A robotic ‘bandicoot’ could soon clear manholes in the State. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will launch the first ‘bandicoot,’ developed by Genrobotics, a nine-member start-up initiative of young professionals, on Monday.
The possibility of using it for leak detection and clearing blocks in pipes would be explored later, Water Resources Minister Mathew T. Thomas said here on Saturday. The initiative is in association with the Kerala Water Authority Innovation Zone (KWIZ).
The start-up company would ensure that those employed in the field would not be rendered jobless overnight. The company has developed the machine in such a way that workers can use them to clean drains and manholes without going in and hazarding their lives.
Six months ago
The KWIZ, a joint venture of the Kerala Water Authority and the Kerala Startup Mission, signed an MoU with Genrobotics for developing the ‘bandicoot’ around six months ago. The group was told to complete the task before the Attukal Pongala.
M.K. Vimal Govind is the chief executive officer of the new company.
The group comprises Arun George, M.P. Nikhil, K. Rasheed, P. Jaleesh, Afzal Muttikal, E.B. Sreejith Babu, K.Sujith and P.K.Vishnu.
