Sexual assault and rape are crimes that are prevalent in all parts of the world, but unfortunately for India, it is a massive problem. Despite the fact that over 90% of rape cases are not even reported, there is a minimum of one reported every day in the country. While the authorities struggle to take effective steps in preventing the crime, an Indian student has created a device to protect women from attackers.
Siddharth talked to The Better India while giving out the details of this product,
“I invented a patent-pending device called ElectroShoe. It can electrocute the perpetrator instantly by inflicting 0.1 Ampere of electricity, while sending an alert for assistance to cops and family members. To accomplish this, I created a unique circuit board that uses footsteps to charge itself with the help of a concept called the ‘piezoelectric effect’ which I learned in my physics class. The more the user walks, the more energy is generated and stored in a rechargeable battery.”
Siddharth, being only 18, has not received any higher education in technology. However, the horrific incidents around him forced him to get help from professionals. He spent years in his effort while questioning so many programmers and engineers along the way to the extent that they stopped responding. It took tons of determination, years of efforts, pestering of dozens of professionals, and 17 failed prototypes for Mandala to finally achieve the first viable product.
Mandala talked about his efforts and motivation saying,
“While experimenting, I faced electrocution twice, and my friend Abhishek even developed a nosebleed. But whenever I felt like giving up, I remembered my favorite inventor Thomas Edison’s words, ‘I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light-bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.'”
While the teenager has managed to create the first functional prototype, the development is not complete yet. There are a few problems that need working out including functionality with shoes other than flip flops. Siddharth has already filed the patent for this product, but it will be some more time until the ElectroShoe becomes a marketable product.
The teenager is all prepared to pursue an education in science and technology with a motivation to work on crime prevention products. The young activist has set up his NGO with a mission to spread awareness about sexual assault and has volunteered to teach basic coding.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhFZIQaLeMo
Siddharth hopes for a world where women can walk down the streets without any fear, and so do we.