NITK Deploys Its All-Terrain Vehicle For Cleaning at Surathkal Beach: Great Innovation

The Centre for System Design (CSD) at NITK Surathkal demonstrated their dedication to foster an eco-friendly atmosphere by deploying a prototype of an all-terrain vehicle for beach grooming to effectively collect plastic trash at NITK’s Surathkal beach.

The four-wheeled electrically powered, 24-volt battery ATV can tow around 70kg of debris collected in its basket. It will run for around two hours on a single charge. This entire setup can be dismantled and carried in a compact car. Because of its small size and low weight, rather than using heavy machinery vehicles which will affect biodiversity this compact vehicle can be used as a cost-effective alternative.

The prototype has been developed by student Rajath C Kotekar and his team, under the guidance of Dr KV Gangadharan and Dr Pruthviraj Umesh. The event was inaugurated by Kavan Kubevoor, an alumnus of NITK Surathkal, who serves as the district Leo president.

As many as 40 students and staff members from NITK Surathkal actively participated in a beach cleaning drive near the Surathkal – NITK Beach. The event was jointly organised by the Ocean Society of India, the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Ministry of Earth Sciences and was locally coordinated by CSD.