[SS-Traveller]

Young minds are the most innovative. An article listing 26 of the most innovative ideas by schoolchildren (http://www.thebetterindia.com/11596/...6d99e-73731529) is in itself a very interesting read. But when 8 of those ideas are concerned with safety and convenience on Indian roads, then that certainly needs to be highlighted.

One only wishes some of these ideas are taken up by developers and see the light of day as production units.

1. Oxygen /carbon dioxide level indicators in car
S R Valava, class 12, AEHSS, DAE Township, Kalapakkam, Tamil Nadu
Pratyush Kumar Sahoo & Bikash Kumar Mallick, class 10, Mother Public School, Khurda, Odisha.

System to detect levels of oxygen/ carbon dioxide in the closed car and open windows when oxygen level drops or carbon dioxide level rises, thereby preventing accidental deaths of children or pets locked inside the car. All the students thought about this idea
after reading/ hearing news about accidental deaths in cars due to suffocation. Valava, who plays football, has interest in junk art i.e. making useful items from waste and wants to become an entrepreneur so that he can give job to others.

Pratyush plays basketball and computer games. He also reads story books, paints and plays keyboard. He wants to become an IAS officer. Bikash, who also plays basketball, believes that he has the capacity to break a bigger problem into small ones and then solve them. He also aspires to be an IAS officer and feels that, ‘success is not something one is born with, rather it is something one has to strive for.’


2. Step-lock system in bus
R Santhosh, class 11, J Rajasekar, class 10, A Nivashini, class 10, K Rathna, class 10, Govt Girls Higher Secondary School, Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu

Mechanism, which would not allow the bus to move if people are standing on its stairs, thereby preventing accidents. A often observed problem in our country unfortunately. Santhosh thought about this idea while commuting from his village to his school. He finds physics quite easy and wants to pursue aeronautical engineering and take up space research. Nivashini likes reading story books and wants to become a doctor. Rajasekar likes outdoor sports, participates in NCC and would like to become an IPS officer while Rathna, who also likes reading books wants to become a teacher.


3. Reminding the owner if keys are forgotten in the vehicle
Chandramouly K Kandachar, class 12, RV PU College, Bangalore, Karnataka

A system in vehicle, which intimates the driver through a phone call if the keys have been forgotten in the vehicle; also prevents theft. Chandramouly’s sister often forgot the keys in the car itself. He read about incidents where owner by mistake left the keys in the car, which got stolen subsequently; hence this idea. Chandramouly like to listen to music especially carnatik music and also western genre like metal and rap. All technology enthusiasts, he and his friends, have started a technology blog where they post all the news about latest gadgets and technologies. He has received recognition for his scientific acumen and aspires to become an electronics or computer engineer.


4. Hilly terrain cart
Vidya Ramesh, class 12, Greenwood High International School, Bangalore, Karnataka

Three equidistant wheels on a single axle attached to two similar sets in different planes, allowing flexibility in movement with respect to each other. Noting the difficulty people in mountainous regions face in transporting goods, in Vidya tried to modify the design of traditional hill cart.


5. Air conditioning system in scooter /motorcycle
Masira bi Hanif Patel, class 8, MI Teli English Medium School, Jalgaon, Maharashtra

A small modified AC connected to engine, which circulates cool air through tubes woven into a wearable jacket. Once while riding on his father’s motorcycle during summer, Masira noticed her father’s discomfort. Later, she saw a car with an AC, which prompted her to think, why not two wheelers could have ACs of their own!

A nature lover and cleanliness freak, Masira likes gardening a lot. She wants to become a pediatrician so that she can bring back smiles on the faces of ill children.


6. Modified hand-cart with steering and brakes
Md. Usman Hanif Patel, class 3, MI Teli English Medium School, Jalgaon, maharashtra
Nidhi Kumari Gupta, class 8, School dropout, Muzaffarpur, Bihar
Pavithra R, class 7, SRC Memorial Matriculation School, Erode, Tamil Nadu
Vidya Ramesh, class 12, Greenwood High International School, Bangalore, Karnataka

The idea is to incorporate easy steering mechanism and brakes to make turning hand carts easy and arrest slide on inclines.

Young Usman saw a street vendor struggling with his hand cart while negotiating a turn on an incline, which triggering this idea. He also thought of adding a folding seat to the cart. Nidhi, a school dropout, saw her father facing problems negotiating turns while selling ‘petha’ (kind of sweet) on his hand cart.

Vidya suggested incorporating gears and bicycle styled steering mechanism in hand-carts. She likes reading books, engaging herself in outdoor activities and is still looking for a challenging ambition to chase. Trained Bharatanatyam dancer, Pavithra, aspires to become a doctor and serve the society. She likes to keep abreast of all the happenings around her. She has won a number of awards in essay writing and speeches and plans to make a library of her own with more than 1000 books.


