After his father who was not wearing a helmet had a close shave in a motorbike accident, a 15-year old has come out with a solution for two-wheeler riders that will reduce the risk of such injuries.
Amey Nerkar, a Class X student of Nashik city in North Maharashtra, has developed a system whereby a motorcycle would start only if the rider wears a helmet.
“The helmet has been fitted with touch, heat and pressure censors that can detect the body heat. The circuit will start only when the helmet is locked with its clip.
“This will send transmit signal to a receiver, which is fitted on the bike. This system has been connected to the ignition,” said the student of the Rachana Vidyalaya in Nashik, who is representing his school at the Children Science Congress where members of 50 other schools are taking part.
“So, the moment one removes the helmet or even unlocks it, a message is sent to the receiver, which is fitted on the bike and this will further send signals to ignition of the bike to stop the vehicle.”
The idea struck Nerkar after his father met with an accident while riding his motorbike and was injured. He was not wearing helmet at that time.
“We are one of the countries that have maximum two-wheeler fatalities and most of the deaths occur due to non-wearing of helmet,” said the 15-year-old.
Interestingly, Nerkar’s innovation was mentioned by former President APJ Abdul Kalam in his inaugural speech Tuesday.
The entire system, Nerkar said, costs only between Rs 200-Rs 300 and if any company apply for mass production then the cost can come down.
He has also applied for patent for this system and has already spent Rs 80,000 on it and has also approached leading two-wheeler companies.
Similar is the case with Lalrintluangi, a class IX student of R Hranga High School in Champhai, Mizoram.
The 13-year old student, who is also representing her school at the Children’s Science Congress, came up with the idea of generating electricity from manure and soil due to the erratic power supply in her state.
“For generating electricity, one must have empty plastic containers, manure, copper wires and magnesium ribbon, wooden stick and a DC circuit. Every container should have two wooden sticks with each wrapped with copper wire and magnesium ribbon,” explained Lalrintluangi.
When the manure is mixed with water and soil in the container, the manure becomes electrolyte solution.
The copper wire wrapped around the wooden stick, which is immersed in the solution, acts as the cathode and attracts anions and begins to produce electricity.
“The magnesium ribbon is placed in the solution, it acts as the anode and attracts the cation and begins to produce a negative charge. The attraction of unlike charge makes it a complete battery. Thus, electricity is produced,” she said.