Students develop low-cost smoke detector

K Srilekha, a BTech student was busy writing a programme on her laptop while her teammates were helping to display their project at the Robocamp- 2011 on Saturday, which was held at the Indian Institute of Information Technology campus.The six-member team finally succeeded in making the ‘smoke detector’, which helps in early detection of fire in a house, especially in a kitchen. “Being a student of electronics and electrical engineering, I have always thought of innovating things that will be helpful for people, mainly women. Many women die due to lack of awareness over use of domestic gas in kitchens.After going through gas leakage incidents published in newspapers and TV channels, I decided to do something to save women's lives,” said Srilekha, a student of G Narayanamma Institute of Technology and Sciences, Shaikpet.The six students, from different places formed a team and built the smoke detector within 48 hours. They also demonstrated the project successfully in presence of robotic experts.The team led by mentor Rahul Peddi comprised S Sravya, Pallavi M from SRM University, Chennai, B Sneha of Sastra University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, B Vivek Kiran, a class IX student from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Gachibowli and Pritika Bahad from Devi Ahilya University in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.B Vivek Kiran, one of the team members, said Rlydo Labs is manufacturing the same smoke detector which costs around Rs 1000. “We want to design the same system but at much affordable prices. The system requires- two pairs of sensors, one infra-red and other a photo sensor, one L29 3D IC to control motors and one micro-processor.The machine will help in early detection of fire in a house,” he added.Meanwhile, a six-day Robocamp concluded on Saturday, with around 900 students from over 100 colleges around the country participating in the event.The workshop is aimed at encouraging potential of students by providing a platform to not only compete but also learn to apply their skills.

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com