Artificial Intelligence sandboxes are shaping the architecture of responsible innovation for the intelligent age

Mumbai: In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), the concept of sandboxes has emerged as a critical tool for fostering innovation while ensuring ethical and responsible development. An AI sandbox is essentially a controlled environment where innovators can safely develop, test, and refine AI models and applications using real-world data, infrastructure, and regulatory guidance. These spaces are designed to reduce risks, accelerate experimentation, and bridge the gap between research and real-world deployment.

The European Union AI Act 2024 defines an AI regulatory sandbox as a framework set up by competent authorities to allow providers or prospective providers of AI systems to develop, train, validate, and test innovative AI systems under regulatory supervision. The Act highlights universal objectives for sandboxes, such as improving legal certainty, fostering innovation, supporting evidence-based regulatory learning, and facilitating market access for AI systems, particularly those developed by small and medium enterprises.

Globally, sandboxes are classified into three categories: regulatory, innovation, and hybrid. Regulatory sandboxes provide supervised spaces for piloting AI solutions under the guidance of regulators, enabling early identification of risks and compliance pathways. Innovation sandboxes offer shared access to data, computational resources, and mentorship, fostering rapid prototyping and collaborative development. Hybrid sandboxes combine the benefits of both models, promoting experimentation while ensuring alignment with ethical and policy frameworks. 

India, with its robust digital public infrastructure, vibrant start-up ecosystem, and demographic scale, is uniquely positioned to leverage AI sandboxes to address systemic challenges and unlock the potential of artificial intelligence. However, the country faces hurdles such as limited access to high-quality, localised datasets, affordable computational infrastructure, and standardised validation frameworks. 

AI sandboxes can address these challenges by providing enablers such as access to multilingual, AI-ready datasets, subsidised compute infrastructure, and domain-specific mentorship. They also embed guardrails like data privacy standards, regulatory alignment, and risk management frameworks to ensure responsible innovation.

The establishment of AI sandboxes in India is not just about creating pilot environments but about building long-term national platforms that propel scalable and inclusive AI development. These sandboxes can support priority sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and micro, small, and medium enterprises, enabling the creation of solutions tailored to local needs. For instance, vernacular speech datasets and automatic speech recognition models can empower voice-first AI agents to serve rural and semi-urban populations effectively.

The operationalisation of AI sandboxes involves defining clear objectives, establishing governance structures, designing core components, and implementing phased execution.  This approach ensures that sandboxes evolve from short-term pilots into national assets, supporting responsible innovation at scale. Key stakeholders, including government bodies, industry leaders, academia, and start-ups, must collaborate to ensure the success of these initiatives. 

Governments can play a catalytic role by funding pilots, developing model policies, and investing in infrastructure, while industry partners can contribute resources and mentorship. Academia can lead capacity-building efforts and provide regulatory-aligned evaluation, and start-ups can actively engage in sandbox pilots to refine and scale their solutions.

AI sandboxes are essential in the intelligent age, where the balance between rapid technological advancement and social responsibility is paramount. They provide a structured pathway for innovation, ensuring that AI solutions are not only cutting-edge but also ethical, inclusive, and aligned with public interest. As India seeks to position itself as a global leader in AI, the sandbox model offers a blueprint for scaling responsible AI development, setting a precedent for other nations to follow.

DISCLOSURE: This feature draws on insights from the white paper Shaping the AI Sandbox Ecosystem for the Intelligent Age, published by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with IndiaAI, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, and BCG X.

Accelerating artificial intelligence uptake in SMEs will require coordinated efforts from all stakeholders

Mumbai: The adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has the potential to transform business operations, enhance productivity, and drive economic growth. However, despite its promise, the integration of AI into SMEs remains slow, hindered by challenges such as limited awareness, financial constraints, and a lack of accessible solutions.

A report titled Transforming Small Businesses: An AI Playbook for India’s SMEs, by the World Economic Forum in partnership with IndiaAI, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, and BCG X, emphasises that accelerating AI uptake will require a coordinated effort. This includes active participation from policymakers, industry experts, technology providers and the SMEs themselves.

