When the Covid-19 outbreak crippled the world, P Mohan Aditya, a 3rd-year Mechanical Engineering student from SRM University AP, took giant steps into developing the highly useful face shield made from bio-degradable substances.

The innovative features added to it helped him to earn the copyright to his credit.

In 2021, a copyright was granted for the ‘Face Shield for Humans’ with a Design Application Number of 329364 – 001.

The innovation of SRM University AP serves as the outer defence to the mucous membranes (nose, eyes, and mouth), come with a transparent visor made of the thin layer of 175-micron reusable plastic and a highly durable headband made from 3 ply corrugated cardboard.

The cardboard’s bursting strength is 16kg/sq.cm, which is quite durable yet lightweight.

Due to the use of biodegradable materials, the price of the face shield at an affordable cost of INR 15.

The face shield 2.0 made by SRM University AP student is adjustable and suitable for all head sizes made with firm elastic for comfortable wear without hurting the head.

Adimulapu Suresh, Minister for Education of Andhra Pradesh and MP, appreciated the student’s efforts in the Secretariat’s premises.

SRM University AP student Aditya received high accolades from the guests present on his first successful invention.

P. Mohan Aditya said with an increasing environmental degradation, we should move to the eco-friendly alternatives to develop products/services.

Therefore, I thought to develop the face shields from reusable plastics and cardboard, which is easily degradable, said SRM University AP student.

He also corrugated, “After discovering a shortage in the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) globally, an idea struck my mind, said Aditya.

‘Immediately I started researching on developing a piece of standard equipment to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.’

It is interesting to note that Using the CAD software, Aditya designed the transparent visor of the face shield and manufactured the remaining headband using the CNC machine.

The CAD model was used as the input to the CNC machine, following the design, the CNC machine analyzed and cut the cardboard and transparent sheet accordingly.

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Aditya’s invention turned out to be a successful project both for the University and the public.

The leadership team of SRM University AP – Dr P Sathyanarayanan, President, Professor V.S. Rao, Vice-Chancellor and Professor D. Narayana Rao, Pro Vice-Chancellor celebrated Aditya’s rousing success by congratulating him on developing the face shield by making use of new technology.

P. Mohan Aditya’s another innovative design on ‘building block for bed’ was applied for copyright on 09-08-2020.

The building block for beds is again an innovative work of making beds using reusable materials for COVID 19 patients.

SRM University AP and his team also successfully created an electric bicycle using a 24V 250Watt DC motor powered by a 12V and 12Ah battery in the previous team assignment.

Aditya desires to be a successful engineer and create such inventions for the betterment of society.

Oxygen concentrators
SRM University AP turned centre of attraction recently when it received oxygen concentrators from Taiwan Education Centre – National Tsing Hua University (TEC-NTHU).

SRM University AP has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Taiwan Education Centre – National Tsing Hua University (TEC-NTHU) for bilateral exchange of knowledge and wisdom.

TEC-NTHU is in the process of opening a TEC-SRMAP centre on the university campus to provide certificate courses on the Chinese (Mandarin) language.

The centre will also assist the students towards the academic opportunities and scholarships available in Taiwan.

An instructor in this regard has already been recruited by SRM University AP.

A well-populated country like India has been hit hard by the repeated waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The crisis for oxygen and other medical supplies are very much evident throughout the nation.

SRM University AP sincerely expresses gratitude towards Taiwan Education Centre – National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) for their kind gesture in the trying time.

The oxygen concentrators are currently used by the faculty members and their families who require oxygen support due to COVID-19 infection.

Technology Business Incubator
Technology Business Incubator of SRM University AP launched the first venture cohort with 36 selected start-up business ventures recently.

The launch took place in the presence of the special guest of honour from industry, Professor Ramesh Loganathan, Head of Co-innovation and Outreach at IIIT Hyderabad and Ex-Chief Innovation Officer of the Telangana State Innovation Cell (TSIC).

From the initial years onwards, SRM University AP is focused to create entrepreneurs who can be the leaders of tomorrow, said Professor V.S.Rao, Vice-Chancellor, SRM University AP.

The University signed an MOU with the University of California, Berkeley to design the curriculum to promote entrepreneurship, he said.

Professor Ramesh Loganathan provided a brief understanding of the scope and future of entrepreneurship in India and the global scenario.

‘The entrepreneurial journey should start with identifying the problems in the ecosystem.’

A great example can be the face recognition software that started with the idea of capturing student attendance in colleges.

Similarly, the budding entrepreneurs should identify such similar problems, do thorough market research and then prepare the business plan.

