Engineering students flaunt tech innovations at IITEX

Hyderabad Two groups of engineering students from a Hyderabad-based college showcased their technical innovations at Industrial Innovation and Technology (IITEX) Expo – 2023organised by the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI). The prototypes of hybrid bike, e-bicycle and bionic arm in their stalls attracted many visitors in the three-day expo.

“I have made a voice-operated exo-skeleton (bionic arm) to assist the persons with disability. It will help them in writing, typing, holding, semi-holding and making other gestures. The prototype has only some features, but it can develop into a full-fledged supportive device to the physically handicapped people,” says its innovator P David Raj, while demonstrating its functions.

The cost of a robotic prosthetic arm is around Rs 80,000 to Rs 4 lakh in Indian market, and its availability is very limited. The second-year engineering student at Vallurupalli Nageswara Rao Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology (VNRVJIET) aims to develop an affordable robotic hand at one-fourth of this price roughly starting at Rs 20,000.

J Poorna Sai, another student of VNRVJIET showcased hybrid motorcycle which runs on both petrol and battery. He says, “Now-a-days, all popular brands of electric scooters and e-bikes are in the price range of Rs 1.5 lakh and above. I can turn any petrol bike into a hybrid motorcycle with my set up at just Rs 50,000. If there is an increase in the volumes, the cost can come down to Rs 20,000 also.”

Similarly, two students of VNRVJIET – G Pujith and Sri Ram fitted a motor and battery to a regular bicycle to make it ane-bicycle, which can run up to 40 km with one person payload per one full charge for three hours. They say that it will cost only Rs 13,000 – Rs 15,000 and it can be used by both kids and adults whose weight is below 90 kg.

K Jaya Surya and R Dhawan Kumar, students from the same college, came up with a laser harp for obstacle detection. The light-sensitive musical instrument is played by moving hands over laser light sources in order to send commands when a beam is interrupted. These commands can be sent to different electronic devices. They want to sell this version of laser harp for just Rs 5,000 as against the market price of Rs 70,000.

A Purna, another student brings a unique system, which generates power using the force of footsteps. This arrangement serves as a medium to create electricity using non-conventional sources and store it to use later. “With my innovation, we can produce power from footpaths, dancing floors, shopping malls, buses, Railway stations and public parks. The project is designed to be useful in public places where a lot of people keep walking all day. My product can help all these public places generate electricity which they can store and use,” he said.

A few girl students of B Tech final year at VNRVJIET presented their project on a diagnostic model based on artificial intelligence (AI) for classification of common ultrasound maternal fetal planes. Once developed, this can help pregnant women in the tribal and rural areas where it is difficult to find diagnostic lab technicians.

“VNRVJIET also has a startup incubator Vignana Jyothi Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence (VJ Hub) that offers pre-incubation, virtual incubation, and co-incubation support to startups and is a part of the regional network of incubators, Telangana Incubators and Enablers Network, for over five years. It has so far supported over 25 startups,” says Dr C Kiran, Associate Professor, EIE & Manager of VJ Hub.

He further said, “Some of the startups were founded by students, alumni, and faculty members of VNRVJIET. Four startups have graduated in the last two years.Largely focused on technology sector, these startups receive support in terms of infrastructure and mentorship. They may use the laboratory facilities and can also recruit students of any educational institution run by the not-for-profit society.” The aim of the IITEX is to boost production through the use of the latest technology & innovations, in the process, boost the economy and help the Atamanirbhar Bharat initiative of the Government of India, said Anil Agarwal, President of FTCCI.