Based in India, Kothari International School offers the Cambridge Upper Secondary and Cambridge Advanced curriculum to its learners. The school cares deeply about developing learners who will come up with solutions to the challenges we face in society. In this blog, Dr Sangeeta Arora, the Principal at the school, tells us about some of the innovative ideas and solutions developed by their students.
Our school’s innovation labs were established in 2018, with the mission of nurturing young minds to devise practical solutions for real-world challenges. In the last year alone, we successfully developed and completed 25 innovative projects in our school innovation labs.
The labs teach students mechanical assembly, programming, and the integration of artificial intelligence (A)I and robotics to foster innovation.
Some of the highlights of the projects undertaken by our students this year are:
- The development of a ‘smart’ hospital and a robot for checking temperatures during the pandemic
- A smart vehicle recognition device to check vehicles entering the school
- An educational application (app) to teach Hindi and grammar
- A smart watering/irrigation system for pots and plants in our classroom
Developing a smart hospital and a robot to check temperatures
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented challenges, one of them being the need for strict infection control measures. The implementation of a “no contact” policy, driven by the fear of physical contact and the necessity to adhere to government health rules, prompted our students and teachers to think outside the box. It was evident that traditional methods of temperature checks at hospital entrances were no longer sufficient.
One student’s personal experience added a different perspective to this challenge. The student’s mother fell ill, and they found themselves struggling to locate the right hospital. The anxiety and confusion they faced during this time served as the catalyst for an ingenious solution. This young innovator envisioned an artificial intelligence (AI) based robot that would swiftly and accurately check temperatures and provide initial medical guidance.
The robot is able to assess visitors, ensuring that only those with legitimate reasons for hospital visits gain access. The implementation of this technology goes beyond the immediate need for temperature screening. It reflects a commitment to harnessing artificial intelligence for the greater good of healthcare, promising to revolutionise how hospitals operate and enhance the safety of patients and staff.
This innovative project by our students was selected for the prestigious ‘Inspire Award’ given by the Government of India’s Department of Science and Technology.
Some of the other projects from our Innovation lab this year include:
- Developing a ‘smart’ vehicle recognition device to register vehicles entering the school The challenges faced by our security team and delays in school buses led to the creation of a smart vehicle recognition device by a student. This device ensures that only authorised vehicles gain entry into the school, streamlining school administration and ensuring students’ safety.
- An educational app for teaching Hindi and grammar: Our commitment to providing the best educational tools led to the development of an educational app focused on teaching Hindi and grammar. This app incorporates gamification of technology to make learning engaging and enjoyable for students.
- ‘Smart’ watering the plants in the classrooms: Our classroom indoor plants were drying due to insufficient water intake. To tackle this problem, one of our students created a device that can ‘track’ the moisture in the plant’s soil and water it accordingly.
This device can be run from anywhere in the world, as long as the circuit and device are connected to the internet. It is straightforward to use and cost-effective. Most farmers might find this useful as the device may reduce their workload.
Read other blogs from this series
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