Creating awareness is a critical first step in encouraging SMEs to embrace AI. Many business owners are aware of AI’s potential but struggle to understand how it can be applied to their specific operations. Establishing dedicated experience centres in SME clusters can help bridge this gap. These centres can showcase real-world use cases, provide demonstrations of sector-specific AI applications, and offer tools to calculate return on investment. By presenting tangible benefits and fostering peer-to-peer learning, experience centres can build trust and confidence among SMEs, encouraging them to take the first steps towards adoption.

Another effective strategy is the creation of AI sandboxes within industry clusters. These environments allow technology providers to develop and test AI solutions tailored to the unique needs of SMEs in specific sectors. By using local expertise and operational data, these sandboxes can produce pilot-ready solutions that address real challenges faced by businesses. This approach not only reduces the cost and risk of implementation but also ensures that solutions are relevant and practical for SMEs. Collaboration with research institutions and industry associations can further enhance the development of these tailored solutions.

Workforce capability is a key factor in successful AI adoption. SMEs often face a shortage of skilled workers and resistance to change among employees. Comprehensive training programmes can address these issues by equipping workers with the skills needed to operate AI systems and by demonstrating the technology’s potential to enhance, rather than replace, their roles. Reskilling initiatives delivered in regional languages can make training more accessible, while partnerships with trade unions and welfare boards can help build trust and reduce apprehension. For SME owners and managers, targeted workshops and tailored roadmaps can provide the knowledge and confidence needed to lead their organisations through the AI adoption process.

Equipping SMEs with the tools to assess their readiness for AI is another important step. An AI maturity index can serve as a self-assessment tool, helping businesses evaluate their current capabilities and identify gaps. By providing a clear roadmap for digital transformation, the index can guide SMEs in prioritising use cases that align with their strategic goals and operational needs. Integrating such an index into existing platforms, such as the Indian Government’s Udyam portal, can streamline the process and provide SMEs with tailored recommendations and benchmarks.

Access to affordable and user-friendly AI solutions is essential for widespread adoption. Many existing AI technologies are designed for large enterprises and are often too complex or costly for SMEs. Developing plug-and-play tools that integrate seamlessly with legacy systems can lower entry barriers and make AI more accessible. An AI solutions marketplace could serve as a central hub for SMEs to discover validated tools, compare costs, and access user reviews. Integrating this marketplace with platforms like India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) could further enhance accessibility and visibility.

Financial support is crucial to overcoming cost barriers, which remain one of the largest obstacles to AI adoption in SMEs. Governments can play a pivotal role by offering grants, subsidies, and tax credits specifically for AI-related investments. Cluster-based financing, where groups of SMEs pool resources to procure solutions, can also reduce individual costs and increase bargaining power. Partnerships with larger corporations can provide additional funding, while specialised lending products with flexible repayment terms can make AI investments more feasible for SMEs.

Recognising early adopters of AI can inspire confidence and encourage broader adoption across the SME ecosystem. Programmes that identify and celebrate SME pioneers in AI can showcase success stories and provide mentorship to other businesses. By highlighting tangible benefits and sharing lessons learned, these initiatives can build trust and create a supportive environment for AI adoption.

Accelerating the adoption of AI in SMEs requires a coordinated effort from all stakeholders. Governments must act as facilitators, providing infrastructure, financial support, and policy frameworks. Industry leaders and technology providers must develop accessible solutions and collaborate with SMEs to address their unique challenges. SMEs themselves must take proactive steps to assess their readiness, invest in skills, and engage with local ecosystems.

As SMEs form the backbone of many economies, their transformation through AI is not just an opportunity but a necessity. By addressing the barriers to adoption and fostering collaboration, stakeholders can unlock the full potential of AI, driving innovation, competitiveness, and growth in the SME sector.

Artificial Intelligence adoption in SMEs hinges on trust, relevance and support

Mumbai: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India are increasingly aware of the potential benefits of artificial intelligence (AI), yet many remain hesitant to adopt it. Their concerns are not unfounded. For business owners operating on tight margins, the promise of AI must be matched by clear, practical value. A report titled Transforming Small Businesses: An AI Playbook for India’s SMEs, by the World Economic Forum in partnership with IndiaAI, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, and BCG X, offers a detailed account of these concerns and outlines a framework to address them.

