Four government school students in Perambalur have won a cash prize of ₹1 lakh for designing a smart sensor helmet

Four Perambalur government school students won a cash prize of one lakh rupees for designing a smart sensor helmet that detects drunk riders as part of the School Innovation Development Project (SIDP) run by the School Education Department and the Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Institute (EDII). R. Yazhini and P. Sharmila of Class IX, and R. Pooja and S. Ganga of Class X from Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) in Nakkasalem came up with a proposal to prohibit two-wheeler riders from riding the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, guided by their science teacher M. Om Prakash.

They proposed creating a helmet that can identify intoxicated cyclists, and their concept was chosen to represent the Perambalur area in the SIDP. Team Kalam finished fifth out of the top ten teams in the final round, earning a cash award of one lakh rupees. "The students underwent various training for over six months, which helped them to improve their idea," stated S. Manivannan, Chief Educational Officer.

The helmet was linked to a two-wheeler using sensors and radio communications. If the rider is inebriated, the helmet with a smell-based sensor will sound an alert, and the car will not start, he added.