Maker's Revolution

A prodigy in the true sense of the word, Angad Daryani has created India’s first affordable 3D printer at the tender age of 15. Trishann Henriques maps his journey from school student to inventor and entrepreneur

While most kids aged 15 spend their time playing and dissing their homework, Angad Daryani is busy thinking about what his next invention is going to be. The inventor of India’s first affordable 3D printer, the co-creator of the Virtual Brailler and the founder of Shark Kits – a Do It Yourself  kit that encourages invention among young kids  – Angad is one of the country’s youngest mechanical and technical hobbyists.

Tell us about India’s first 3D printer.
Most of the existing desktop 3D printers available in the market are unreliable and cost a lot of money.  This is where the idea to create SharkBot came about. So far, SharkBot is developed from an ergonomics and product design point of view, but its engineering design is yet to be ready. SharkBot would be capable of printing materials such as ABS, PLA, nylon, HIPS, Laywood and many more. Since it the still in its development stages, shipping excellence at a very low cost takes time.

What was the reason you created Shark Kits – your very own business venture?
Shark Kits is a product line that aims to provide youngsters with high quality, low cost kits in order to introduce them to the world of Do-ItYourself (DIY) and technology. My main purpose is to trigger curiosity in kids. I want them to find out what they can do with this limited hardware. I want to make them question why everything happens and to make them reason instead of just sticking to textbook knowledge.

You are all of 15. Has your age been an obstacle in your progress?
To me, age is just a number. My level of knowledge at age 15 is the only reason I feel restricted as it takes me a good amount of time to get through omplex theories which people have taken years to master.

Every inventor needs a financer. How have you managed funding to carry on inventing?
I am very lucky to have supportive parents who have been financially backing all my inventions and creations so far.

Have success and popularity changed you in any way?
Yes. My productivity has reduced as I spend more time replying to emails than working on my creations. But I am slowly trying to change that.

What do your friends have to say about your success and projects?
My friends are very happy. They want to see me do more, much more.

How receptive is the industry to a 15-year-old inventor?
My products haven’t been released in the market yet. I plan to do so in the next couple of months so I will know then. However, I do believe it takes time for change to take place.

Has homeschooling played a vital role in your development process?
I always ranked in the top three in my class at school. But it was during the Olympiads and other academic competitions that I realised I stood nowhere close to my competition. It was then that I realised that in school, it is difficult for a student to get your basic fundamentals right. Unconventional hobbies that I had weren’t encouraged much in school. Hence, I took the decision to quit school and build on these hobbies. If I hadn’t quit school and opted for NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling)/homeschooling, I wouldn’t be able to achieve what I have.

What is a typical day in your life like?
I usually spend six to seven hours a day studying. After I am done, I am free to do whatever I want. However, my research and projects dominate my free time.

What advice would you give to students your age?
Do what you love. Everything looks difficult in the start, but once you start doing it’s really not that tough.

Quick Bytes

Your inspiration
My father, my grandfather, Jeremy Blum and many more

An inventor/innovator you wish to be like
I don’t believe in aiming at being someone else. My goal is to keep improving myself  to get better.

Your hobbies
Playing football, designing automobiles, studying the behaviour of aquatic animals and exercising

How you de-stress
I meditate for 15 minutes before going to bed; it makes me forget about work and ideas. Else, the ideas don’t let me sleep.

 

Volume 3 Issue 10