A 24-year-old innovator from Srinagar, AijazHussain, is set to represent India at the Japan International Youth Summit to be held in Osaka in July this year. His groundbreaking innovation, the ‘Soft Robotic Glove,’ has been chosen among the top 50 innovations worldwide.
Aijaz, currently a Faculty member at Robotics and Automation MSME Training Development Centre (TDC) in Srinagar, expressed his pride in representing India on such a prestigious platform. He spoke to Rising Kashmir, highlighting the significance of his innovation in aiding people with disability disorders.
His ‘Soft Robotic Glove’ operates on the principle of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), enabling individuals to control their daily activities through brain signals. This revolutionary technology aims to empower patients with disabilities, making them self-sufficient and reducing their reliance on others.
The glove, designed for neuro-rehabilitation, utilizes haptic feedback and internationally approved therapies to assist patients in performing exercises, effectively replacing the role of physiotherapists. Developed with the assistance of three mechanical engineering students Avinash, Malik Arslan and Arbinaand under the guidance of Dr.SandeepRathee, the innovation is funded by MSME.
Talking to Rising Kashmir, Ajaz said that his innovation ‘Soft Robotic Glove’ has been selected among the top 50 innovations globally for the Japan International Youth Summit 2024.
“I will proudly represent India at the summit, showcasing my brain-computer interface innovation to a global audience, ” he said.
Talking about his innovation, he said people with disability disorders will no longer be a burden on others. The future is all about artificial intelligence. Such patients can control their day-to-day activities with the help of their brains and not be a liability to anyone, he said.
Aijaz said that his prototype functions on the principle of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). It acquires brain signals, analyzes them, and translates them into commands that are transmitted to output devices to carry out desired actions.
“The glove is a BCI-enabled device for neuro-rehabilitation and is based on haptic feedback. This technology will enable the human brain to converse with the glove by transmitting signals via a Neurosky headset to the glove. The internationally approved therapies are embedded with the glove,” he said.
“It replaces the role of physiotherapist. The headset has sensors, which is worn by the patient and capture the brain signals. It will monitor the activity of the brain and translate them into commands that operate the glove which can help them in doing exercises. It has been proven that such robot-assisted active training is more effective than passive methods and can enhance therapeutic effects,” he said.
In addition to the glove, Ajaz has devised a Home Automation system that allows paralyzed patients to control household appliances through brain signals. The system, designed to enhance self-dependence among patients, comes at an affordable cost, making it accessible to all.
“The proposed system works by translating different patterns of brain activity into commands in real-time. The brain wave sensor will sense brain signals and it will convert the data into packets and transmit through Bluetooth. Then the control command will transmit to the relay circuit. With these entire steps, the system can control any home appliances through brain signals, which are connected to the main circuit,” he said.
The whole package for 6 plugins will cost less than 10,000. It can be used by fully paralyzed patients.
Acknowledging the importance of medical innovations, Ajaz emphasized the need to make quality healthcare accessible to all strata of society. He urged younger generations to embrace innovation and contribute to creating a brighter future.
He said during the innovation process, consulting with doctors was crucial as any modification in the device could affect the patients. “I have sought guidance from doctors at every stage of development, and experts have positively acknowledged my innovations.”
“I always encourage younger generations to immerse themselves in the culture of innovation. Urge them to step forward and contribute to shaping a brighter future,” Aijaz said.
A younger innovator says there is a dearth of medical innovations compared to other fields. The importance of making quality healthcare accessible to all, irrespective of their social or economic status, he added.
The Japan International Youth Summit 2024, themed “Pioneering Innovation for Sustainable Futures,” will provide a platform for global experts, innovative project presentations, cross-cultural exploration, leadership training, and global networking. Scheduled from July 1 to July 4, 2024, the summit aims to foster collaboration and drive positive change on a global scale.
