IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 53

LEADING EDGE

Balkrishna C. Rao

Advanced
Frugal Innovations

rugal innovations are
all the rage. Their ap-
peal stems mainly
from lower costs
t o society at large.
The grass roots nature of these
innovations has in recent years
been complemented by the appear-
ance of frugality in sophis-
ticated pr o duc t s r e a l i z e d
while reining in costs. An AFI
t h rou g h science and engi-
designed and fabricated by my
neering. Such advanced fru-
group at the Indian Institute of
gal innovations (AFI) have
Technology Madras (IITM) is
appeared in a wide variety of
shown in Figure 1. The fru-
sectors including education,
gal human-powered water
healthcare, defense, astron-
f i lt r a t ion system depicted
omy, and particle physics [1].
in Figure 1 will be utilized for
A distinguishing feature of
obtaining potable water from
AFIs other than their low cost,
various sources.
is the application of cutting-
The quest to find solutions
edge science and engineering
for improving living standards
to achieve robust functioning.
while preserving the planetary
In other words, AFIs have been
environment can be accom-
realized through the methodi-
plished by large-scale adop-
(a)
cal application of scientific
tion of AFIs. These innovations
principles, as opposed to their
would significantly abet sustain-
grass-roots brethren, which
able development by their frugal
are usually created on a make-
consumption of resources and
shift basis.
an attendant lowered carbon
Some exa mples of A FIs
footprint. This is because, gener-
include the Square Kilome-
ally, consuming fewer resourc-
ter Array; Spike missile; Tata
es should result in products
Nano®; and the portable elec-
becoming net savers of energy,
(b)
trocardiogram, Mac 400® by
which is accompanied by lower
GE [3]. Each of these innova-
emissions of greenhouse gases
FIGURE 1. Human powered water filtration system as
tions is the culmination of a sci- an advanced frugal innovation. (a) Schematic. (b) Actual
(GHGs). Such green creden-
entific endeavor succeeding system. (Sponsor: Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG)
tials coupled with robust
against the constraints of lower at IIT  Madras).
quality and low cost of these
costs. The Square Kilometer
advanced innovations will
Array in Africa is also representative
of several AFIs developed on that
make AFIs indispensable for both
continent, for tackling economic,
satisfying the needs of people and
weather, and health related issues
fighting planet ar y cr ises. More-
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MTS.2017.2763453
Date of publication: 5 December 2017
that embrace advances in science
over, the low cost of AFIs has the

F

DECEMBER 2017

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IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE

53



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