Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 24: The demonstration of capabilities of two robots manufactured by Bengaluru-based City Control Technology (India) Pvt Ltd, 'Robot Coastal Observer' and 'Robot Life Saver', were arranged at the seashore at Ullal Mogaveerapatna here under the directions of the district administration in the presence of home guards, tourism officials, fire brigade and Coastal Security Force officials on Monday July 23.

Robo Life Saver is an instrument that runs on battery that operates by using life guards. The robot is operated with the help of remote control. On battery, this equipment can operate for four hours. People located on the seashore can control this equipment through remote and rescue people in distress with its help.

However, because of high waves at Mogaveerapatna seashore, conducting of demonstration was found impossible. The programme had to be cut short as a result. Although the equipment was dropped into the sea with the help of members of local Shivaji Lifeguards Association a number of times, the equipment repeatedly returned to the shore, having been unable to cross the hurdle of huge waves. As a result, hundreds people and other personnel who had assembled curiously to witness the dexterity of the machine had to return disappointed.

Director of City Control Technology (India) Pvt Ltd, Sumanth, explained that the equipment needs to be sent into the sea through boats. He said that because of heavy rains now, it has been found impossible to send it into the sea. He noted that Ullal beach does not have the facility to operate boats. "As this instrument is only 2.5 kg in weight, its experiment failed on account of the force of waves at Ullal. We have successfully tested the capabilities of the machine at Chennai where it was dropped into the sea through boats. The instrument has been so designed as to be useful even in ships where this instrument can be used to rescue people who are at the risk of drowning at sea," he explained.

Sumanth stated that the robots will again be put to test at Sultan Battery here on Tuesday, where boat would be used to launch the instruments.

Dakshina Kannada Disaster Management officer, Vijayakumar, coastal security force inspector, Gangireddy, fire brigade chief officer, Shivashankar, home guard commandant, Dr Murali Mohan Choontar, deputy commandant, Ramesh Kumar, project manager of the company, Prasool, engineers, Jassir and Abhishek, were present.