James Dyson Award 2019 – India National Winners

Fleo - a stabilizing pen designed to help in writing and drawing for people with Parkinson's tremors, invented by Ashwathy Satheesan from National Institute of Design (Ahmedabad) adjudicated as National Winner from India

Fleo utilizes gyroscopic principles to stabilize and reduce tremor impacts, facilitating a more confident and efficient writing/drawing. The construction of the pen contains a copper ring rotor attached to a motor with a battery. Once it's on, it acts as a gyroscope and tries to remain in its original axis of rotation. So when the pen is switched on the gyroscopic effect of the rotor provides resistance to any undesirable vibration of the pen. Thus it helps maintain control without taking away the personality and individuality of a person's writing/drawing. It is wireless, handy and with an easy click, it starts its stabilizing effect. It's rechargeable and refillable which increases convenience. The switch and the LED is placed keeping easy access in mind. The form of the pen is designed to offer good ergonomic support and a confident grip.

The national winner – 22-year-old Ashwathy Satheesan has done her Bachelors in Product Design from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, having graduated in January this year. On her participation, Ms. Ashwathy hailed the James Dyson Award as a prestigious international platform for young designers to showcase and validate their work. “In the past, this platform has helped to bring many meaningful student ideas to life. I feel this provides great support and confidence that is much needed for an early professional starting off their career,” she said.

Winning the national leg of the James Dyson Award will inject £2,000 into the Fleo project, and Ashwathy has her plans ready already.