Bengaluru: From a laser that can kill weeds to a low-cost, portable vaccine storage system, 10 projects by postgraduate students of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) have been selected for financial assistance by Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) and Visvesvaraya Research and Innovation Foundation (VRIF).This is under the New Age Innovation Network (NAIN) initiative launched by KITS to encourage student innovation. KITS decided to provide Rs 40.7 lakh to help students transform their prototype ideas into full-fledged projects. Over 50 projects were submitted and a team of professors from the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Dharwad, evaluated the proposals.THE PROJECTSAlignFit: To provide an affordable, AI-driven health tech solution that offers real-time posture guidance to help elderly users exercise safely and independently at home. Students working on it: Sadiya Nabivale, Prakash Guled, Sareema A Jamakhandi, Jyoti Bhangi, and Sudha Patil.Vision Mate: To provide visually impaired students with real-time, independent access to classroom content through an affordable, AI-powered assistive device. Students: Prakrutha G, Sarvesh Arunkumar, Vinayak KH, Payal Naik, and Laxmi Jatti.Laser Weeder: Solar-powered, automated system that uses high-precision lasers to eliminate weeds without damaging crops or soil. Students: Deepa Kallagonal, Shalini Gangaraddi, Vishal Patil, Mallikarjun Majati, and Basavaraj Sunkad.DiabTrack: Non-invasive blood glucose monitoring device to make the procedure painless, cost-effective and accessible for managing diabetes effortlessly in real time. Students: Yashas R, Harshavardhan Fakire, and Pakkiresh PG.CareBot: Autonomous, intelligent robot that supports independent ageing by assisting elderly individuals with daily tasks, monitoring their safety through real-time fall detection, and providing emergency SOS alerts. Students: Sharath BA, Aditya TG, Prajwal R Mashewadi, and Shital R Gouraj.VaxiSafe: Low-cost, portable vaccine storage system that maintains the required 2°C–8°C temperature using automated cooling and smart monitoring. Students: Sandeep H, Amol K, Aravind S, Gowtham, and Chaitanya S.Nurse Ease: Smart IV drip monitoring system that aims to improve patient safety and reduce nurse workload in general wards and rural healthcare centres. Students: Siya M, Shilpa, Laxmi, and Suprita.Dristi: Low-cost, intelligent mobility assistance system for visually impaired people — the project aims to provide affordable, AI-powered smart glasses that serve as a “second pair of eyes” to assist them. Students: Shanthveer BA, Jeevan M, and Ravikumar CU.Tabdrop: Affordable automatic smart pill dispenser that ensures elderly patients never miss a dose and keeps caregivers informed in real time. Students: Shreyansh B, Shreedhakumar Suman, and Rahul Rathod.GeoJal Innovations: To address groundwater crisis by developing affordable, screen-based filtration system for on-site pre-treatment of surface runoff. And to prevent sediment-induced clogging in recharge structures. Students: Vivek D Patil, Shruti RG, and Omkar Kandur.