The report draws on extensive consultations with SME owners, entrepreneurs, industry bodies and government representatives. It reveals that while many SMEs are curious about AI, they lack the guidance to move forward. Owners often ask not what AI can do in theory, but what it can do for them specifically. They want to know which use cases are most relevant, how ready their business is, and where to find affordable solutions. Without answers to these questions, AI remains an abstract concept rather than a practical tool.

Cost is a major barrier. Many SME owners believe that AI solutions are designed for large enterprises and priced accordingly. They worry that customisation for small-scale operations is either unavailable or prohibitively expensive. As one manufacturer put it, “We need AI that plays by my margins because value is what keeps my lights on.” This sentiment is echoed across sectors, from textiles to automotive components. For SMEs, the cost of experimentation is high, and the risk of failure can be severe.

Another concern is the lack of implementation support. SME owners often feel they cannot adopt AI without expert guidance. They want professionals who can assess their operations, identify suitable processes for AI integration and help with deployment. However, hiring such experts is rarely feasible. The report suggests that a centralised AI platform could help bridge this gap by connecting SMEs with solution providers, equipment vendors and funding options. It also recommends showcasing successful early adopters to build trust and encourage broader uptake.

Digital readiness is another challenge. Many SMEs operate with minimal digital infrastructure. Their data is often recorded manually or stored in basic spreadsheets. Without reliable, structured data, AI systems cannot function effectively. The report highlights the need for foundational digital tools and training before AI can be introduced. It also notes that SMEs vary widely in their digital maturity, and any intervention must be tailored to their specific stage in the digital journey.

Workforce concerns further complicate adoption. Shopfloor workers often view AI as a threat to their jobs. They fear surveillance and replacement, and are unsure whether they can learn the necessary skills. The report emphasises the importance of responsible AI use and transparent communication. If workers see AI as a tool that simplifies tasks and enables upskilling, they are more likely to support its integration. Training programmes must be accessible and designed with the workforce in mind.

The role of government is critical. SME owners want the government to act as an ecosystem curator rather than just a subsidy provider. They call for platforms that facilitate knowledge-sharing, connect stakeholders and evaluate the effectiveness of AI solutions. Some also point to the reluctance of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to experiment with new processes. Without support from larger partners, SMEs struggle to implement AI even when they are willing.

Start-ups and industry representatives echo these concerns. They stress the need for AI solutions that are easy to integrate and tailored to Indian realities. Many SMEs lack the digital foundation required for advanced AI tools. Start-ups must meet each enterprise where it is, offering phased approaches and helping build basic capabilities. They also highlight the importance of clear goals. SMEs must define what they want to improve—whether it is reducing defect rates or shortening production times—before selecting tools.

The report proposes the IMPACT AI framework to accelerate adoption. It focuses on three pillars: awareness, action and recognition. Awareness involves bridging knowledge gaps and building trust. Action provides tools such as an AI maturity index and a solutions marketplace. Recognition celebrates early adopters to inspire others. This structured approach aims to guide SMEs through their AI journey, from initial curiosity to full integration.

Ultimately, the transformation of India’s SME sector through AI will require collaboration across stakeholders. Policy-makers must create enabling environments. Entrepreneurs must be willing to explore new technologies. Solution providers must offer affordable, relevant tools. And workers must be supported through training and transparent communication. The report does not promise quick fixes, but it does offer a realistic path forward—one that respects the constraints and aspirations of SMEs.

If AI is to serve inclusive growth, it must work not only for large enterprises but also for the millions of small businesses that drive India’s economy. By addressing their concerns with empathy and precision, stakeholders can help SMEs unlock the value of AI and build a more resilient, competitive future.

“Pod hospitals can significantly enhance quality of healthcare infrastructure and delivery in India”

The COVID-19 pandemic has created havoc across the globe especially countries lacking specialised and quality healthcare infrastructure to treat those infected with the coronavirus. The pandemic also exposed the fact that the gap between demand and supply of healthcare infrastructure and delivery is only widening by the day and that there is an urgent need to come up with solutions that will help bridge this gap timely, effectively and efficiently. The pod smart hospitals concept, according to Mahesh Krishnachari, director and founder of the design and build firm “Vevra”, is one such game changing solution to the problem at hand. Read on for more details.

