Indian military at IIT Kanpur.

The Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems (HFSS) Studios at the Department of Design, IIT Kanpur, work at the intersection of human-machine interaction, human factors, and systems to support human-centric design for complex sociotechnical systems, including applications in Indian defence indigenisation.

About IIT Kanpur

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, established in 1959, is recognised as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India. Renowned for excellence in science, engineering, and interdisciplinary education, IIT Kanpur spans a 1,050-acre lush green campus and comprises 20 departments, 27 centres, three interdisciplinary programmes, and three specialised schools. With over 570 faculty members and more than 9,500 students, the institute continues to lead in innovation, research, and holistic development.

For more information, please visit: www.iitk.ac.in