What is Arduino?
Arduino is a micro-controller or a small programmable circuit board. You can program it to control sensors and motors, and make any machine you want. It’s a tool to convert your ideas into reality. Let’s say, you want to know how close your car is to the wall in the parking lot Take an Arduino with an ultrasonic sensor, code it in C++, add a buzzer to it, and the machine is ready to alert you about the distance. You can make countless inventions, basic and complex, with Arduino.
Tell us about your recent invention.
Whenever I went to a grocery store, the public hand-sanitiser dispensers had to be touched. This could be a source of spreading the virus. So, along with two seniors, I designed an automatic hand-sanitiser dispenser using Arduino, sensors, etc. and coded in C++.
You have recycled DVDs to make 3D printers.
The printer is my first long-term project along with a classmate. Now DVDS are being replaced by pen drives. So there is a lot of DVD drive waste, and these are available at very low prices. On the other hand, a 3D printer costs several thousand rupees, and we managed to make one for much less. Instead of using traditional motors, we used DVD drives. But it was quite a complex project. There were many moments when we wanted to give up on it. In the end, everything just came out well.
Your idea of circular cities was recognised by The University of Western Australia.
When I was in Class IV or V, I was intrigued by the way YouTubers spoke confidently in front of the camera, delivering a tech review on something that was useful for me. So I kept watching these videos and wanted to try something like that. I think I was in Class VI when I started a YouTube channel where I started posting tech reviews of things such as headphones, speakers, smart watches, etc. By then I had leamt the entire process: scripting, shooting, post-production, editing, and publishing Just after the hand-sanitiser project. I received a notification from my school that the University of Western Australia was conducting a video competition in which students from Class VIII to XII from across the globe could participate. Participants were asked to make videos on building circular cities, which generate zero waste. It was not easy competing against so many people. My classmate and I made a video on a waste management plant Plastic, one of the most polluting wastes, is made up of hydrocarbons. The Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) we use in our cars is hydrocarbons too. But these are different forms of hydrocarbons. We sat for hours brainstorming on ways we could use convert plastic waste into useful fuels such as CNG. And we came up with a good plan. Our entire skill set came into play while making the video. We were grateful when the university sent us a mail acknowledging our idea.
Tell us about the awards you have received. Do you think awards make people successful?
The most recent one was The Rising Star award for a video I made for a young scientist competition. Just before COVID started, there was a three-round entrepreneurship competition. For the final round of the competition, I went to Vishwakarma Institute of Technology Pune, where I interacted with the Top Thirty Minds of India. I have also won prizes at Model United Nations and school competitions. I believe that the work you do makes you successful if you keep on doing good work such as giving back, to your community, that’s what makes you successful. If that happens, then accolades will pour in.
Who is your inspiration? My inspiration from childhood has been APJ Abdul Kalam, because he has had one of the biggest roles in developing science and technology in India. The ways in which he interacted with and encouraged students is truly inspiring.
What are your hobbies?
I am into long-distance cycling, so almost every moming I go on rides of 40-50 km. It is quite beneficial in many ways. You get to interact with so many new people from many industries. It is a hobby but it also exercise. Also, I have never seen Arduino and programming as work. It’s more of a passion, stress-buster, and hobby for me. Unless you are passionate about what you do, there’s no way you can actually work on it in a good way.
What are your future plans? Is there something you would like to change in society?
I aim to pursue either Computer Science and Engineering or Mechatronics. One thing I would like to change about society is the mentality that a child is too young to pursue their passion, and that only school should be their haunt. It is outdated, and young people should be encouraged to blend into professional environments.
Picture Credit : Google