What led to conceptualising the pod hospitals? Is this something you’ve been working on for some time now?

It all started after the lockdown was implemented earlier in March. We all watched the chaos this pandemic has brought upon the healthcare infrastructure and delivery space. We also realised how helpless we were in addressing this situation. Being a design and build firm we began brainstorming for possible solution(s) to deal with airborne diseases like COVID. That was the starting point for this pod hospital concept.

We wanted to devise a futuristic solution that would prove beneficial in the effective treatment of such diseases that may surprise us going forward. The idea was to come up with a concept that can be easily scalable and ensures timely delivery of quality healthcare services.

A lot of efforts have gone into understanding/ identifying the pain points, taking feedback and interacting with healthcare professionals from the United Kingdom as well as doctors from private and government hospitals in Bengaluru. Additionally, feedback was also sought from nurses and other hospital support staff including the Class IV employees. This exercise revealed that lack of quality infrastructure was and continues to be the key issue in the treatment of diseases like COVID-19.

All the data and intelligence gathered were studied and brainstormed by the Vevra team to come up with possible solutions that will help overcome the hurdles in the overall healthcare delivery process. A fully-furnished prefabricated pod hospital concept was the outcome of this exercise.

Could you tell us about some of the key pain points being addressed?

Sure. I think one of the crucial issues was that doctors, nurses and hospital support staff were getting infected from coronavirus while performing their duties. So designing a safe “PPE” donning and doffing area for doctors and nurses who were getting exposed to this airborne virus while overseeing the treatments was critical to minimise the spread of this infection.

Most doctors were getting infected in the doffing area, basically at the time of removing their personal protective equipment (PPE). That’s because doctors and nurses are moving in an open area with 100 to 150 COVID positive patients and there is a huge viral load in the treatment area. Being airborne the viral load settles on the PPEs worn by the doctors and nurses. And these viral particles were infecting healthcare professionals at the time of removing the PPEs in the doffing area.

So irrespective of how many COVID patients a hospital is treating, if the healthcare staff including class IV workers are at a greater risk of contracting the virus due to lack of proper facilities, then we are not really fighting COVID effectively.

And the Vevra pods hospitals are capable of addressing this issue?

The ideal solution to address this problem, in my view, is to control the air quality inside the COVID treatment area(s) thereby curtailing the spread of this virus. That’s one of the key features of the pod hospital concept we’ve designed. The air getting circulated inside the premises is getting exhausted and fresh air (filtered using HEPA filters) is being pumped into the pod.

Eighty per cent fresh air and 100% suction ensures negative pressure in these pods. This is very important especially for patients in intensive critical units (ICUs) requiring oxygen, are on a ventilator and so on. You cannot have the same air circulating or split/ centralised air conditioning and that was the reason for the government to issue an advisory on use of ACs in such areas.

Apparently, the ICU section in most hospitals have a maximum of 15 to 20 beds. Besides, no hospital in India has got negative pressure ICU’s to treat any airborne disease. Pumping fresh air and exhaust the air at regular intervals brings down the load of viral particles inside the pod. As a result the possibility of these viral particles settling down on the PPEs worn by healthcare professionals, nurses and support staff is very low. This in turn helps reduce the spread of virus and related infections.

The fully furnished and prefabricated ICU and operation theatre pods designed by us can thus come very handy in such situations. This apart there are other variants like the general pod, doctors stay pod and scanning room pod that ensure patients being treated for such pandemics apart from other ailments can be properly isolated while ensuring there is no compromise on the quality of healthcare delivery. These pods are not just the regular mobile isolation rooms but a completely functional, fully furnished, internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) integrated smart hospital setup. (More details about the features of these pods can be found here)

What was the reason for partnering InnoWave group?

That was mainly for technology required to monitor the patients’ health records as well as the medical equipment inside the pod. We couldn’t find a local technology partner who could meet our requirements. I reached out to a former colleague from a Portugal-based company who was working with an internet of things (IoT) firm. We exchanged notes and figured out the synergies. It was a coincidence and a good one too. Interestingly, InnoWave was already doing this in hospitals across Europe and the Unites States of America (USA). However, it would be the first time this will be done in a movable pod hospital set up in India.

