BHOPAL: Using only scrap material, students of the Oriental Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have designed a vehicle for the physically challenged which they claim is safer and more powerful compared to the conventional vehicles available in the market.
Talking about the vehicle, associate professor Abhishek Choubey, head of the automobile department, said that a group of six final-year students designed the vehicle. “Their idea was excellent. My colleague assistant professor KK Tiwari and I helped the students complete the vehicle,” HoD Choubey said. The six students included Shringar Patel, Anuj Gilke, Shailesh Yadav, Akhil Shukla, Rajat Ojha and Aman Kumar.
Choubey also said that the students made the vehicle safer by installing a differential gearbox. A differential gearbox or transmission in automobiles allows the outer drive wheel to rotate faster than the inner drive wheel during a turn.
“This is necessary because when the vehicle turns, the wheel that is on the outside of the turning curve would then roll faster than the one on the inside. An increase in the speed of one wheel is balanced by a decrease in the speed of the other,” said Choubey.
Choubey also said that a result of the differential system, uniform power or torque is sent to both rear wheels. “Differential is must for the powerful vehicle,” he said.
Shringar Patel, one of the students in the group, said that they even removed the rear wheel. “We have put two wheels on both sides like in other vehicles. However, we have put strong independent suspensions too so that it can move smoothly on bad roads,” Patel said.
Moreover, the vehicle also comprises of a reverse gear. “This would provide better comfort to the rider. He or she can go back without getting down from the vehicle,” said another student Shailesh Yadav. Around Rs18,000 was spent on completing the vehicle. The students made use of a gearless scooter to design the vehicle.
