Teen scientists' humanoid ELSA to guide you rightly
The 4.5-ft-tall humanoid was the result of the hardwork of eight scientifically-spirited students—Vaibhav M, Krishnanunni Vidhu, Karthik Nair, Rishinath P R, Anamika Visakh, Narayani Sandeep, Avani Anand Kurup, and Arathi S P.
The teenagers, who worked overtime after their academics, collaborated with Kollam-based Techosa Robotics to build ELSA.
'We just helped the students when they hit roadblocks. All the work, from ideation to execution, was done by them,' Techosa Robotics CEO Sam H Sivan said, adding that the humanoid could be the first of its kind to be developed by students from Kerala.
All textbook contents have been fed into ELSA. The humanoid can now teach students any content from the syllabus, and even direct a visitor to the school to the right place or person as per their needs.
'The first plan was to build a humanoid, which will revolutionise the teaching process,' said Vaibhav from Class 9, who mostly handled the Python programming part of ELSA.
He further said that their elaborate plans were later refined to the current one due to various challenges. However, the young scientist said that the humanoid can never replace their beloved teachers.
'Even our teachers find it difficult to handle students in class sometimes. So do I need to say how a robot fares?' Vaibhav smiled.
Karthik from Plus-One, who oversaw the mechanical part of the humanoid, said that everything, including component assembling for the humanoid, was done by the students. The entire process took the students less than a year to complete.
Currently exhibited in the Robotics Lab of the school, ELSA, which has tyres attached to it for free movement, can be deployed to attend to visitors for big events like inter-school programmes, a teacher at the school said.
The school is also considering age-appropriate content regulation at the next stage of the humanoid. Any additions to this can be done by a few changes in the programming, explained the teen scientists.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
How is AI reshaping India's infotech sector?
The story so far: Recent announcements from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) — a reported freeze on experienced hires, and the planned removal of 12,000 employees — have sent ripples of anxiety across the Indian tech sector. The Indian IT industry, which generates $280 billion in revenue and employs more than 5.8 million people, is at a crossroads. Why is a shake-up happening? While headlines often sensationalise these events as a direct consequence of AI (artificial intelligence) 'culling jobs', a far more complex scenario is playing out. 'These developments are not isolated incidents but rather critical indicators of AI-catalysed transformation sweeping through software development and IT services, demanding a holistic re-evaluation of business models, talent strategies, and the very nature of work,' says Avinash Vashistha, former MD, Accenture India, and currently Chairman & CEO, Tholons, a New York-based technology, innovation and investment firm. At the heart of this transformation is AI's capacity to drive unprecedented efficiencies across the entire software development lifecycle. Why is AI gaining momentum now? In a climate where most deal wins are being led by cost-optimisation initiatives, demonstrating efficiency is paramount for investor confidence, and AI-led productivity is helping companies do that, Mr. Vashistha says. AI-powered coding assistants, code generation tools, and intelligent debuggers are already enabling over 30% productivity boosts. The impact extends powerfully into the critical, often resource-intensive domains of testing and maintenance. AI in software testing is a game-changer. AI-driven tools can minimise human error and enhance the overall accuracy of test results by leveraging data-driven insights. How will it impact jobs? AI is no longer a futuristic technology limited to labs and startups. It is becoming the very fabric of how work gets done in global enterprises. In 2025 alone, more than $1 trillion is expected to be spent globally on AI infrastructure, model training, and application development. 