COIMBATORE: Trike 2π, a compact electric patrol vehicle developed by S Shakeel Akthar, 24, an ME (industrial automation and robotics) student at Kumaraguru College of Technology (KCT), has been named a national runner-up at the James Dyson Award 2026 – India.
The vehicle’s architecture combines stability and manoeuvrability, with the ability to execute 360-degree turns within a five-foot radius. Coimbatore city police began using early units in 2024 for patrolling, while 10 Trike 2π units are currently deployed at Chennai Central Railway Station for surveillance by Railway Protection Force personnel. Trike 2π has received the IEI Research Excellence Award 2024, a ₹5 lakh AICTE–MIC YUKTI Innovation Challenge grant, a ₹2 lakh NewGen IEDC grant, and ₹10 lakh product development support under IPTIF IMPACT 3.0, according to its James Dyson Award profile. National runners-up are considered for the award’s global Top 20 shortlist, which is evaluated by Dyson engineers. The Top 20 shortlist for 2026 is scheduled for Oct 14, with global winners to be announced on Nov 4.
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Akthar, a member of KCT’s REACT (Real World Engineering and Application through Collaborative Transformation) programme, said the three-wheeled vehicle was designed to aid security personnel operating in large pedestrian-heavy environments such as campuses, transit hubs and public spaces. Akthar said the project began for personal use and evolved through prototype testing and user feedback. It features a standing rider platform aimed at improving visibility and enabling quick mounting and dismounting during patrol duties. The latest version includes independent suspension, a low-centre-of-gravity chassis, folder placed water bottles, notepad and integrated systems intended for patrol operations. The innovation has moved into operational environments. Expansion to additional railway stations is also being planned, he added. The James Dyson Award, run by James Dyson Foundation, is an international competition recognising student and graduate innovations in engineering and design that address real-world problems. Download the TOI App.