Media Release

Udupi, May 26: Students from the department of electronics and communication engineering at Shri Madhwa Vadiraja Institute of Technology and Management (SMVITM), Bantakal have developed a smart helmet to improve the safety of coal miners working in hazardous underground environments. Coal mining exposes workers to risks such as toxic gases, high temperatures, and low oxygen levels, making continuous monitoring essential to prevent accidents and ensure safety.

The project, supported by the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST), was carried out by final-year students Annapurna Shenoy, Divyanth, Hansley Lewis, and Karthik Patil under the guidance of Yogeshwary B H.

The helmet monitors environmental conditions and provides alerts during unsafe situations. It also includes an emergency feature that enables miners to send a signal when required, making it suitable for underground use.

This innovation is expected to strengthen safety practices in mining by enabling early warnings and faster emergency response. It can also be adapted for use in other high-risk sectors such as construction, tunnelling, and chemical industries, where monitoring workplace conditions is critical for worker protection.

The management, principal, head of the department, and faculty members congratulated the students and their guide for their achievement.