Loovesh Ramwodin: Uni student invents autonomous solar-powered wheelchair

Mauritius has always lagged behind in terms of intellectual property, more specifically for patents and designs. There are always some exception and a young inventor stands out. Loovesh Ramwodin has created a smart solar-powered wheelchair prototype which could well make it to the assembly lines and help handicapped people become more mobile. We met this enthusiastic student at the University of Technology Mauritius to know more about him and his project.

Loovesh Ramwodin is a former student of John Kennedy College currently in his final year of a bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering at the University of Technology Mauritius. Given his fascination for electronics and electrical devices, the young man did not take long to put his creativity to good use. In October 2015, he started off with his smart solar wheelchair project and he built a prototype by end-August 2016.

“The prototype is designed such that it can be charged outdoors with three solar panels of 50 Watts fixed on the top of the wheelchair. 30 minutes of charging from solar energy can provide around three to four hours of autonomy. To provide a user with full mobility, I made use of a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) which is like a “super mini- computer” in which I uploaded a series of complex coding. This allows the wheelchair to move autonomously through pre-defined paths. The wheelchair is also equipped with special sensors that detect the presence of obstacles, such as a person walking in front of it. Then, it switches off temporarily the engine of the wheelchair until there are no more obstacles. This concept is new in Mauritius where at the click of a button, a user can move through a pre-defined path, like from the kitchen to the bedroom,” he shares.   

Smart solar wheelchair

This idea cropped up when Loovesh Ramwodin witnessed his grand-mother having mobility issues. “My grand-mother had difficulties moving around. Seeing this, I wanted to develop a more assistive and smart system for the elderly and handicapped persons in a more eco-friendly way. Being a tropical island, Mauritius has plenty of sunlight, so why not use this to the maximum. Given that we have an ageing population, this type of technology will be a must in the near future. I also had to submit a project for my university portfolio. So, under the guidance of my lecturers, I decided to build the smart solar wheelchair,” he says. 

With this project, 23-year old Loovesh Ramwodin wants to help handicapped people. The prototype can be further improved by voice command, he adds. However, this would require more investment.

Hard work and patience 

The project required a hefty amount of research, hard work and patience. “First, it is important to know the number of solar panels required, I had to do some precise and complex mathematical calculations involving currents and voltages. Here, a simple error could result in damaging the prototype. It took around two months to figure out the power required from the solar panels and solar controller to use,” he adds. 

The university student also had to undertake some research and review the scientific literature on the amount of sunshine which Mauritius receives during the year. Writing the codes for the PLC, which makes the wheelchair autonomous, was a humongous task. He turned his residence situated at Quartier Militaire into a test-bed for his prototype. “I took precise measurements of my house, such as distances, size of doors, among others. All this information was then coded which I uploaded in the PLC. This took me some months to complete.”

The prototype cost him around 

Rs 70,000 to make. But, manufactured on an industrial scale, the wheelchair would cost much less, says Loovesh Ramwodin. “There is still great scope for improvement such as adding voice command or even adding path codes. However, more investment is required in terms of money, time and technological equipments.”

For the young inventor, there is no hardship that cannot be overcomed. When asked about the secret behind his feat, he confidently replies: “Continuous hard work and perseverance is the path towards success. At many points in time, the project seemed impossible to realise but with the motivation from my parents, family, lecturers and friends, I managed to complete the prototype.”

Evolution of photovoltaic

The young inventor reveals that the concept of renewable energy such as Photovoltaics is new to the country. “People are yet to realise the full potential of renewable energy. Following the Budget Speech, there are no taxes on solar panels and components. I think more companies will get into this business. With time, I think the solar industry will be a major source of income for the economy,” he avers.