The price of the product/idea should matter the last, he said.

Dr Prakash Jadav, Associate Professor and Head of IDEA said it is exciting to see so many students submitting their business ideas in the first business cohort.

I am sure that with our guidance and mentorship, they all can reach new heights in setting up their ventures in the industry, he said.

62 teams, which comprises 192 students applied for the opportunity.

After rigorous screening and evaluation on various parameters like innovation, scalability and commercialization, 36 teams/ventures were selected to be a part of the SRM TBI’s first cohort.

The selected ventures will be mentored and supported for a period of a minimum of 12 months where they will be facilitated with infrastructure support, mentoring and networking support, seed fund, and innovation fund support, hardware and software support, industry connectivity, learning resources, market exposure and several others.

The selected ventures will be mentored and supported for a period of a minimum of 12 months will all the services of a regular technology business incubator.

SRM TBI will also provide an opportunity to pitch to the investors, connects with industry experts, market linkage, and a global network of mentors.

The start-ups developing prototypes and MVP can apply for the Product validation track and pre-revenue/revenue stage start-ups can apply for the Market validation track.

Each of the 36 start-up ventures will get hands-on mentoring and guidance from the mentors and experts from their respective working areas.

The start-ups go through physical interactions through contact sessions at SRM University AP and virtual interaction with mentors through online workshops during the program.

Mr. Udayan Bakshi, CEO SRM TBI & Associate Director Entrepreneurship cordially thanked all the speakers and panelists for their efforts to make the SRM TBI cohort launch a grand success.

He also highlighted that TBI will not limit to just this batch of students or to the SRM University AP, but shall extend its vision and activities to the entire ecosystem.

Designed to monitor the freshness of seafood in real-time by responding to pH changes, the film offers a practical solution for improving food safety and reducing waste.

This film detects the release of volatile amines, compounds typically associated with spoilage, and indicates food quality through visible color changes, say sources from NIT Rourkela.

These natural components make the film biodegradable, safe, and responsive, aligning with sustainability goals and offering a non-invasive way to assess seafood freshness.

Findings

The findings of this research have been published in the journal Food Packaging and Shelf Life in a paper co-authored by Prof. Preetam Sarkar (as the lead corresponding author), along with his research scholars, Mr. Rahul Thakur, Miss Harshi Singhi, Mr. Vedsagar Rajesh Suryavanshi, and Dr. Ravichandran Santhosh.

Other co-authors in this work include Dr. Khalid Gul from NIT Rourkela, Dr. Swarup Roy from Lovely Professional University, Dr. Srinivas Janaswamy from South Dakota State University, Brookings, USA and Dr. Kirtiraj K. Gaikwad from IIT Roorkee.

Fishing

India is the world’s second-largest fish-producing nation, contributing approximately 8% of global fish production, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

It also holds the distinction of being the top five producer of shrimp globally, with frozen shrimp being the top export commodity.

Given the scale and importance of seafood production, innovations that ensure freshness and reduce spoilage are of immense value, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

In this context, intelligent packaging systems, which preserve food while monitoring its quality, are rapidly gaining global interest.

Unlike conventional packaging that serves merely as a protective barrier, the intelligent packaging film developed by NIT Rourkela team offers visual cues about the product’s condition, making it a promising solution for enhancing food safety and reducing waste.

The beetroot peel extract was prepared separately, and then combined with the starch, gum tragacanth, and a small amount of glycerol to cast the films.

These were dried and tested for their pH-sensitivity and effectiveness in monitoring seafood freshness, said Prof Preetam of NIT Rourkela.

Pigments

Beetroot peels contain betalains, a group of pigments known for their bright colours and pH sensitivity, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

These pigments also offer antioxidant and antimicrobial benefits, making them suitable for food-related applications.

Incorporating these natural compounds into the starch-based film creates a biodegradable, safe, and responsive packaging material.

When the seafood begins to spoil and pH levels rise, the film changes colour, providing a clear visual indicator of freshness.

Starch

The choice of Kodo millet starch and gum tragacanth contributes to the film’s biodegradable and eco-friendly profile.

Kodo millet is an underutilised grain with excellent film-forming properties, while gum tragacanth enhances the mechanical strength and flexibility of the material.

The researchers believe that using such agricultural by-products not only supports sustainability but also adds value to food processing waste, such as beetroot peels.

At the laboratory scale, the cost of producing the film was estimated approximately Rs. 900 per kilogram.

When scaled up for industrial production, the cost is projected to range between Rs. 400 and Rs. 600 per kilogram, making it a potentially viable option for commercial use.

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