‘Artemis’, the robot, developed by IIT-Madras students can detect cracks on rail tracks, send out real-time data and help prevent accidents.
New Delhi: Students from Secunderabad’s Gurunanak Institute of Technology (GIT) have developed a smart glove that can detect sign language and translate it into audio, helping the deaf and mute communicate with others. The prototype has been developed as part of the human resource development ministry’s innovation challenge ‘Hardware Hackathon’.
Through sensors embedded in the gloves, the technology will detect sign language and convert it into sound which will be audible to the other person through a small speaker attached with the glove. When a deaf and mute person starts making gestures with their hands, the glove translates the signs into language, thereby communicating what they are trying to say.
A similar technology was developed by scientists in the United States last year. However, that focused more on controlling objects in virtual reality games.
“With this project we hope to help physically challenged persons who are unable to communicate. The project is still at a prototype stage but if get good support from the industry we can really turn this around into a refined product that can be launched in the market,” said a student from GIT.
Competing projects
Students from technical institutions across India, including Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and a number of other engineering institutions from smaller towns, have developed projects under Hackathon.
Over 100 projects have been shortlisted by experts. They will get a chance to get patent and work with the industry or government.
IIT-Madras students have developed an automated system to detect cracks along the railway tracks in what could be a revolutionary technology in India, where rail accidents have claimed a number of lives. ‘Artemis’, the robot, developed by a team of students from IIT-M, when fitted along a railway track, can detect cracks as small as 2 cm with sensors and send out real time data.
The robot can even work when the train is running on track.
This technology could potentially save India the cumbersome process of deploying nearly 2 lakh men patrol railway lines to check the length and breadth for cracks and repair them manually.
Hackathon finals
Hardware Hackathon is an innovation challenge where students from across institutions will be working to find hardware solutions for various problems that the country faces. The final round of this challenge will be held between 18 to 22 June at various IITs, IISc and CEERI Pilani.
Agriculture, waste management, rural technology, clean water, security and smart vehicles are some of the subjects that these students will be working on. Over 600 students, with one third women participants, are working on various projects related to these themes.