Students devise 'robotic sandals' for women facing gender assault

THANE: In the backdrop of rising cases of crime against women, four Thane students have come up with a 'Robotic sandal' for the rescue of women in distress. Four students of class VII and IX have made a ladies sandal by fitting certain devices at the bottom of the normal footwear used by women. The device consists of a metallic rivet having a voltage of 5V. While displaying the 'robotic sandal' before media yesterday, the children showed that in time of distress, if the sandal is hit twice on the ground, it gets activated, triggering a wireless alarm connected to the instrument, which can be ideally kept in a bag or purse. The moment the alarm is set off, the device sends alert SMSes to already specified numbers and the location of the woman in distress can easily be detected. Also, it was claimed that if a woman hits the assaulter with the sandal, it gives a shock to him as the rivet is activated. The gadget first came to limelight during a competition held in Thane last month where children had to showcase the scientific gadgets made by them. Later, the four children who made the 'robotic sandal' were supported in their endeavour by a city-based private organisation, Children's Tech Centre, which promotes children talent and scientific -PTI