Five final-year engineering students of Periyar Maniammai University at Thanjavur have invented an eco-challenger (a solar-powered vehicle for physically challenged people), a product development aimed at improving the life of persons with disabilities. The five students – Ramaseshan (team leader from Trichy) R M Hariraam (Coimbatore), D Vasanth (Chennai), M Muthuraman (Cuddalore) and M Vivek (Trichy) jointly designed this vehicle at a cost of Rs 32,000 earmarked by the university in order to encourage their innovative spirit outside their curriculum but as part of their project work.
Talking about the invention which is yet to be patented, the students said the ‘eco-friendly vehicle’ particularly meant for differently-abled people, was designed to overcome the effects of global warming and had the potential to substantially reduce air pollution. The battery can be recharged in two ways: using photo voltaic panel and external electric supply.
The students first participated in the Velammal Silver Jubilee Science Utsav-2010, and the real recognition came to them when the eco-challenger was the only project for the handicapped out of a total of 25 projects selected for the final presentation at Asia’s largest tech fest held at IIT, Bombay. The prototype was also showcased at Mechaica Fair of the IITM, Chennai, and it was one of the nine projects selected, but the only working prototype made for physically challenged people.
Talking about the verve behind the project, Ramaseshan told TOI on Wednesday that they wanted to do something for the differently-abled people because his mother suggested him to use his knowledge to design a vehicle to enhance the lifestyle of a physically-challenged person.
“We started collecting requirements of the people with disability in an attempt to facilitate mobility with available resources, that is, renewable solar energy in this case,” he said. Incidentally, Ramaseshan happens to be the son of the district differently-abled welfare officer (DDAWO) R Shyamala’s son, and the latter inspired in him a spirit to do something for the disabled.
The vehicle was test-driven by one Arumugam who said, “At first, we were driving using hand pedal, now it is easy to drive this solar powered motorised vehicle.” Asked whether the vehicle skidded while driving, he replied in the negative. Nevertheless, the battery box was kept in front of the seat, and after the test drive it was taken under the seat.
Ramaseshan said that people at first warned him not to showcase the product before patenting, but we still went ahead because it is for a good cause. The five member team is very hopeful that it would be doing another project with BHEL in Trichy as part of their curriculum.