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Sona College student Team Nexus AI designs an intelligent PLC programming assistant

by Trans World Features | @twfindia 08 Mar 2026, 08:12 am

Salem: Team Nexus AI from Sona College of Technology, Salem, that developed an artificial intelligence–based platform that simplifies industrial PLC programming, won the Gold Cup at the Mitsubishi Electric Cup – 6th Edition (2026) among 300 entries.

The contest sought participating teams to design fully functional automation solutions using Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation technologies aligned with its e-F@ctory concept.

AI Platform for Industrial Automation

Team Nexus AI—led by Ms Tharanika K, and comprising BTech IIIrd year batchmates Ms Tharana A S, Mr Vijay B and Mr Seralathan R—worked on “Simplifying Industrial PLC Programming using Artificial Intelligence.” The team developed a system that allows users to describe machine control logic in natural language, which is then automatically converted into Structured Text code—a modern alternative to conventional ladder logic programming.

The team was selected from nearly 300 national entries in the Mitsubishi Electric competition and underwent multiple stages of technical evaluation supported by Mitsubishi Electric mentors and trainers.

Over months of development, the students built a robust AI platform capable of generating executable control programs for Mitsubishi Electric IQ-F (FX5U) PLCs. The innovation was validated through a fully operational Automated Dip Dyeing Machine, powered entirely by AI-generated control code produced by the Nexus AI platform and executed using Mitsubishi Electric industrial automation hardware including PLCs, HMIs, servo motors and FA components.

At the final round held at the MIT Pune campus, the system underwent intensive evaluation by an eight-member jury comprising automation programmers, ladder-logic specialists and Mitsubishi Electric R&D engineers. The jury examined the platform’s architecture, logic integrity, safety framework and scalability. Senior leadership including Atsushi Takase, Managing Director, Mitsubishi Electric India, interacted extensively with the team, expressing interest in potential future collaboration.

Team Nexus AI was declared Gold Cup Winner, receiving a ₹1,00,000 cash prize, following nearly 150 days of intensive development alongside their studies.

Congratulating the students, Takase congratulated Team Nexus AI for demonstrating exceptional technical capability, creativity and innovative thinking throughout the competition.

Team Nexus AI will now represent Mitsubishi Electric India at the Global Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation (MECA) Competition scheduled for September 2026.

Congratulating the team, Chocko Valliappa, Vice Chairman, Sona College of Technology, said: “The research orientation of our faculty is fuelling innovation built on strong fundamentals. This is the third national industry competition win by Sona student teams in recent months — after Capgemini and Google Gemini — reflecting the focused mentoring ecosystem at the institution.”

The team acknowledged the guidance of its faculty mentor Dr. D. Prasad, the support of a seven-member backend peer group, and the encouragement received from Sona’s EEE alumni and institutional leadership.

It may be recalled that Team Nexus AI team member Vijay B had won the Rs 2.5 lakh Student Champion Award in the Capgemini Engineering Brand Quest 2025 beating

2,50,000 competitors from engineering and management institutions.