HYDERABAD: If you ever wanted to question how powerful your brain is or the latent potentiality of your thoughts, just look around you. Everything you see, we have taken it granted---right from the table, chair, fan, tubelight to the computer, car and more recently (compared to the rest mentioned in the list) the mobile phone. All of these were just ideas at some stage in the not so distant past. Bringing these products to life were ordinary citizens like you and me who had a hunger to ‘build’ something to make lives simpler.
Trudging on the footsteps of these masterminds is our very own Hyderabadi Shravan Gattu. After conceptualising and materialising a host of innovations, about 65 to be precise, the 27-year-old mechanical engineer is currently using his gift to transform the agriculture, automobile and health sectors.
The inspiration
Shravan’s tryst with innovation began in his schooling days and the ‘idea’ to innovate struck him under the most unexpected circumstances.
“Studying in Shantiniketan Vidyalaya in Shameerpet, I used to be punished a lot for being notorious and I found myself kneeling down in front of the principal’s chamber many a times. This was when I started noticing a quote hung on the wall which said ‘Aim for the stars and you will at least reach the moon’. This really moved me,” exhales Shravan. From this point, his aim was to please his principal. “On the eve of Independence Day, I designed a unique bouquet for her. She praised me and I felt good about this. I then started hunting for ideas to innovate. My school taught me everything about science and I strongly believe in it. That’s why I am able to invent so many things,” he shares.
Innovations
Being a Physics enthusiast, Shravan first designed a weighing machine with water and a tube. He followed it up with models of volcanoes, seismograph and the list goes on. But the one invention that he is really proud of came in 2009 in his first year of engineering. “I had developed a model where the traffic signals turn green automatically whenever an ambulance approaches in an emergency. It is a cloud network system, where the ambulance is connected with the IVR and hospitals nearby will be updated on the patient’s conditions,” explains Shravan.“Since automobiles are my passion, I invented models such as vehicle speed tracker, advanced jack system, automatic tyre inflator, advance cooling system, liquid nitrogen air conditioner and spread cooling system,” he says.Shravan has also invented an air-conditioned helmet for bikers. “I am an avid biker. So I wanted to make an air-conditioned helmet and finally made it through an efficient and light cooling system,” he shares. He also diversified into solar projects and invented an advance boiler system and advance cooled solar panel for higher efficiency of electricity.
Funding
So where does Shravan find the mollah to satisfy his creative cravings? “When I was young, I used to fund my projects with pocket money. Then I started funding money through automobile workshops and now I use my salary to fund for projects,” he says.
Future projects
After finishing his mechanical engineering course, Shravan decided to focus on innovation in the field of agriculture.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our motherland. I invented an organic fertiliser last year, which is already in the market for the past one year in the two Telugu states. I also invented a machine to pick cotton from fields in an easy way which reduces labour time by at least half. Currently I’m working on an ‘Automatic Farming System’. As the name suggests, everything is automated. The machine will plough the fields all by itself, place seeds, test moisture level of soil and water it accordingly. I’m looking for funds to materialise this project,” Shravan says. In the automobile sector, Shravan is developing an electric car by modifying a Nano which will have different speed modes such as sports, economy driving etc.Shravan is also using his skills to make advances in the health sector too.
“My mother suffers from knee pains. I have designed a system wherein the load on the knee can be reduced. I have also designed an equipment which is being tested on one person affected by cerebral palsy. People suffering from the ailment have nervous contractions. I have designed an equipment which will help in expansion of nerves,” he said,
So what does the future hold in store for Shravan? “Ideas keep wandering all around me. Once someone told me to keep writing it all. I have now noted down 311 ideas. i just want to make life better with my innovations. It is my passion which has turned into a profession. People think I am a fool who works on worthless stuff but this is life for me .I am born for this. So I will keep inventing,” he concludes.