Andhra Pradesh Student Wins James Dyson Award 2026 for Innovation

Lingampalli Himaja, a student from Chintalapudi in Andhra Pradesh’s Eluru district, has been named the national winner of the James Dyson Award 2026. Her project, RUDHRA, is a voice-enabled Braille printer designed to turn spoken words into tactile text, allowing visually impaired individuals to create documents independently. Currently a student at Shri Vishnu Engineering College for Women, Himaja was moved to create the device after seeing the difficulties students face while learning. The printer is meant to simplify Braille writing through the use of accessible technology.

The inspiration for RUDHRA came during a visit to a school for the blind, where Himaja watched students struggle with traditional writing methods. Many found it difficult to master Braille characters while also learning their reverse patterns, and the physical strain of conventional tools often slowed their progress. The prototype was eventually shaped by a single question from a student: 'Why should I type when I can speak?' This prompted Himaja to develop a voice-activated system that streamlines the entire production of Braille documents.

RUDHRA functions by letting users create, edit, and print documents using simple voice commands. The system uses Alexa to turn speech into text, which is then processed by a Raspberry Pi to generate the required reverse Braille patterns. A printing mechanism then embosses these patterns onto paper. This method removes the need for users to learn reverse writing, cutting down the effort usually required for Braille. Throughout its development, Himaja used feedback from visually impaired students to ensure the device worked effectively for them.

The impact of RUDHRA goes beyond the individual, offering a way to improve accessibility in schools for visually impaired students. The recognition from the James Dyson Award underscores the value of engineering that addresses real-world needs. Himaja’s work stands as a practical example of how technology can support better learning experiences. Other notable entries in this year’s award included ViabilityX, a passive organ preservation system, and Trike 2π, an electric patrol vehicle, showing a wide range of technical solutions.

Looking ahead, Himaja plans to further refine and test RUDHRA as she works to make the tool available to the community. The support from the James Dyson Award will help her move from a working prototype to a fully functional device. The award provides a platform for young inventors to find encouragement and visibility, and as one of the top three entries from India, RUDHRA will now enter the international round of the competition for a chance at a global impact.