A budding engineer named Edulapuram Shashidhar from Vignana Bharati Institute of Technology (VBIT) in Ghatkesar, Hyderabad has come up with an innovative system to regulate streetlights in his village. This system allows the lights to be turned on or off as needed, saving energy. Shashidhar’s innovation was recognized by the Telangana State Innovation Cell (TSIC) in 2020 as part of their ‘Intinta Innovator’ program.
TSIC is now working with T Works to create a prototype of Shashidhar’s innovation. He learned about electronics and electrical devices from his father, who is a TV technician. The automatic streetlight system can be attached to an electric pole and can manage up to 400 streetlights.
Shashidhar believes that this device will significantly reduce power expenses, potentially lowering the Gram Panchayat’s electricity bills by 20 to 30 percent. He has already installed this system in Madhapuram village within the same district. The device can sense the presence or absence of ambient light and effectively control the streetlight system. It is available at a cost-effective price of Rs 1,600.
In another innovation, Katakam Vinay Kumar, an engineering student from Mancherial district, has invented a low-cost two-stroke bicycle that can be powered by a motor similar to a motorbike. Vinay’s innovation was selected for the fifth edition of Intinta Innovator by TSIC in 2023. The bicycle is user-friendly and affordable, with a fuel efficiency of 50 kilometers per liter and a fuel tank capacity of 2.5 liters.
Vinay imported the engine and spare parts from the United States of America (USA) to build the bicycle, which cost him around Rs 10,000. He is currently working as a quality assurance engineer at B2B Testers, a software company in Bellampalli.
