Head-Controlled Computer Mouse by LEADer Shadab

LEADer Shadab from NTTF College Belur invented the "Head Mouse". Shadab reasoned that some people with developmental and locomotive disabilities cannot use their hands to operate a computer mouse. In this project, he developed a hands-free computer mouse that moves the cursor according to the movement of our head.

The clicks and double clicks are obtained by breadth inputs. It uses an accelerometer and gyroscope fixed in the mouse to track the movement of the users head with I2C communication. This data is then used by a onboard micro-controller to analyze the motion of the user. This then communicates the computer-wired (bluetooth)/ wirelessly (user preference) and moves the cursor via serial communication. The mouse uses a microphone to get users breath inputs in the form of blows to analyses the breath to be left click, right click, double click or scroll. The mouse then sends the cursor and click data to computer either via Bluetooth or via USB Cable.

Scientifically, head movements have 6 degrees of freedom. An accelerometer cannot alone track all the 6 degrees of freedom, but only is limited to 4 degrees of freedom. Coupling a gyroscope with it adds another 2 Degree of freedom. This realization overcame one of the major challenges Shadab faced in designing the head mouse.

While this project is still in developmental phase, it is a great example of combining skills learned in college with a social project that could have a big impact in the lives of others.

Village in the Digital Age by LEADer Dharmendra K

LEADer Dharmendra Kumar Patel from BHU wanted to help his village gain their basic needs in the modern age. With new requirements from the government but barriers to the villagers obtaining these requirements, Dharmendra realized that many of the villagers would be unable to receive subsidy or rations.

Dharmendra took on three projects in his village: bank account set-ups, AADHAAR identity card sign-up, and ration card sign-up. Together, he felt these basic needs would help the people in his village have their presence recognized in the modern age. These projects also helped build basic modern skills in the village, including ATM use, making signatures,awareness of financial saving, and interacting with large modern establishments such as banks.

At first, only a few villagers were willing to take part in the process and many were hesitant for change. However, now those initial participants have told their neighbours and people are regularly approaching Dharmendra to take part and get a card and bank account. Women are coming out of their homes to sign up and join the modern age.

While Dharmendra has three specific projects, overall he is aiming to increase the wellbeing in his village. A good example of this is his motivation of a disabled woman. She had lost a leg in an accident, and was simply sitting around all day, although he had 3 children to feed. Dharmendra motivated her to learn the basic skill of sleeving to create an income, and after she had a small amount of earnings, got her to take part in his projects. Today, she has 4,500 Rs. in the bank account he helped her create, and she owns her own sleeving machine.

Cheap LED Lights with LEADer Uttam D

Thanks to an long-term interest in electronics, LEADer Uttam D from BHU has designed a very inexpensive LED light to be used in villages.

Uttam loves to take electronics apart, and realized he could make his own small light from old electronics parts for very cheap. At first, the light only lasted for 2-3 minutes, but with the addition of a diode, the simple light is rechargeable and lasts over 6 hours per charge. Rather than using all new parts, the light uses parts from waste phones, including the chargers and batteries. This means that the product can be made cheaper, but it also better for the environment.

So far, Uttam has sold over 50 of the LED lights to individuals in his village and nearby villages for 25 rupees each, earning a small profit of 5 rupees for future supplies. In Varanasi there is a proven market for Jugaad innovations, and therefore Uttam is capitalizing on this openness to small, inexpensive, “homemade” products. He is now trying to commercialize his LED lights.

SAR Safety with LEADer Rahul S A

Rahul S A, a LEADer from DRM Science College, was concerned about the SAR value in mobile phones.

SAR, or specific absorption rate, is a value that measures the amount of radiation absorbed into the head while using a mobile phone.

Rahul has a lot of knowledge about this topic, and discovered a simple way to reduce SAR values in mobile phones during his research. However, he also knew that many people were oblivious to the health concerns, or didn't even know about SAR.

So, he shared his knowledge with others, teaching people about the issues surrounding SAR values, how to determine the SAR value of their phone, and how to lower the SAR value in old mobile phones by fixing small circuits in the back of their phones.

