An automatic jack to change tyres

Hyderabad: Replacing a flat tyre is an easy job for designer Devesh Kurlkarni. He opens the bonnet, starts the engine and an automatic hydraulic jack lifts the car. He just replaces the tyre.

Devesh says he is developing this system with the assistance of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). It is expected to be ready for commercial use in the next few months.

Devesh is displaying his invention at the ongoing Indian Science Congress in Hyderabad.

"I think it's a good achievement and we're trying our best to make it a commercial product and it should reach the masses so that they can get relief from their old jacks," Kulkarni said.

Another whizkid from Ahmedabad, Arvind Patel, is also displaying his unique invention, an auto air kick pump.

This pump helps riders of two or three wheelers to repair flat tyres using compressed air from the engine.

The Indian Science Congress exhibition is full of surprises this time and all the projects are being supported by the DSIR.

"So far we have supported 122 projects and of them 30-40 projects have been upscaled or commercialized by the entrepreneur or the innovator himself," a scientist at DSIR Dr. Prabhat K Dutta said.

"In some of the cases, NGOs have helped in upscaling or commercializing the projects. Thirty other projects are ready for technology transfers," Dutta added.

If some of you have such "big ideas about small things," you can approach the DSIR at www.dsir.gov.in.