Mangalore lad invents amphibian cycle

It can ply on land as well as water, move foward or backward, says Ahmed

Ahmed Rizavuddin, a 10th standard student from Infant Jesus Joyland English Medium High School, Bolar, has invented an amphibian cycle, which could ply on water as well as on land. The speciality of the cycle is that it doesnt sink in water and could be easily run by the rider as it is rode on the land and will find prominence during floods, to rescue people.

Rizavuddin successfully demonstrated the working of his amphibian cycle in Mangala stadium swimming pool in Mangalore and told that he got the idea when one of his friends cycle sunk during heavy rains two years ago and the friends couldn’t play on that day.

Then it struck to him that a cycle could be developed, which would float in water and will be of great help to the people during heavy rains.

He worked on his idea for six months, modifying and remodifying his invention till he fully developed an amphibian cycle, which, by the help of pelton wheel (water impulse turbine), disk wheel, ‘A-frame’ (which maintains the balance of cycle in water) and dynamo, moves on water when the rider peddles it.

The two air-filled tubes fit on either sides of the cycle prevents the cycle from sinking. In water, the cycle could bear a weight upto 200kg, he said and added that the cycle is designed so that it could move backwards in water, when being peddled reverse. His friends Abdul Khader Hilmi, Rahil Sayyad and Sharon Pratik helped him in this endeavour.

Ahmed Rizavuddin’s father Abdul Rahim told that his son was innovative since childhood and used to repair small things like toy cars etc., when he was barely five year old. As he grew, his inquisitiveness too grew and he started experimenting with new things. His room is filled with all types of spare parts ranging from screws to computer motherboards. Long back, I had told him about floods which I witnessed in my yesteryears and had mentioned that we tried to escape floods using rubber tubes and he has taken that as an inspiration,” he said.

RIzavuddin’s class teacher Vijaya Diwakar Rao, his science teacher Smita, School convener Frances Pinto congratulated him on his achievement and told that he always stood first in science modelling in the school.

School Headmistress Agnes Pinto told that he had his invention experimented in Sulthan Bathery to check on its genuineness and later improved the cycle further to make it more efficient. “He always keeps thinking in the class as if he were dreaming about innovations,” his teachers said.

Rizavuddin said it costs approximately Rs 5,000 to develop the amphibian cycle and added that he will try to modify it further to decrease its weight. He has exhibited his invention in the recently held ‘Inspire’ science model exhibition held at Pilikula. He revealed his ambition of becoming a scientist in future.