While Rahul found it difficult to approach and interact with strangers, he learned new skills and persevered through the challenges. In the end, over 1000 individuals were educated about SAR values by Rahul and his team.

Mobile Dry Seeder with LEADer Sharad Patil

When asked about what problem his LEAD project aimed to solve, LEADer Sharad Patil from Dr. M.S. Sheshgiri College of Engineering and Technology produced a list of 11 issues that farmers face that his Mobile Dry Seeder addresses.

Real-world testing by a farmer near Chandgad

This relatively simple, yet challenging to design practically and properly according to Sharad, is a portable device which carries 15-20 kg of fertilizer or seeds. This device does the work of 4 labourers at once, but also does it twice as fast as the average human being can sow fertilizer or seeds. While originally the project aimed to simply help farmers to sow seeds more efficiently, the final product also addresses issues including weed growth, seed wastage, and high equipment and maintenance costs.

Obtaining certification from
University of Agricultural Science, Dharwad

In testing, Sharad's Mobile Dry Seeder increased crop yield by 30-40%, reduced labour costs by 75%, reduced seed expenses by 15%, and reduced fertilizer expenses by 25%. It is therefore no surprise Sharad was one of three winners at TALAASH 2015, a LEAD event that aimed to identify students with a desire to turn their technical ideas into a start-up. As his prize, Sharad received Rs. 1,00,000/- in seed funding from Nanopix and start-up incubation support from Deshpande Foundation's Sandbox Startups.

With his TALAASH winnings as well as a small amount of funding from LEAD,  he has managed to produce 18 mobile dry seeders currently being used by farmers, and is in the process of patenting his device so it can be mass produced and available to all farmers.

Creating Scientific Curiousity with LEADer Prajwal M

"Science is all about understanding the workings of Mother Nature. Every second, nature has something new to show. We can learn many facts and figures about science from library or from google. But the real learning of science comes from by doing things practically. Practically means you don’t need a big laboratory! What you need is good observation skills and a curious mind. The rocket fuel of science is curiosity." - Prajwal M

This curiousity about science is the reason why LEADer Prajwal M's, from NIE First Grade College, Mysore, created his project Vigyan Santhe, a bi-lingual (Kannada/English) science website and app for school children. He wanted to show science in a new and fun way. "Vigyan" means science and "Santhe" is the Kannada word for the weekly fair, and Prajwal wanted the same excitement and curiousity about science as there is about the santhe. 

Vigyan Santhe website

The website is "by the students, for the students, to the students", and also includes a "Student Santhe" section where students can submit their own content. This encourages participation and is an exciting moment for any student to be featured online.

For Prajwal, it wasn't just important for the Vigyan Santhe to teach science. The website also helps to teach computer and internet skills to children, as they learn to navigate and use the website and app. The website is also used as an English teaching tool, whereby students are involved in translating content between Kannada and English. In fact, Hebbal Government School students are actively and regularly involved in translating the English website pages into their native Kannada.

Vigyan Santhe app

So far, the Vigyan Santhe website has over 30,000 visitors and averages 150 visits a day. Three workshops reaching over 200 students in the Mysore region have been conducted to introduce the students to Vigyan Santhe and encourage students and teachers to continue using the website and app.

For Prajwal, his Vigyan Santhe project has helped him both learn HTML coding and improve his English writing skills. He has also realized that simple science can often impact students easier than big and complicated science.

In the future, Prajwal hopes to makes Vigyan Santhe accessible to students with different needs, including the differently-abled, and create an audio library of their articles so that students who struggle to read or are blind can listen to the articles. He also plans to create a mobile library of science-related books as well as science toy printables which students can download on the website, print, and then build like origami.

Generating Electricity through Driving with LEADer Darshan Belagavi

LEADer Darshan Belagavi from VSMIT Nipani knew all about the energy crisis. "In this modern age, more and more energy is required for daily consumption in all walks of life. Sources and quantum of fossil energy are dwindling day by day and getting exhausted at very fast rate. ... There is crying need for production of energy from non conventional sources at the earliest availability."

Instead of just being concerned about this, this LEADer took initiative to come up with a product that could help to address this issue. 