How far have you reached with this concept?

The conceptualising part was completed in May and its designing was finalised in June. Thereafter we got into sourcing the raw materials required for making the pod. Incorporating the negative pressure aspect was challenging because we couldn’t find a company who could do it in a movable pod. We were fortunate to find a company based out in Bengaluru, sourced the systems/AHU’s from Luxembourg based company that had the expertise and agreed to take up the project.

The prototype is currently in very advanced stages and we are testing the functionality, efficacy and mobility of the pods in our manufacturing facility. After thorough testing at our end, we will test the healthcare delivery through these pods on hospital premises to see if there are any final tweaks required. The pods will then be delivered to the healthcare facilities for treating patients. This will take a few more weeks. The pod hospitals will go live on hospital premises that have expressed interest in having them for specialised healthcare delivery.

Are these pods made used shipping containers by any chance?

These can be made using shipping containers. However, our pods are built using other durable and recyclable materials. Every care is taken to ensure we are meeting the required guidelines and standards of building a hospital premise. Our pods are made of a prefabricated structure and its surface, walls and roof is completely antibacterial. The power requirement is up to 20-25 kilowatts resulting in a monthly electricity bill of around Rs 25,000 or so. There is a three-and-a-half feet gap between each bed which is enclosed by thick PVC curtains that acts as a barricade for additional safety of patients.

While its designs are owned by Vevra, I don’t mind opening it to someone who’d like to do this on a large scale. As for the size of these pods is concerned, it is similar to that of shipping containers because it’s been done keeping the mobility aspect in mind. These pods can be transported anywhere by loading it on a low-bed trailer and it can be shipped to other countries as well.

Can these be used to construct modular hospitals?

Definitely. The pods can be annexed to existing hospital premises depending on the kind of open space they have. This ensures there is no cross contamination in the main hospital building when treating COVID patients. In fact, if the structural design of the hospital is good enough to take another five to six tonnes of load, we can easily place these pods on the hospital terrace (after analysing the building structure).

Another advantage is that the hospital can scale it up from four beds to 100 beds depending on the requirement. It can be done in a small space of 400 square feet to 100,000 square feet. We can also stack it one above the other to make a ground plus one hospital structure. The pods can be built in two weeks and shipped to the hospital/ healthcare service provider. The reusable, easy to maintain structure can be used for 20 years without much hassles.

There is a dearth of healthcare infrastructure facilities in Tier II, III, IV locations and rural India.

This concept can make a huge difference across such locations. This set up is also very appropriate for companies looking to set up or upgrade healthcare facilities at their manufacturing units located in the interiors or for that matter undertake healthcare related corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in these areas. Overall, I think pod hospitals have great potential to significantly enhance the quality of healthcare infrastructure and delivery in India and across emerging markets.

Will these help in bringing down the cost of COVID-19 or healthcare treatments in general that’s going through the roof?

I cannot really comment on that because pricing the healthcare delivery will be decided by the healthcare service provider. As for the costing of our pods is concerned, we haven’t yet arrived at the final pricing either since final testing of the prototype is still underway. Besides, I am also working on various permutations and combinations of this pod hospital concept so that it can be made available across price points depending on the hospital’s requirement. The IoT and AI features will be offered on a subscription basis allowing hospitals to switch on/off depending on the requirement. All I can say is that pod hospitals are way too economical as compared to the conventional structure. And the best part is that it comes as a fully furnished unit.

How much have you invested in this concept so far? How are you funding this development?

It’s been done through internal sources so far. We will be looking at external funding in terms of bringing in a financial partner or even a strategic investor. We haven’t yet decided on the quantum of funding to be raised as all the focus currently is on getting the pod hospitals up and running.

Will you be looking at a leasing model for the pod hospital infrastructure?

Yes. A lot of hospitals may not have financial resources to acquire it upfront. In such cases leasing the pod hospitals for a certain number of years or maybe even renting it for a predefined period makes more sense. The lease model can certainly be explored on a case to case basis.

