Released on: March 14, 2008, 10:04 am

Press Release Author: Dr BR Natarajan

Industry: Energy

Press Release Summary: This team draws its inspiration from Steve Jobs quote \"
Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower\"


Press Release Body: Market is flooded with combos of the itunes-ipod, HDTV-Digital
Frame and what not to cater to the high end of the consumer segment and its high
time to care for the huge middle class segment in urban areas and rural areas.

In the present scenario, power cut is a common problem in all parts of India and at
the same time due to very hectic life schedule; health is also a major area of
concern. To address these issues, a working model of a washing machine driven by
bicycle has been designed and fabricated. It is being successfully demonstrated at
Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani Rajasthan \"APOGEE-2008\",
which is one of the top ranking technical festivals in India today. The washing
machine driven entirely by muscular power, apart from its main purpose of washing
clothes also provides an added benefit of physical exercise to the user.

This machine operates without electricity hence Eco-friendly and safe to operate.
The machine serves the dual purpose of washing machine and exerciser. It is cost
effective as the total cost incurred in fabricating the working model is about
Rs.4000/- while the conventional exerciser costs around Rs.3500/- and washing
machine around Rs.8500/- with electricity charges extra. This could be a real boon
to the rural areas where electricity is a rare commodity and to the urban areas
where keeping fit and energy saving are top issues.

This model has been developed by Proud to be BITSians Mr. Ganesh Soni, Mr.Haribabu
Gurram and Ms. Seema Sharma under the guidance of BITS Faculty Manoj Soni for whom
Energy Research is a Mission with Passion from Mechanical Engineering Department of
the Institute. Several alumni of the Institute have shown keen interest in this down
to earth thinking project.

About BITS Pilani: Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani
Rajasthan which has set a bench mark in industry university collaboration is one
among the top ranking universities in India today offering degrees in various
branches presently at Pilani, Dubai, Goa campuses and in the short future at
Hyderabad campus apart from an array of work integrated learning programmes for HRD
of a vast spectrum of Indian corporates. The alumni of the Institute are spread
across the globe from Australia to America.

Web Site: http://www.bits-pilani.ac.in:12346/bitsaa.bits

Contact Details: BITS Alumni Association (BITSAA)
Dr BR Natarajan
Vice President BITSAA
Pilani (Rajasthan) 333031 India
www.bits-pilani.ac.in:12346/bitsaa.bits
Email:brnt@bits-pilani.ac.in