By installing a small wind turbine in strategic locations on the exterior of fast-moving vehicles that travel long distances, Darshan can convert the wind energy within the turbines from mechanical energy to electrical energy that can be immediately used or stored in a battery. 

When asked what his biggest challenge was, Darshan was honest: "from beginning to end, this project was a challenge". This project involved Darshan having to learn many new skills, including skills he can continue to use throughout his college, career, and life.

So far, Darshan has raised over 3 times the funding he received from LEAD, and has implemented his wind turbine device on 10 buses. Using only 1 dynamo, Darshan managed to produce up to 95 volts. He eventually hopes to mount up to 20 dynamos at a time to create more electricity and a bigger impact.

Recycled Study Lamps with LEADer Shankar

LEADer Shankar from S B Science College, Kalburgi noticed that many poor people in Kalburgi City were facing power cuts or were unable to afford much electricity, so at night, were without light or relying on fire sources.

Addressing two problems at once, Shankar designed a low-cost lamp made of waste materials in order to also re-use products that would otherwise be put in landfill or burned.

With only waste materials and 1500 Rs of funding from LEAD, Shankar has produced over 400 study lamps to distribute both to poor students, so they can study and work on school at night, but also in slum areas to use while cooking and spending time in the home.

Shankar's biggest challenges was to get his lamps to the people who needed it most, because he wanted to maximize his impact. He also struggled to find the proper waste materials, but as an important element of his project, he didn't give up and searched for these products to make hundreds of lamps.

Through this project he has realized just how important having light can be in improving the quality of life for a home.

Teaching Digital Skills to Housewives with LEADer Sweta Khinnavar

Sweta Khinnavar, a LEADer from Maratha Mandal Engineering College in Belgaum, noticed that many women were eager to learn more computer skills, but often lacked the opportunities to gain these skills unless they worked in an office job or were taught by family. 

Sweta began teaching some of the housewives in her community basic computer skills for her project IT NAARI, such as creating files and folders, watching movies, playing songs, transferring files, and turning the laptop on and off. However, Sweta learned that many of the women did not have computers of their own, so oftentimes she would teach the women using her own computer. 

After several sessions, more women began coming to the workshops and she found out that the women were calling their friends to tell them about how great the project was. Not only this, the women were then interested in Sweta's other LEAD projects. 

Sweta found that in teaching the women, she was in fact teaching the whole family because the women were sharing their learning, impacting even more lives that just participants of her project. She hopes to expand the workshops to include internet skills including email, Youtube, Google, and more. 

My Story: Pundaraja Hugar (Maratha Mandal Engineering College, Belgaum)

I have always been strong in practical areas, and with LEAD, I have been encouraged to use the technical skills I have learned studying for a BE in electronics and communication engineering for the good of my community.

The first problem I noticed was that the lights were always turned on in banks at night. To ensure lights were on and and everything was safe, even in rooms you could not see, a simple device was the solution to detect whether the lights were turned on or off and improve bank security.

Installing the IC 4051 detector in my college lab

My next device was the IC 4051 detector, which when installed, checks whether the IC is working or not. This device has now been implemented in my college lab.

During exams, I noticed that many students were using mobile phones despite not being allowed and it being distracting. By detecting an active mobile cellphone from up to 1.5 metres away, this device sounds and lights up when it detects any phone, SMS, or video transmission, even if the phone is set to silent. While I developed it primarily for use in colleges, it is also useful for detecting mobile phone use for unauthorized purposes such as video recording or spying.

Mosquito Repeller

My hostel had a mosquito problem, and knowing that a mosquito coil had negative health effects, I knew I need to develop something better. Mosquitoes carry harmful diseases and are incredibly irritating, so I created the electronic mosquito repellent, a device that drives away mosquitoes using ultrasonic frequencies. Ultrasonic frequencies are not audible to humans, but the sound is very annoying to insects. This simple circuit device that emits ultrasonic frequencies repels insects in the surrounding area, while going unnoticed by humans.

Explaining how my water tank level detector works

In order to prevent overflow in water tanks, I developed a simple water level alarm circuit. When the water level reaches the level of the sensing probes, a circuit is activated which triggers a beeper. Inspired by this project, I also developed a water pump controller to automatically turn water pumps on and off.

