Mangaluru: Four final-year electronics and communication engineering students from Shree Devi Institute of Technology, Kenjar, have developed a low-cost personal safety device aimed at enhancing women’s security during daily commutes, particularly on public transport.The innovation was designed by students Ananya, Anushree, Darshana Santosh Talekar and Haifa Mohiddin, who drew inspiration from their own experiences. Instead of opting for a conventional academic project, the team chose to design a practical solution that could be carried and used with ease.The project was completed within a month under the guidance of mentors Sachin S and Sushmitha from the COMEDK CARES Innovation Team, Mangaluru.Sachin S told TOI that the basic version which is priced at around Rs 300, is designed as a compact keychain equipped with a torch, a high-decibel siren, a whistle, a glass breaker, a small self-defence blade and a QR code carrying the user’s emergency information. The advanced Rs 3,000 version additionally features GPS-based live location sharing, enabling family members or police to track the user’s location. Both variants are designed to function without the need of a smartphone or internet, making them accessible and easy to operate.According to students, the device addresses the need for affordable and effective safety solutions at a time when missing-person cases remain a concern in India. They believe the design can also be adapted for schoolchildren travelling alone and elderly people living independently. By keeping the entry-level version affordable, the team hopes to make personal safety technology accessible to a wider section of society.