'From generative AI chatbots to intelligent automation in back-end systems, AI is now shaping everything — how customer service is delivered and how decisions are made in boardrooms. This shift has already started to impact hiring and organisational structures. In the U.S., the CEO of Wells Fargo remarked that 'attrition is our best friend', after the company reduced its workforce for 20 straight quarters,' points out V. Balakrishnan, Chairman, Exfinity Ventures, a venture capital firm, also former CFO at Infosys. AI, automation, and low-code platforms are creating environments where fewer people can do more and do it faster. Does this mean more business for India? Most large global firms grapple with legacy infrastructure, poor-quality data, and fragmented systems which are major barriers to rolling out intelligent solutions at scale. Also, with global AI regulations like the EU's AI Act coming into force, companies will need to demonstrate responsible AI usage, privacy compliance, and algorithmic fairness. 'This is where Indian IT can play a pivotal role. By helping global clients clean and organise data, modernise old systems, and build compliant AI solutions, Indian firms can reposition themselves as indispensable partners for the AI era. Rather than being disrupted by AI, they can become the very agents that help their clients adopt it effectively,' says Mr. Balakrishnan. What's the message TCS is sending? Industry experts say TCS, with its vast workforce of 6,07,979 employees as of March 2025, is an industry bellwether. Its recent announcements are a strategic message to the stock market, to employees, and to global clients, Mr. Vashishta says. For the stock market, such moves signal a disciplined approach to cost optimisation and a proactive stance in adapting to a changing market. For clients, TCS's actions communicate its commitment to delivering highly efficient, AI-catalysed solutions. To employees, the message is one of heightened expectations and the need for continuous skill transformation. For more than three decades, India's IT services industry — spearheaded by TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and their peers — has been the bedrock of its global digital identity, earning India its place as the 'back office of the world'. But that era is 'sunsetting', says Sharad Sharma, co-founder of the ISPIRT Foundation. A seminal shift, which Andrej Karpathy, former technology head of Tesla, calls Software 2.0 & 3.0, 'will change things fundamentally and reduce the advantage of scale'. India's tech future will not be built by coding armies billing hours for legacy systems. It will be built by lean, AI-native small firms solving complex problems in healthcare, defence, fintech, sustainability, education, and beyond. 'Tech firms no longer need a large IT park to serve global clients. A team of 50 can out-innovate a team of 5,000,' Mr. Sharma says. What does this mean for Indian techies? AI is not likely to replace coders/system engineers who code in C++, which is used to build operating systems, gaming, graphics, and critical secure applications. Wherever human ingenuity, critical thinking, and imagination is needed, AI is yet to make a huge practical impact. B.S. Murthy, CEO, Leadership Capital, says, 'AI will not immediately replace domain competencies like tech architects, dev ops, UI/UX, product management, robotics & embedded systems. Talent high on math and imagination will rule the roost in this decade.' Developers should evolve into supervisors and collaborators who focus on strategic decisions, ethical considerations, domain-specific logic, security planning and creative problem-solving that AI cannot replicate, Mr. Murthy adds. Mr. Vashishta notes that the 'TCS situation, therefore, is not a harbinger of doom, but a potent call for every stakeholder in the Indian tech ecosystem to adapt, evolve, and thrive in the age of AI.' Why is the tech sector is no longer just about scale? The Indian tech sector remains a powerhouse, contributing significantly to India's GDP and exports. It employs an army of people and is a global leader in IT services, driven by a large pool of skilled talent, government support for digitisation, and a vibrant startup ecosystem. India continues to be a major hub for multinational corporations setting up GCCs for various business functions. However, the sector is no longer just about scale; it's about specialised expertise and leveraging cutting-edge technologies. The current flux, while challenging, presents an unparalleled opportunity for the Indian IT sector to shed its 'stuffy image,' embrace AI as a core competency, and solidify its position as a global leader in the new era of intelligent automation and digital innovation. 'As AI begins to transform global workflows, business priorities, and customer expectations, the foundational strengths of India's IT sector—people, processes, and predictability — are being put to the test,' says Mr. Balakrishnan.
