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Mini-robot leaps out of students’ fertile brains

— Photo: T. Singaravelou Photo: T. Singaravelou

INNOVATIVE MINDS: Engineering students operating the multi-purpose mini-robot in Puducherry on Monday. — Photo: T. Singaravelou

PUDUCHERRY: It can act as a security viewer, raise a fire or smoke alarm, indicate room temperature and carry things from one place to another. This is Astin - a multi-purpose mini-robot created by engineering students in Puducherry.

Fascinated by the world of robotics, N. Narendiran along with S. Sridhar, both students of third year Electrical and Electronics Engineering of Dr. Paul’s Engineering College, Vannur, have created a mini-robot with an array of applications.

“Many countries are eager to create advanced robots. Earlier, robots were handled by scientists but now people are using robots for daily work. Thus, I wanted to create a mini-robot with multiple uses,” said Narendiran.

Made with low-cost materials such as steel, waste automobile parts like gear, it took six months and Rs. 14,000 for the students to come up with their robot Astin. “Based on programming, the robot can move its head up and down, bend its chest up to 90 degrees and move its hip 180 degrees. The wheel direction has been programmed in such a way that it can move in forward and reverse directions,” the duo said.

With fingering movement similar to human hands, Narendiran said that the robot can pick up things. It can carry things from one place to another. “It can raise a fire alarm, indicate smoke formation and act as a metal detector,” he said, as Sridhar added, “We have fixed a web camera on the robot’s face and it can be used as a security viewer using a small television monitor.” The students have programmed the robot to welcome people saying “Welcome”, “Good morning” and “How are you,” in a robotic voice.

“It has an automatic emergency lamp and sensibility touch switch for raising alarms if a stranger tries to operate it,” Narendiran mentioned.

It was for this mini-robot project that the duo won two first prizes at two national level students technical symposiums held in Vellore and Hosur. “Next, I want to make the robot wireless and enhance the moving operations,” he said.

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