Wheelchair on Power, a PowerPoint presentation showcasing an innovative and affordable robotic wheelchair for the physically challenged, has bagged Kolkata-based Shramona Chakraborty (22) — a final year computer engineering student at the M.C. Kejriwal Vidyapeeth Institute of Engineering, Howrah — the top prize of the IET South Asia Present Around The World (PATW) 2016 competition. By besting nine student competitors in the South Asia finals staged in Kolkata on August 21, Shramona won a cash prize of £400 (Rs.36,000) and an all-expenses paid trip to compete in the global finals scheduled to be staged in London on November 15.
The Stevenage, Hertfordshire (UK)-based Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET, estb.1871), which has over 163,000 members in 127 countries, hosts the annual PATW competition — open to students, graduates and young professionals in the 18-30 age group — to encourage engineers to use their communication and technical skills to solve social problems.
In early January, Shramona, who teamed up with college juniors Sumanta Laha and Debdeep Chatterjee to build the prototype of a robotic wheelchair, was awarded the Best Project Award at the National Science and Engineering Fair hosted by the city’s Birla Industrial and Technological Museum. “Initially, we invested our personal savings. Later on, my college provided additional financial and infrastructure support for which I am very grateful. I also owe my gratitude to Prof. Suvanjan Bhattacharyya for his guidance without which our prototype would never have been completed. My two PATW regional round presentations were based on this project which we began early last year,” says Shramona.
The only child of Swapan Chakraborty, a Central government employee of the Silk Board, and homemaker Mousumi, Shramona is excited about her first overseas trip and is currently fine-tuning her PowerPoint presentation based on the jury’s observations. The robotic wheelchair — comprising a variety of sensors and a micro controller — has caterpillar wheels, which enables it to climb stairs.
Going forward, Shramona has plans to enroll in a Masters programme in computer engineering and engage in robotics research. “In the long term, I wish to contribute to society and plan to design innovative robots to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities,” she enthuses.
Way to go, sister!
Baishali Mukherjee (Kolkata)