(The writer is a Mumbai-based independent business journalist and has extensively covered diversified consumer businesses over the last two decades. He can be reached at hello@ashishktiwari.com)

After pod hotels it's time for pod hospitals especially designed to treat COVID-19 patients

After making inroads in the Indian hospitality market three years ago with Urbanpod, the pod concept has now made its debut in the Indian healthcare space.

Vevra, a Bengaluru-based design and build company in partnership with a Portugal-based healthcare internet of things (IoT) company InnoWave Group has introduced a pod hospitals concept in India. Christened ‘Vevra Pods’ the movable healthcare facility has been designed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, other contagious/ airborne diseases and comes integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) to treat patients effectively.

According to Mahesh Krishnachari, director-founder, Vevra, the Vevra pods are not just the regular mobile isolation rooms seen before but a completely functional, fully furnished, AI integrated smart hospital setup. “This is an avant-garde, futuristic hospital. These capsules/ pods can be annexed to the existing hospitals to create more patient beds when in need or can be deployed to any remote place, areas struck by calamities, or even military bases to act as a complete hospital unit,” said Krishnachari.

The Vevra Pods project, as per a company statement, was primarily born as an answer for major medical crises of any form, where the lack of appropriate facilities/ infrastructure to receive highly infected patients takes a toll in most hospitals across the nation. This project consists of a set of movable capsules that aims to efficiently assist in the infrastructure of local/ private/ government hospitals across India.

Available in five variants viz. General pod, ICU pod, Doctors stay pod, Operation theatre pod and Scanning room pod, each Vevra pod can accommodate four to nine beds.

These fully furnished modular Pods come with advanced IoT solutions at the heart of its operation on ViGIE+ platform by InnoWave. This infrastructure consists of antechamber airlock rooms to provide a safe area for healthcare professionals with antibacterial walls and surface, it also controls the quantity and quality of the air being circulated in and out of the room with a minimum of 12 air changes per hour through HEPA filters, UVC lights, high-end exhaust system with PLC integrated air conditioning system to help in maintaining the temperature, humidity within.

Features of Vevra Pods

• These pods come with an antechamber airlock room to provide a safe area for healthcare professionals to do Donning and Doffing and to store the medical supplies. 
• Introducing a negative air pressure in the pod to contain airborne diseases such as TB, Flu, and COVID-19. It also controls the quantity and quality of the air being circulated in and out of the room with a minimum of 12 air changes per hour through HEPA filters, UVC lights, and a high-end exhaust system. 
• The pod comes with PLC integrated air conditioning system to help in maintaining the temperature, humidity within. 
• The pod comes with Fire resistance structure and an anti-bacterial wall and bacterial and chemical resistance flooring. 
• An attached toilets and shower cubicle with UVC lights. 
• ICU pod comes with a provision for Oxygen supply, analyzer as per ICU guidelines. Integrated with a device to monitor oxygen supply pressure and to measure the oxygen concentration delivered by ventilators or breathing systems along with a failure alarm system. RO water purifier, Geyser in the shower area, 500 litre water storage tank along with Mobile Sewage Treatment Plant. 
• Fire alarm, extinguisher and emergency system with a safe evacuation plan. CCTV surveillance and Television provided for each patient. 
• Re-usable after Pandemic with 15 to 20 years’ structural warranty. Can be moved to any remote location in the world.
• Sufficient UPS power backup with earthing connection to each pod and I-3 processor Laptop loaded with AI, RFID and MS office. RFID controlled entry and exit.

The healthcare Pods, according to Dr. K Sudhakar, medical education minister, Government of Karnataka, are innovative movable hospitals integrated with AI and can help in containment and prevention of contagious diseases. “AI has the potential to transform public healthcare and I urge healthcare start-ups to focus more on developing innovative, low-cost solutions,” he said.

Elaborating on the ViGIE+ platform, the company said, it is used for collecting and visualising data from different sensors installed inside and provide real-time alarms if environmental conditions change. This solution can be quickly and easily deployed in remote areas that are not easily accessible to hospital staff as well outside of the main hospital buildings to avoid any risk of the virus spreading.