I noticed the mess in my hostel used a simple LED torch, and after asking the owner how much each torch costs, I knew I could make them for much cheaper. With only three LED lights, one battery, one diode and one resistor, I could make a similar torch and implemented five torches at this lesser cost.

Since I started looking for problems in my community that could be solved with a practical, technical solution, I have developed seven technical devices and gone on to win the "Best Technical Initiatives" award from LEAD. I have been very inspired by the quote, "A boss says "go!", but a leader says "let's go!" and try to apply this in my LEAD projects as well as my everyday life.

While dealing with small technical and electronic devices can be challenging at times and requires great care, the results are worth it and a small, simple device can make a big difference. I eventually hope to create technical and electronic solutions that can help the poor people in my community, but also address the problems involved in poverty at large.

"Study Desk" Produces Electricity

LEADer Nihal Revankar of SDMCET, Dharwad, realized that although many students sit down at their desks to study, very few students actually stay concentrated the entire time.  Students take breaks to text, chat with their friends, play games, browse the internet, etc. Nihal thought to himself, "Why can't students be more productive with their time?". And that's literally what he did.  Nihal designed a model for a study desk that can produce electricity.  First, he fixed an old sewing machine to a desk. He then connected a dynamo underneath the table.  When the pedals are pressed, the wheel of the sewing machine rotates the dynamo.  The dynamo and wheel are attached to a 12v battery which stores the energy produced.  When students are taking a study break, they can press the pedals of the study desk and produce about 9 to 10v of energy.  Nihal expects that this desk will help people save around Rs. 150 on their electricity bills every month and will be especially helpful in villages where electricity is scarce. 
 
Nihal's project was showcased during Yuva Summit 2014.

LEADer Converts Plastic to Crude Oil

Atheeq, like many others, had been observing the plastic crisis for a while.  Plastics are a huge threat since they are not biodegradable.  Many solutions to rid our planet of deadly plastics have started to take form, but most of these solutions are still not affordable enough to be adopted.  With Atheeq's device, plastic can be burned and converted into crude oil, an unrefined petroleum product which can later be refined to produce useful products such as gasoline, diesel and more.  Essentially, hot air is fed into a process vessel.  This air is continually recycled in a loop to maximize heat loss.  The process vessel is isolated from oxygen and is exposed to a vacuum environment.  This energy is used to depolymerize the plastic into crude oil.  Atheeq's method is more affordable than others because it relies on charcoal to catalyze the process, whereas other models do not rely on any catalysts.  Atheeq is still working on my model to make it more cost effective.

My Story: Santosh Kaveri

Santosh Kaveri (Samiti BBA College, Belgaum)

"The way I see it, all problems give me an opportunity to enter into business and provide products which are helpful for Indians."

I faced many challenges growing up.  I come from a rural background in the village of Shedbal, which is very remote.  When I was younger, I used to walk 10 kilometers every day just to attend school.  When I got older and was in high school, members of my family started facing different health and economic issues.  In order to feed  my family, I had to start working on the farm.  I used to work on the farm every morning before class starting at 5 AM and I would continue working immediately after returning from classes every day. It was a very tough time for me, but thankfully I was managed to get through it and get myself to college.

During my first year in college, I joined LEAD.  While in LEAD, I came to know about the need for technology, as well as the important for innovating it to make it inclusive and affordable for everyone.  Before joining LEAD, I had always been interested in becoming an entrepreneur and I utilized LEAD as a platform to execute my ideas for improving the lives of farmers.

Carrot Cleaning Machine

When I was thinking about my first LEAD project, I reflected on the struggles that my own family faced and I identified a problem in carrot cleaning.  Before farmers can sell their carrots at the local markets, the carrots must be cleaned to make them appealing to customers.  However, carrot cleaning is a lengthy and demanding process; cleaning one quintal of carrots requires usually the labor of 12 people.

I thought about the problem and searched determinedly for a solution to this problem.  My epiphany came at last one day after observing a washing machine.  I realized I could apply the same concept to devise a machine that could quickly, and efficiently, clean carrots.

