President opens ‘room of new ideas’

President Pranab Mukherjee tries out a touchlesstabla at the inauguration of a science andinnovation museum in the Rashtrapati Bhavan inNew Delhi on Tuesday.

A robotic dog that does yoga, a 3D printer and a piano that can be played without touching the keys — these are some of the technological innovations showcased at the new science and innovation museum at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Many of the innovations are by Indian students.

The museum, “Navachara Kaksh” (room of new ideas), was inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday. It will be open to visitors on Fridays and weekends as part of the Rashtrapati Bhavan tour.

The museum has been set up with the assistance of the chip-maker Intel.

For children

The museum aims to spark curiosity about technology among children visiting the Presidential Estate.

One of the main attractions of the museum is Clumsy, a robotic dog that can walk, squat and do yoga. It was designed by 17-year old Arsh Shah Dilbagi from Panipat.

Shah told The Hindu , “When you are under 18, there isn’t much you can do without parents’ consent. I wanted a dog and they didn’t, so I built one!” He also won many awards at an international science competition for his work.

Also on display are a touchless tabla and a keyless piano — both of which can be played without touching the instruments. Sensors detect hand movements and play the beats on the tabla with the help of microprocessors.

An indigenous 3D printer, a “talking wall” and a “planet wall” are among the exhibits.

Pose for a selfie

Visitors can click a 3D selfie with the Rashtrapati Bhavan as the backdrop and get the picture delivered by e-mail to their accounts. More projects are to be added to the museum around the year.

Intel will manage operations till the Rashtrapati Bhavan takes over. This is the first such museum that the chip-maker has set up apart from the one at its headquarters in Santa Clara in California, U.S.