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- New Indian Express
India's refurbished laptop market sees strong growth: Know the top-selling used models
NEW DELHI: The refurbished or second-hand laptop market in India is seeing a significant rise, driven by the demand for affordable technology and the convenience it offers consumers. A recent report by Cashify, an Indian e-commerce platform that deals in used and refurbished electronics, shows that the average resale value of a laptop in India is about Rs 14,499, while the average selling price (ASP) for a refurbished laptop stands at Rs 17,661. Windows-based laptops dominate the market, making up 64% of the resale supply and 63% of refurbished sales. However, Apple laptops also show strong demand, accounting for 36% of the supply and 37% of the sales, especially due to their premium quality and performance. 'For students, job-seekers, and creators, refurbished laptops offer affordable, reliable access to tech. While consumer adoption is starting to see a shift, we believe refurbished devices can also help startups and small businesses scale cost-effectively. It's not just about saving money; it's about building smarter, more sustainable systems. At Cashify, we're enabling this shift, making quality tech more accessible, without the cost to your wallet or the planet,' said Mandeep Manocha, co-founder and CEO of Cashify. Top 5 Refurbished Laptop Models in Demand Among the most in-demand refurbished models are the MacBook Air from 2017 and 2020, along with popular Windows-based laptops like the HP 15 Series and the HP Pavilion Series. The laptops that retain the highest resale value are typically high-end models such as the MacBook Pro 2023, MacBook Air M3 2024, and the Lenovo Yoga Slim 6i Series, indicating that premium devices tend to depreciate more slowly. Fastest-selling refurbished laptops include the MacBook Pro A1706 and the 2017 13-inch MacBook Pro, as well as business-grade Windows models like the Lenovo ThinkPad E480 and HP EliteBook 830 G6, showing a strong preference among users for both performance and reliability.
The Hindu
10 hours ago
- The Hindu
Skyroot test fires India's largest privately developed rocket stage ahead of maiden flight of Vikram-1
Hyderabad-based space start up firm Skyroot Aerospace has announced that it had successfully static test fired the rocket's stage 1 carbon composite solid fuel booster stage for the country's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle, Vikram-1, ahead of its maiden flight, at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR in Sriharikota. The static test, conducted at the spaceport under the aegis of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), validated the performance of the 30-tonne booster stage of Skyroot's Vikram-1, which is targeted for its maiden flight later this year, said an official release on Friday night. Named 'Kalam-1200', after former President and rocket scientist APJ Abdul Kalam, the rocket stage is the largest monolithic solid rocket motor developed in India's space sector. At a length of 11 metres, it can generate nearly 1200 kN of peak vacuum thrust, nearly 10 times as much as that of an engine on a Boeing 737 Max. The casting of Kalam-1200 — a complex process of pouring and shaping the bespoke solid fuel propellant inside the carbon composite casing — was accomplished by ISRO's SDSC-SHAR. The static test validated the ballistic performance, burn rate, and thermal protection system of the motor, among other parameters, as well as the composite flex nozzle system. The flex nozzle system is a steering mechanism for the rocket, controlled by Vikram-1's Mission Computer — the onboard command and control computer that runs the algorithm guiding the rocket autonomously from the launchpad to orbit. The rocket stage was fired for around 110 seconds and generated the desired thrust within the estimated lower and upper bounds throughout its burn time. During flight, Kalam-1200 will lift Vikram-1 from the launch pad to an altitude of over 50 km, before a precise and advanced pneumatic system enables seamless stage separation, paving the way for the upper stages of the rocket to continue its flight to Earth's orbit. 'Witnessing Kalam-1200 roar to life at the test stand was an exhilarating yet humbling experience. It is the culmination of years of hard engineering by the young team at Skyroot,' said co-founder and CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana. 'It validates the entire stage as an integrated system — from propulsion performance and flex-nozzle actuation to thermal protection and structural integrity,' pointed out co-founder and COO Naga Bharath Daka. IN-Space chairman Pawan Goenka congratulated Skyroot for 'this landmark achievement' said it 'readies Skyroot to create history with the orbital launch.' Vikram-1 launch vehicle, designed and developed by Skyroot, is poised to be the first privately developed rocket to reach the orbit in the country. The launch vehicle will provide on-demand and customised launches for global small satellite operators — both in India and the world, added the release.
