Mangalore: Now, a bag that gives robber the shock of his life!

Vineeth Monis
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
 
Mangalore, Mar 24: One might have read in newspapers about incidents wherein businessmen or bank officials have been robbed of cash they were carrying with them. Looting is an easy way of making money and there are many in the world who are looking to make a quick buck. Carrying a lot of cash is always risky as it makes the person vulnerable and puts his or her life at risk.

An invention by Prashanth Nayak might help ease the minds of such people who have no option but to carry large amounts of cash for some specific purpose. Nayak’s invention provides wireless security for the cash bag by controlling all vital features through RF (RF) communicated remote control. A receiver with all control sections and a 6 volt 4.5 Ah rechargeable lead acid battery will be fitted inside the briefcase and a key chain with a handheld transmitter can be carried by the person.

The bag needs to be looped to any fixed object such as the handle of a table or chair or a bus or train seat. When the Armed mode is activated and the bag is moved or snatched, the loop detection mode detects the open loop and sounds the built-in siren to alert the person.
 
In case the miscreant still decides to run away with the bag when the siren is sounding, a panic button on the remote can be pressed and the culprit will literally get the 'shock' of his life as instantly, a high voltage current will pass through the apparatus. The remote is effective up to a distance of 100 meters from the bag when it is in the line of sight.
 
The charge delivered by the electrocution is harmless to human life due to minimum current with a high pulsating voltage.
 
Despite hailing from a commerce background, Nayak has a passion for inventing new technology. When Daijiworld asked him the reason for this, he said that since childhood he was interested in science, but as he secured less than the required marks in science in the SSLC exams, he had to choose commerce.

"But I nurtured by interest in electronics at the same time. Having studied the principles of electronic circuit design, printed circuit board design, microcontrollers and programming all on my own, I can proudly say that no teacher has taught me the art of electronics. I always believe in taking tasks as a challenge and have designed various commercial products, industrial designs, student projects and hobby gadgets," he says.

What further boosted his confidence was the amateur wireless telegraph station (Ham Radio) license granted by the government of India in 1991. "This (licence) was an additional boost for my thirst for knowledge where I had my hands practically on the principles and designs of radio frequency, transmitters, receivers, and various antennas and transmission systems. I built my own handmade low power transceiver at the age of 19 and to my surprise, the first contact was from a person from Sri Lanka who was more than thousand miles away from my location."
 
Nayak completed the special cash bag a year ago, but it did not come to the limelight. "I feel people are not convinced about it as it is not a branded product and thus lacks importance,” he says.
 
Nayak has also developed many other special inventions like this and imparts his knowledge to students. Many of his ideas are used by students in science exhibitions. He is a true inspiration to many students who aspire to be inventors.

Some of his popular designs are:

RF remote (4 channel latching and momentary): 4 channel RF remote where any channel and be programmed to work as momentary or as latching. Highly useful with shutter control, gate automation, and any other such applications.

Automatic wash basin controller: Automatically controls the valve connected to the tap line by detecting the hand in front of the sensor. Sensor has to be fitted inside the wash basin, behind the tap.

Automatic night light controller: (Switches on the lights at 6.30 pm everyday and switches off at 11 pm). No clock and display used. Setting of “On” and “Off” time done with only one button. Can be custom programmed with the source code as per your required time. Highly useful for advertisement displays and hoardings.

Soft starter: Useful in controlling the speed linearly in marble cutting machines, hand drillers and other such power tools. The speed will gradually vary from 0 to full in 3-4 seconds, thus protecting the winding's bearings, and bushes against sudden loading. Unit is connected directly to AC mains and in series with the power tool. No transformers used.

Digital lamp dimmer: This device may be connected to 220v halogen lights and the brightness of the same may be controlled digitally. The circuit has two buttons - pressing one will increase and pressing the other button will decrease the light intensity. Pressing both buttons for three seconds will trigger the light at full brightness. Pressing any one button will return the light to the previous dimmed state.

Microcontroller based quiz display: This project overcomes the difficulties of manual quiz displays used in various games and quiz competitions in schools, colleges, and other similar events where the priority is necessary to be known. This system incorporates the unique facility of keeping in memory the order of priority of the contestants who have pressed the buzzer in ascending order, in many cases the first person.

Pressing the buzzer is detected but next consecutive contestants are not detected and thus the question may arise so as to whom the question may pass in case the first person doesn't know the answer. This project presented here overcomes such dilemma and displays all the contestants in priority, whoever has pressed the buzzer.

Profile timer: Profile timer is basically a multiple on/off timer from 000 to 999 seconds where on and off times can be set anywhere  between these two maximum and minimum limits and will operate on different times set according to different profiles. Timer has a 16 x 2 LCD which will display all the relevant functions during setting and working of the unit. A telephone equivalent keypad will be used to input data of the timings required. A non volatile memory is utilized to recall and load the last used profile during power failure. Each button on the keypad can be individually programmed for different time periods and can be instantly accessed just by pressing 2 buttons. Use full for motor controls, exhaust fan control in factories, bathroom fan/ light control, etc.

Diesel generator remote: This remote controller unit can switch on and off any diesel generator with cranking facility, from a distance with the given RF keychain remote. The status is monitored by a feedback from the genset which deactivates cranking when the generator is already in the running condition. Five attempts for cranking are provided in case the generator fails to start. Highly useful for hostels and old age homes.
 
Automatic school bell: This circuit is capable of sounding the bell 32 times a day with pre-set timetable, with short/ long bell options including a real time clock with date for accurate results. All functions are controlled by a 16 button keyboard and 16 x 2 LCD display with backlight, facilitating use in low light conditions. A triac switching section is used to switch on any AC loads like the gong, or an electric bell. All settings including the keypad is protected against unauthorized use with user changeable 4 digit password.

RGB LED lighting controller: A tiny circuit which generates 64,000 plus shades of lighting with the combination of variable intensity levels of red, green and blue LED's. The kit has 26 eye-catching effects, with built in memory.

 
For more information on his projects, log on to www.united77.com