7. Automatic spike system near traffic signal
S. Siva Mahima, class 9, Kendriya Vidyalaya, RK Puram, New Delhi
Shameet Badarla, class 11, Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, Uppal, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Retractable spikes before the zebra crossing that come out when the traffic signal is red to prevent signal jumping by vehicles. Siva Mahima was quite concerned with the poor traffic sense of commuters specially when they disregard lanes, jump signals and break other traffic rules, and thus came up with this idea. She loves animals, likes reading about wildlife and wants to become a veterinary doctor. Her hobbies include singing, origami and other craft work.

Losing a dear friend in an accident caused due to signal jumping by a truck made Shameet seriously think about this idea. He likes playing table and foot ball in his free time. With great interest in computer programming, he wants to grow up and be a robotics engineer with specialization in artificial intelligence. He would like to reduce agricultural costs and bring more benefit to the farmers.


8. Device to cool down anger
Shweta Sharma, class 11, Police DAV, Jallandhar, Punjab

A head worn device that cools down our nerves within a quick time after wearing. Believing that getting angry frequently may lead to unnecessary stress and hyper tension, Shweta has started thinking about developing a head gear, which when worn by an angry person can immediately cool him/her down. Shweta likes studying chemistry and physics, and watching cricket and wants to become a scientist.

[triedeverything]

Lovely ideas! We have hope for the future! Would have liked to see what younger kids have to say. The younger they are, the more imaginative they are. Of course the weirdness factor also increases Loved the idea on the gas sensor levels, spikes at traffic signals, and also the footboard interlock.

[bravo6]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

7. Automatic spike system near traffic signal

My favorite!
However if someone does jump a red, he will lose control and bang in to other vehicles. Still, a very effective way of deterring people from crossing the STOP line.

[swiftnfurious]

There are some really really good ideas! Loved the first one & the last but one (O2 level detection and retractable spikes) especially! The best of the ideas comes from real life experiences. As said, I really love to see at least a couple of those implemented in real life.

[tj123]

I think the automatic spike system is a fantastic idea ...quite useful in our country where drivers don't care and yield to pedestrians crossing roads.

[dZired]

The automatic spike system is indeed a great idea. The only question is, what will happen when an emergency service (like ambulance) has to jump a red light?
Slight tweaks can be done to these systems to make them practically feasible.

Anyways, its good to see that the new generation is aware about road safety.

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by dZired

The automatic spike system is indeed a great idea. The only question is, what will happen when an emergency service (like ambulance) has to jump a red light?...

2 ways to do it (Just got my thinking hat ON)!

1. A manual over ride by the traffic police / control room. This might trigger some other vehicles also using the situation to move on. This is a simple idea.

2. Out-of-the-box : Ambulance be fitted with self inflating tyres (James Bond's BMW - Tomorrow never dies). So no worries going over the spikes while other motorists don't have a choice but to wait.

Edit:: Even we should get to interact with these kids and be a part of such idea-storms. We get a chance to unleash our weird thoughts and still get way with that too.

[raksrules]

Originally Posted by dZired

The automatic spike system is indeed a great idea. The only question is, what will happen when an emergency service (like ambulance) has to jump a red light?
Slight tweaks can be done to these systems to make them practically feasible.

Anyways, its good to see that the new generation is aware about road safety.

What I have seen in US is that the Emergency vehicles are equipped with some sort of transmitter which can control the signals (and in this hypothetical case spikes). I have seen a scenario where a fire truck was going through a route and all signals turned green. I though the central control room might have done but then I read somewhere the vehicles themselves can control the signals.

[arnabchak]

Beautiful ideas.

My vote goes out to the O2/CO2 indicator level meter.

Also, the signal spike, though risky, is a great idea and will instil road etiquette for the aam janta!!

[srishiva]

Just yesterday read about the CO2 sensor in Hyundai Genesis !

Great ideas especially coming after keen observation of the environment.

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by tj123

I think the automatic spike system is a fantastic idea ...quite useful in our country where drivers don't care and yield to pedestrians crossing roads.

This system is already in use in many places in the west. You will see the sign "DO not reverse" severe tire damage.

[SaurabhSaran]

Future seems to bright when young generating start thinking like this. Great ideas!

I loved the concept of oxygen / carbon dioxide level indicator in car, hope this will get implemented one day. This will be a life saver.

-
SS

[Zed]

Fresh ideas from young minds. Spikes are effectively used in the steets of Istanbul to enforce one ways - a simple and cost effective soltuion that could work in India. Although there is an element of risk for two wheelers and bicyclists

[amit_mechengg]

The Spike idea is the best. This keeps coming to my mind 100 times a day. There should be automatic barriers or spikes at every signal in Pune. Pune has becomes the most crazy city. People simply love to jump the signals and disregard any rules and traffic police. Infact the traffic department in itself has become the joke of the city. Nowdays people are even thrashing traffic constables if they are caught by them.

[deepfusion]

Brilliant, brilliant ideas from brilliant minds.

Especially the automatic spikes, though each one of these is really good.

In Delhi it should be done on priority. The motorcyclists particularly are in hurry, all 24 hours of the day.

Hats off to these young minds. And a lesson for us too, to respect the road manners and laws.