UAE teen’s mind-controlled, 3D-printed arm stuns judges

A 14-year-old student from GEMS Millennium School, Sharjah, walked away with the honours of the region's first Gulf 3D Printing Olympiad organised by ATLAB. Rishabh Java designed and 3D printed a bionic arm, which was selected as the 'Best Innovative Project' of the year.
The winning creation is a low-cost, mind-controlled, functional 3D-printed bionic forearm which the users can control with their mind.
The bionic arm was built using Electroencephalography (EEG) - an electrophysiological monitoring method to record electrical activity of the brain, and can perform simple tasks such as shake hands and pick up objects among others. It will work as an ideal replacement for patients with disabled hands. They can get their sense of touch back by replacing their functionless forearm with the bionic arm, which can interface with the nervous system.
More than 75 teams from numerous schools across the GCC participated in the competition, aimed at inspiring young entrepreneurs by fuelling their innovation and creativity through 3D printing. The winning teams selected from four different categories were awarded with 3D printers and cash prizes of Dh10,000 (first), Dh5,000 (second) and Dh3,000 (third).
"I am thrilled to receive the award. In future I plan to add other functionalities such as equip it with sensors that give a real-time response to the residual arm, have wrist and elbow movement and make it more user-friendly," said Java.
The event was held at the GEMS Wellington Academy in Dubai Silicon Oasis. An expert panel of judges from the fields of design, technology and science selected the winners based on creativity, precision, originality, inventiveness, execution as well as the quality of the presentation.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
Student innovations
> Fumes dissipater: An interesting design showcased is a Fumes Dissipater created by Rishi Bhatnagar of DPS Sharjah. In most homes that still use celling fans, a black charred mark above the wall regulators is a common feature. The 3D printed dissipater sits above the regulator as an additional layer and diverts the flow of fumes using new openings, thereby preventing the walls from turning black.
> Plastic waste collector: A sensor-enabled plastic waste collector by Uhoud Khalid Al Jarman and solar-powered flashlight by nine-year-old Jassim Mohammad Al Marzooqi of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Giftedness and Creativity.
> Bottle that could contain more than one drink: Arjun Bhorkar from The Millennium School, Dubai, designed a multi-purpose bottle that can contain more than one drink.
Prizewinners
Primary (ages 10-12)
1^st prize - Safa Mariam and Adya Roy
2^nd prize - Hana Kabeer
Middle (ages 13-15)
1^st prize - Rishabh Java
2^nd prize - Rishi Bhatnagar
High School (ages 16-19)
1^st prize - Arjun Bhorkar
2^nd prize - Uhoud Khalid Al Jarman
3^rd prize - Ivan Joseph Thomas and Abaid Isaac Ninan