ABOUT THE PROJECT
>> Undertaken by students from the Don Bosco College of Engineering (DBCE), Fatorda, in their final year
>> Was one of three projects selected by the Goa Government's Department of Science and Technology
>> It was the only project from Goa to be selected by a 64 member jury, from over 2,200 submissions
IMPRESSIVE DESIGN
>> Also called 'Robotic Wheelchair', it is driven by two battery powered DC motors
>> Important feature is its 'standing function', which operates through compressed air
>> The chair can reclines completely and can lift a person weighing up to 250 kilos
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MARKET COST
Rs 3,00,000
MODEL COST
Rs 55,000
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PANAJI: An engineering student-undertaken project "Design and Fabrication of Disabled-Friendly Wheelchair" was the only Goan project to make it to the top 100 in the 'Student Engineering Model Competition', held at Lucknow on October 6 and 7. The competition was part of the Fourth India International Science Festival (IISF) 2018, organised by the Government of India from October 5 to 8.
The project, which was undertaken by students from the Don Bosco College of Engineering (DBCE), Fatorda, in their final year, was one of three projects selected by the Goa Government's Department of Science and Technology to represent the state at the Fourth IISF 2018. However, it was the only project from Goa to be selected by a 64 member jury, from over 2,200 submissions for the 'Student Engineering Model Competition.' They participated in the 'Make in India' category of the competition. 22 projects were selected by the jury in each of the five categories of the competition.
Of the five students - Deepak Kolur, Saideep Naik, Anay Kalghatgi, Prashant Gaonkar, and Vinay Naik - who undertook the project, two of them, i.e. Deepak Kolur, who led the team, and Saideep Naik, went to represent the state at Lucknow. The five students were guided by their professors Swapnil Ramani and Ajit Salunke.
Also called 'Robotic Wheelchair', the wheelchair they designed is driven by two battery powered DC motors. An important feature of the wheelchair is its 'standing function', which operates through compressed air. Currently, this feature operating by compressed air is not available in the market, informed Kolur, while speaking to 'The Goan.' Further, the chair they designed can lift a person weighing upto 250 kilos. The chair also reclines completely, so the person using it can roll over and shift to his/her bed.
The wheelchair has a wireless controller which can be controlled through an Android phone. The boys assembled the chair from scratch, with a view to aid people who have reduced mobility in their lower limbs.
While the current market price of such a chair is around Rs 3,00,000, the model the boys assembled costs only Rs 55,000. When produced in mass, Kolur said the price would reduce.