“This project is highly linked to our mission as a company – to change people's lives through innovation. We are specialised in IoT monitoring systems in Europe and the USA, and we are eager to embrace this project and expand in other regions, as we are already cooperating with the US companies to supply ViGIE,” said Tiago Gonçalves, chief executive officer, InnoWave Global.  

The pods, said Dr. C N Manjunath, Indian Cardiologist and director of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, look like a pioneering concept of much safer and advanced facilities for not only patients but doctors as well, during times of high risk.

(The writer is a Mumbai-based independent business journalist and has extensively covered diversified consumer businesses over the last two decades. He can be reached at hello@ashishktiwari.com)

This 23-year-old electronics engineer’s innovation looks to minimise road accident deaths

Prateek Kumar, Founder and Director, Vida Salvateur International Pvt Ltd

This feature first appeared in www.YourStory.com on Sunday, November 3, 2019.

When Prateek Kumar suffered a road accident while doing his BTech at the Delhi College of Engineering (DCE), it turned out to be a major turning point in his life. That experience in November 2016 not only changed the way he approached life, giving him a larger impetus to observe safety, but also gave him a purpose – to make a device that would ensure timely help in cases of road accidents.

“We all know someone who has lost a family member in a road accident because help did not arrive in time. It’s quite unfortunate and the sad reality that we are living in. This needs to change. I wanted to contribute towards bringing this change through my extensive experience in building solutions based on Internet of Things (IoT) and software, from conceptualising to production,” says Prateek.

Convalescing after the accident, Prateek set his mind on building a device that would be capable of sensing the intensity of an accident, sending out relevant information to the nearest hospital or other healthcare service provider, and also intimating the victim’s family members – all within seconds or minutes of the accident occurring.

The germ of an idea that the 23-year-old entrepreneur alighted on was a smart helmet integrating a chip or device, with the technology being retrofitted into existing headgear.

“I looked up sources online and came across some sporty helmets in the European markets featuring a GoPro camera and other gizmos; those didn’t align with what I had in mind and were quite expensive too. I wanted to make a cost effective smart circuit/ chip / device that can either be embedded or retrofitted in the helmet. More importantly, the technology solution had to be thought of keeping in mind the Indian road/ driving conditions. Then, in 2017, along with some friends, I began working on finding a viable offering for the Indian market. As it called for significant investments, I also wrote a software program and sold it to my college to raise money for this project,” recounts Prateek.

In February 2017, the team also received some funding from the Spark-up Idea Fund hosted by iCreate, the technology business incubation centre of the Gujarat government.

“Students and innovators at various engineering colleges across India can apply for the Spark-up Fund directly via https://icreate.org.in/spark_up. The entries are opened at regular intervals and details regarding participation are posted on the website. Applications submitted by various participants are scrutinised and shortlisted by a group of experts. This is followed by a few interview rounds over Skype or a telephone call. Winning entries are then offered up to Rs 50,000 in funding to enable students/ innovators take their respective projects to the next level of development,” said Prateek.

After graduating in 2018, Kumar registered his venture, Vida Salvateur International Pvt Ltd (VSIPL), under the government’s Startup India scheme.

The company’s name literally translates to life-saving in Spanish and or French -- Vida is Spanish for ‘life’ and Salvateur is French for ‘saving’ / ‘life-saving’). 

The smart helmet and the chip/device will be marketed under the brand Motobuddy. In fact, VSIPL is in the process of registering the trademark/ copyright for the brand and its handcrafted logo design.

So far, approximately Rs 25 lakh has been invested in the business, including a grant of Rs 10 lakh received in July last year under the Nidhi Prayas scheme of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India via IKP Eden, Bengaluru, which is India’s first hardware product incubator.

“Every year, two batches are rolled out for this scheme. One can directly apply to incubators that are listed under this programme. The funding offered is a huge support for innovators wanting to start their entrepreneurial journey,” he said.

When Prateek and his friends started developing the smart helmet’, the circuit designed to power the device was so large that it covered an entire helmet. Streamlining the device to an optimal size and making it aesthetically appealing was critical to ensure the headgear would be marketable.

After two years of hard work and numerous iterations, Prateek was successful in reducing the bulky circuit to a coin-sized chip.

Over the last two years, the company has worked extensively to fine-tune the innovation to accurately detect and send out alerts on an accident.

