From innovative devices to manage irrigation systems by remote sensing and safe driving controls through helmets, the scientific temperament was very much in evidence at the INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) science exhibition in the city on Tuesday.
Projects by 350 students of 182 government and aided schools throughout the Tiruchi district were chosen for the day-long fair, held at the Bishop Heber Higher Secondary School (BHHSS) in Puthur. The exhibition was inaugurated by K.S. Palanisamy, District Collector. The exhibition, held under the INSPIRE programme of the Department of Science and Technology, was organised by the Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre and the Department of School Education.
A quick look around the fair showed that tomorrow’s inventors and innovators have been prompted to look for user-friendly solutions to today’s problems. Class 11 students of BHHSS S. Vijaykumar and S. Chandrasekhar exhibited an automated system to extinguish forest fires. It could also be adapted for industrial complexes. The unmanned vehicle propelled by robotic wheels fitted with a sensor to detect heat sets off a water sprinkler system that could be sprayed on the affected areas. “We feel our invention will help save human lives and vegetation,” Vijayakumar told The Hindu . Further down, Rajaperumal from Class 11, D.N. Higher Secondary School, Perumalpalayam, demonstrated a system to control agricultural irrigation schedules through mobile phone signals. The pump can be switched on and off through signals sent to a pre-programmed mobile phone. “I was inspired to create this, since I am from a village myself, and have seen many people struggling to water their crops. This is an efficient way to stop water wastage,” student inventor said.
Class 10 student K. Praveen, of Government Aided Higher Secondary School, M.R. Palayam had designed a helmet that would promote safe driving habits and prevent drunken driving accidents. “This helmet will have chips that will detect whether the motorbike driver has fastened his headgear, and also test his breath for alcohol. In both cases, the helmet will prevent the vehicle engine from starting. I hope this will help us to promote better road sense,” said Praveen.
Among the many non-electrical projects that caught the eye were a prototype of a sowing machine that had a rotating cylinder, designed by three senior school girl students, and a hand-operated food blender.
District winners of the science fair will be heading to the state-level finals in Chennai, to be held in end-August. The finalists of this event will be participating in the national INSPIRE science festival in New Delhi in October.
