Pranavan Sathanakrishnan, Sneha Priya and Harish Sampathkumar recent (2012) engineering graduates of the top-ranked College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University have chosen to decline high-paying jobs to promote the Chennai-based SP Robotic Works Pvt. Ltd (SPRW, estb. 2012) and Aikaa Automation Pvt. Ltd (AAPL, 2014). SPRW manufactures robot components and offers robotics education to school children, and AAPL provides a range of customised home automation solutions. We’ve got off to a fast start by successfully developing 1,000 robotic kits, micro controller boards, and sensors among other products for our online store, training 250 school students to construct robots through our certified 14-month Kidobotikz programme, and conducting robotics workshops for engineering students. Moreover, we are developing a three-year Rovatec Labs training programme, which provides experiential hands-on training to college students, says Sneha Priya. Even while stimulating interest in robotics of school and college students, the trio is conducting extensive research in home and industrial automation. We are now ready to provide customised solutions to automate homes and building complexes. We have developed a smart app which enables users to control lights, fans, projectors, curtains, air conditioners and other electrical appliances in their homes from anywhere in the world through a smartphone or tablet, says Pranavan. The trio’s interest in robotics was aroused while in college where they participated and won numerous national and international robotics championships. After graduating in 2012, the three invested Rs.3 lakh from their personal savings into the promotion of SPRW. Having quietly acquired a reputation for dispensing high-quality robotics education over the past two years, the young engineers have ambitious future plans. We intend to expand our operations through the franchise model. Our Kidobotikz programme has greatly enthused parents with some of them becoming our franchisees, says Harish. Moreover, we propose to set up state-of the-art labs in engineering colleges to enable practical training in electronics, embedded systems, robotics and printed circuit board designing, he adds. Way to go! Hemalatha Raghupathi (Chennai)