Being a business student and having no prior experience with engineering, I struggled to develop a technology that could clean carrots. After developing 11 unsuccessful machines, I finally devised the Carrot Cleaning Machine.  My Carrot Cleaning Machine can clean a quintal of carrots in just 15 minutes and requires the labor of only two people.  The Carrot Cleaning Machine uses no electricity, and very little water.  This machine is now helping hundreds of farmers throughout 10 villages.  

Carrot Cleaning Machine

Eco Hot Water Coil

In India, gas is costly, and no one seems to be concerned about that.  We use a lot of gas every day without even realizing.  We use it to make tea, cook food, heat water for baths, and more. I tried to find a way to still be able to do all of this, but use less gas while doing it.  My Eco Hot Water Coil can perform two functions at once, thereby helping people conserve gas.  The Eco Hot Water Coil is a stovetop device that simultaneously boils water for cooking and collects hot water for bathing. This device has been fixed in several hostels, and the hostels have reported that the Eco-Water Coil is helping them save more than Rs. 1000 per month.   I plan to soon introduce this technology to individual homes for domestic use. 

Eco Hot Water Coil

Brake System for Bullock Cart

Farmers around the country rely on bullock carts to transport large quantities of goods over long distances.  However, many problems have been caused by the fact that most of these farmers are using bullock carts without a proper braking system.  Instead, the bullock carts are usually stopped manually, which is putting strain on the laborers, the oxen and the bullock cart. I innovated a bullock cart brake system that is simple, effective, and affordable. Farmers using this brake system for their bullock carts are receiving many benefits.  Bullock cart accidents are being reduced, and farmers can now carry more weight on their carts.  In addition, less manual labor is required to manage the cart.  Moreover, no pollution is being created from the cart as the brake system requires no fuel source.  

Brake System for Bullock Cart

I  was presented the "Best LEADer" by Ratan Tata during Yuva Summit 2013 for the entrepreneurial and innovative nature of his Carrot Cleaning Machine, and I won the "Best LEADer" award again during Yuva Summit 2014 .  Because of LEAD, I have developed myself.  I now feel that I have something inside worth showing to others.   I know that the confidence I have gained from my successful initiatives will continue to drive me to work on bigger, bolder ideas in the future.

Belgaum LEADer Invents "Trash-A-Nator" To Solve Waste Pollution Problem

As dry waste accumulates and is not being disposed of fast enough, cities and towns run the risk of becoming over-polluted.  What's worse, people try to control the buildup by waste by burning it, which releases dangerous toxins into the air that our lungs survive by. 

GIT, Belgaum LEADer, Anirudh, was also concerned about the increasing waste and pollution problem, and his latest invention, the "Trash-A-Nator" provides a beautiful solution.  Anirudh's "Trash-A-Nator" can burn up to 200 liters of dry waste in just a few minutes.  Moreover, the "Trash-A-Nator" converts dangerous Carbon monoxide byproduct, a toxic gas and also the main cause of global warming, into Carbon dioxide, thereby producing significantly less air pollution. The ash produced from the burning can be mixed with manure to be used as fertilizer for plants.

Anirudh spent a year working hard on developing the "Trash-A-Nator".  The machine has been approved by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.

Belgaum LEADer Brings Computer Knowledge to 50 Children

"If you are an engineer and don't share your knowledge with others, then what is the use of being an engineer?"  It was with this mindset that Akshay, a LEADer and student from Jain College of Engineering, Belgaum, carried forward his LEAD project.  One day, Akshay saw students from poor backgrounds and knew that he could improve their lives by improving their education.  Akshay approached the students and asked them what they wanted to learn.  The children told them that they wanted to learn how to use the machine that "rich kids use to play games".  Akshay was puzzled at first, as he was not sure what the children were talking about, but he soon realized that the children were referring to computers. 

Akshay approached his friend who runs a computer center and told him about his plan to teach the children basic computer skills.  He appreciated Akshay's efforts and agreed to give to let Akshay use his centre to teach the children free of cost. 

50 children came for the computer lessons.  Akshay has plans to expand his idea to impact more children. 

