Students are into innovation projects for the common man

Updated on: Monday, August 05, 2013

Innovations that can help the common man are need of the hour. From solar powered rickshaws to water purifiers using solar power, students are innovating for the common man. One such innovation that could make a difference is an amphibious cycle.

"We were inspired by the innovative projects on the internet and the IITs. When we came across news about people's agony while facing the floods, we thought of making an alternate solution to rafts and boats, which could be used by common people and so we came up with the idea of creating an amphibious cycle," says Sahil Arora, BTech final-year, Manav Rachna College of Engineering (MRCE).

The cycle can be driven on land as well as in still water of minimum 2 feet depth. The cycle may be used for exercise and recreation.

"The cycle was cost-effective as only old material was used in its fabrication. One old normal cycle, (the number eight), 20 litre water bottles were used as pontoons, while steel tubes, steel strips, nuts and bolts are common things that are available easily," he says.

The five-member team comprising Sahil Arora, Mohit Arora, Rahul Gaur, Kapil Ahuja Tushar Singh under the supervision of project guide Sanjay Taneja took 20 days to conceptualise. "The fabrication, testing and trials took about 30 days as it had to be modified according to the performance standard," says Sahil.

Talking about the challenges they faced, Sahil says that in the entire process, which involved translating the manufacturing knowledge of welding, fitting, press work and assembly while fabricating the cycle, they had to modify the cycle several times. Trials and modifications, retrials and then incorporating the changes required were part of the challenges they faced in making it.

Students are into innovation projects for the common man

More Education news