Since I started working with Vigyan Ashram and specially for their two Labs – Fab Lab and DIY Lab, I got to know about different projects it had undertaken. On my second day I got opportunity to attend meeting with projects leads and couple of board members. Our meeting lasted for 4 hours without break, though we had tea two times. We laughed into tears almost 2-3 times in the meeting as everyone was sharing their unique experiences. Vigyan Ashram currently working on many projects like Rice De-husking machine, Remote Bull control, Poly house environment management, Monkey Repellent, Hydro-phonic plantation, Plastic collecting machine for rack pickers and many more (I am getting difficult to recollect now).What I only recollect is I had great experience in listening to all of the meeting attendees.
Most of these projects are the requirements / challenges faced by farmers. So all of these projects would have social impact and shall help society in some or other way.
Then there are projects which are driven by individuals like Prosthetic hand. Volunteers from Infosys and one lady (home maker) helping Fab Lab to build this hand. Vigyan Ashram director wish to donate this hand to one boy who lost three fingers during.
If you see the list of these projects , those projects not only require mechanical expertise which is available with Fab Lab, but also need high end of expertise in electronics / I.T. So my next work is to attract the makers from Pune who shall help us in developing these projects. We now have makers from Infosys, ETON, Emerson etc who are ready to take these challenges. I guess this could be the great way our young pool of talented makers can help our society. This work shall give them challenges which their corporate life may not offer them.
Hope they enjoy working with us on these projects. If you think you would like to work with us then let me know.
Apart from these projects, we also brainstorming with 20 students from 9th grade to come up with problem statement. We also helping them to design solutions for these problems. Then we shall take these 20 students with their ideas and shall conduct 4 days boot camp in IIT Bombay Fab Lab next month. I got opportunity to see IIT Bombay Fab Lab closely. It has got Shop Bot Router, Laser Cutter, 3D Printers, Small Furnace, Sand Blaster, Vinyl Cutter, CNC Milling and Lath machine etc etc. If you are in Mumbai, you can get help of this Fab Lab to work on your ideas.
Vigyan Ashram is also coming up with new version of their IBT Course for their 120+ IBT schools. IIT Bombay boot camp shall help Vigyan Ashram to decide on how these tools can be taken to their IBT schools and how easy or hard would it be for their students to use these tools.
DIY Lab at Kothrud is going to have new 3D Printer soon and me as 3D Printer expert going to conduct series of 3D Printing workshop in coming days. Please watch our event calendar for upcoming events – http://vigyanashram.doattend.com/
Happy Making !!!
Break-Make-Invent 