Nidasoshi LEADer Brings Computer Knowledge to Village Children

Yogesh Torase, a LEADer from Hirasugar Institute of Technology, Nidasoshi had faced the problem of not knowing about the computers when he was studying in the school, and it had left him somewhat behind the rest. Determined to create a better future for others, he taught computer basics to the school children in his village, Manjari.  Yogesh made a team, gathered a few computers, and taught 20 children basic computer skills. 

Yogesh is now a proud LEADer that he could able to make his village children learn computers and make them have access to the digital world.

Belgaum LEADer Invents Low-Cost Grass Cutting Machine; Taps Into Inclusive Innovation

We are all aware of the importance of innovation in today's society as a way of driving economies and communities forward.  What is more important than innovation, though, is inclusive innovation.  In other words, innovations can be truly successful only if they can be afforded and accessed by all sectors of society.  With the principle of inclusive innovation in mind, LEADer Balchandra from Jain College, Belgaum, invented a simple and low-cost "Grass Cutting Machine".  The machine can be constructed using the pedals and wheels of a bicycle.  The cutter is connected to the back bicycle wheel using a rope.  Through pedaling, the wheel is spun and grass can be inserted to the cutter to be cut.

Nidasoshi LEADer Brings Computer Knowledge to Orphans

A solid knowledge of computers in essential to survive in today's technology-centered society.  Ajay Abdulpur, a LEADer of HIT Nidasoshi, noticed that orphans do not get exposure to computers or technology.   He organized a team and taught basic computer education to the orphans of the "Nandana Makkala Dhama" orphanage in Belgaum.  Ajay brought a laptop with him to teach the children and to give them hands-on experience. Many of these children had never before seen a computer, and were very curious to learn more about computers.  Ajay was very happy after spending the day with the orphans.  He says that he can see those children becoming engineers in the future.

My Story: Navin Kumar

Navin Kumar (SKSMACET, Laxmeshwar)

"Think different. Do different. Bring difference." 

I joined LEAD during my 5th semester.  In my first project, LivSmart, my team and I provided career guidance to 600 students in schools near Navalgund.  Energized by this success, I decided to implement another project that would benefit a local blind school.  After interacting with the children and the teachers from the school, I came to know about the challenges students face while learning Braille.  Braille is an essential skill for visually impaired students to learn, though it is also a very difficult task to learn.  To learn Braille, one must memorize various patterns of keys assigned for different letters, words, and symbols, in order to read and write efficiently.

Being an engineering student, I knew that I possessed the technical knowledge to create something innovative that could benefit a social cause as well.  So, I set myself to work.  After several months of dedication, trial, and error, I designed and created the Electronic Progressive Braille Learning Kit.  

My Braille Learning Kit facilitates the Braille learning process and assists students with the more difficult stages of Braille learning.  The Braille Learning Kit helps students of all educational levels by allowing them to feel a character while simultaneously reading the character aloud to them.  

The unique nature of my Braille Learning Kit qualified me to compete in Intel’s Next Big Idea 2013 Competition, in which I competed against over 6,000 business plans proposed by experienced business professionals from throughout India.  My business plan to market the Braille Learning Kit made it to the Top 10.

LEAD showed me that a small idea lit by a matchstick can be taken to a greater extent.  Similarly, my very small idea has taken me to a great extent.  LEAD stands for LEaders Accelerating Development.  LEAD has accelerated me to this level.  By exposing me to social issues, LEAD inspired me to create a useful project that meets a social need.  

In the future, you will see me at the top.  I am confident in that. 

Deshpande Foundation Hosts IT Training Session for Dharwad LEADers

33 students participated from Anjuman Degree College, Dharwad, participated in an IT training session hosted by the Deshpande Foundation.  The session exposed students to important programs and functions.  Students learned basic knowledge of Microsoft Word and how to create professional documents.  Students also learned how to create email IDs, as well as the principles of effective and professional emailing.  Finally, students learned about important social networking sites such as Facebook, and their relevance in today's globalized world.  The world today is highly dependent on technology, and without a proper knowledge of how to use technology, one runs the risk of falling behind.  This IT session gave many students technical exposure that they had never before been given, and they were very appreciative for all that they learned.