Sona College Students Win Gold for AI-Powered PLC Programming Platform at Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2026

A team of students from Sona College of Technology, Salem, has won the Gold Cup at the Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2026, a prestigious national competition focused on industrial automation and advanced engineering solutions. The recognition was awarded for the development of an AI-powered platform that converts natural language instructions into PLC programming code, simplifying one of the most complex aspects of industrial automation.

The platform allows users to describe machine operations in plain language, which the system then translates into Structured Text code used in Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). This innovation has the potential to make automation programming more accessible while reducing the time and complexity involved in developing industrial control systems. To demonstrate the capability of the platform, the student team built and operated a fully functional Automated Dip Dyeing Machine, controlled entirely through AI-generated PLC code. The system integrated industrial automation components including PLC controllers, servo motors, and human-machine interfaces, showcasing a practical real-world application of the technology.

The project was developed over several months with guidance from faculty mentors and reflects the strong research-driven culture at Sona College of Technology. The competition saw participation from hundreds of engineering teams across the country, with projects evaluated by industry experts and automation specialists.

Commenting on the achievement, 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 won by Sona student teams in recent months — after Capgemini and Google Gemini — reflecting the focused mentoring ecosystem at the institution."

This victory adds to a growing list of national recognitions earned by Sona students in recent months and highlights the institution’s commitment to hands-on engineering education, industry collaboration, and technology-driven innovation.

The winning team is expected to represent India at the Global Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation Competition in September 2026, where they will present their innovation on an international stage.