“It was quite a challenge to reduce the circuit to its present size. A lot of prototyping with the right set of manufacturers and components went into making this happen,” says Prateek.

The startup currently has 18 members handling various operational functions. The core team comprises Prateek who brings extensive experience in software development, Drones and IoT solutions to the table. Holding the chief technology officer (CTO) position in the company is Dr. Manoj Saxena, a gold medallist from DCE, masters from IISc and, a PhD from IIT Delhi and Stanford University. Armed with an MBA from INSEAD, Venugopal Gupta is associated with the company as a business advisor and mentor. The author of Business Parables, Gupta is currently the director at Toilet Board Corporation in Europe.
Vida Salvateur is now looking to raise a fresh round of funding of about Rs 1 crore to go into production.

How the device works

Motobuddy’s technology can be paired with a mobile handset via bluetooth. A mobile application has been developed already for this purpose and will be made available for downloads on Google Play Store and iOS App Store at the time of commercial launch. The user can then populate emergency contact numbers and personal health-related details such as allergies, specific medical conditions, and any existing ailments after registering on the app.

The basic reason for integrating the device in helmets is to motivate users to remember their headgear on every ride, Prateek explains. The device also emits a red light using LEDs, thereby enhancing the visibility of the rider on the road.

MotoBuddy Smart Helmet

In case of an accident, the IoT-enabled device detects it but doesn’t send out an alert for 30 seconds. During this brief period, if the accident isn’t serious, the rider can cancel the automated activation process. If the alerts aren’t cancelled, the device sends out a message to the nearest hospital with details of the accident, its intensity, and location. Based on this intelligence, the hospital will be able to send emergency services, either an advanced one or a basic ambulance, to the accident spot.

Motobuddy is working on developing a network of hospitals in Noida, in other parts of Delhi- NCR, and eventually across the country. The company is also in the process of onboarding emergency ambulance service providers into its system, says Prateek, adding, “In case the nearest hospital is not in our system, our executives monitoring the system will call and inform a hospital about the incident. If the hospital doesn’t act within a set period of time, the system will send another message to alert the next-nearest hospital.”

The device simultaneously sends out a message to the rider’s family and friends entered as emergency contacts, with all relevant information about the accident.

The way ahead

The team has conducted on-road trials over the past month, with 25 of the chips tested on the road already. The data from these rides and simulated accidents has been fed into the system and analysed, and the devices have been tweaked according to the findings.

”For instance, the motorcycle / scooter rider could experience a big jolt by running into a pothole or on irregularly shaped speed breakers. Such incidences could be misread by an ordinary sensor as an accident. To tackle this situation, special sensors have been designed to accurately identify accidents from incidences of jolts and bumps. Similarly, there are a few other things that are very unique to the smart chip/ device. I can’t share more details at this stage though,” he said.

The startup has applied for patents for the chip and the smart helmet about 18 months ago, and is likely to get them by the end of this year. These patents are India-specific as getting global patents would be a cost-intensive exercise, Prateek points out, adding, “However, once the additional funding comes in and the smart chip gets good traction in the market, we plan to apply for global patents and secure the intellectual property too.”

The company initially plans to roll out the smart chip priced at Rs 1,200, while the retrofitted helmet priced at Rs 2,500 will be introduced at a later stage. The company also plans to offer an AI-driven engine that will provide advanced driving analytics (ADAs), including driving speed and behavior, and location tracking.

An annual subscription-based service, ADA will be offered to Motobuddy users at a very nominal cost, which will be disclosed at the time of launching the product in the market. Future plans of VSIPL include tying up with general insurance companies and bundling a health and or a personal accident insurance policy to be sold along with the device/ smart helmet. This is being done mainly to facilitate cashless claims at various hospitals in the network. Taking the Motobuddy product and service offerings international also forms a part of the company’s business expansion plans.  

“We have streamlined everything that’s required to commercially produce the chip and the smart helmet. We should be able to hit the market within three months from receiving the funding,” he said.
(The writer is a Mumbai-based independent business journalist and has extensively covered diversified consumer businesses over the last two decades. He can be reached at hello@ashishktiwari.com)