Panaji: Vipin Kadam from Goa, had to discontinue his studies after class 10 due to financial constraints, but his practical knowledge has led him to create remarkable robot. This invention serves as a caretaker for people with disabilities and attends to the needs of bedridden elderly. Vipin Kadam’s robot is called ‘Maa Robot,’ and it operates through voice commands. He shares that this innovation plays a crucial role in providing care for his 18-year-old disabled daughter, Prajakta Kadam. 

The inspiration

Vipin Kadam has 25 years of experience in the manufacturing industry. The inspiration behind creating a programmable robot came from the concerns about his disabled daughter’s future. He is a skilled professional in threading, modelling of machinery parts, dye-making, and 3D animation. He used his diverse expertise to create a robot that could effectively care for his daughter with disabilities.

Care for daughter

Vipin Kadam shares that his daughter had difficulties in eating on her own and often cried. Concerned about her well-being, especially in situations when no one was around to assist, he conceived the idea of creating a robot to address her needs. He did not possess any knowledge about robotics, however, finding a solution to the challenges his daughters faced, was enough to embark on the journey of creating a robot. 

Learning from the internet

Vipin Kadam came across such a robot in the market that cost around Rs 4 to 5 lakh. But due to the high price, it was unaffordable for him. He decided to create a more accessible robot. He acquired knowledge about robotics and coding through online resources. Despite the lack of expertise, he dedicated six months to self-study on the internet, and mastered necessary skills to build his own robot. 

The efficiency of the robot

Vipin Kadam wanted to make a robot that could assist not only his daughter but also other children and disabled persons. The programming of the robot is such that when a dish is placed in front of it, it would simply assess the situation and feed the person. He was aware that his daughter faced challenges in operating button-controlled devices, and so he opted for a voice-controlled approach to make the robot accessible and user-friendly. 

Awards for innovation

An organization learned about Vipin Kadam’s innovation and encouraged him to create a second button-controlled model of the robot. Currently, he has developed two versions of the robot, one with voice control and the other with button control. He shares that the cost of making Maa Robot is around Rs 12-15 thousand. 

While there is a demand for these robots, Vipin lacks the facilities to produce them in large quantities and provide his services. He is exploring the options of collaborating with other companies to make his robots available. Notably, he has received recognition through various awards for his innovative creations.