Keerthan Bhaskaran, a class 9 student from Chirec International School, has developed ‘ParkPatrol,’ an innovative solution to tackle unauthorized parking. In an exclusive chat with The Pioneer, he discusses more in detail
At just 13 years old, Keerthan Bhaskaran, a class 9 student from Chirec International School, has turned his passion for robotics into a practical solution for a common yet pressing issue—unauthorized parking. His invention, ‘ParkPatrol,’ combines cutting-edge technology with a cost-effective approach to address parking conflicts in communities and cities. With a clear vision, remarkable technical skills and the guidance of a supportive mentor, Keerthan has not only developed a functional prototype but also taken significant steps toward commercialising
his idea.
Driven by a desire to create meaningful change, his interest in robotics started when he was just 10 years old during the pandemic. “I started robotics in late 2020. During COVID, I had nothing to do, so my mom sent me to a robotics class. I started with basic coding and gradually developed a flair for robotics,” he said.
Unauthorised parking has long been a nuisance affecting residential communities, businesses, and urban areas. Keerthan’s ‘ParkPatrol’ is a cost-effective system that uses sensors and cameras to detect unauthorised cars parked in reserved spots. “I was inspired to create this after noticing frequent parking issues in our community,” he explained.
He highlighted how ‘ParkPatrol’ stands out from other similar solutions. “All other products in the market are very expensive and complex. This is different because it’s a simpler and more cost-effective version,” he
stated.
Creating a functional invention at the age of 13 came with its own set of challenges, particularly regarding resources. However, Keerthan was fortunate to receive guidance from his mentor, Ajay Singh.
“There are not many resources available online for projects like this, but my mentor, Ajay Singh, helped me resolve a lot of technical issues. He also connected us with the ex-president of Sensen AI, an Australian computer-based company, who gave us valuable advice on improving and scaling the product for the market.”
Talking about the technologies behind, he elaborated: “There are two major technologies in this project. One is motion detection. When motion is detected, it wakes up the camera, which takes 4-5 pictures of the car in front and detects the number plate. To extract the number plate, we use algorithms under a library called OpenCV. Techniques like masking and edge detection eliminate distractions, allowing us to focus on the digits of the number plate.”
He revealed that his experience with similar projects and familiarity with Python programming helped him complete the invention in just four months. “We conducted a test 2-3 months ago in our community using two cars parked over 4-5 days. The results were accurate. We successfully detected the number plates and notified the car owners. During these tests, we identified several areas for improvement.”
The success of ‘ParkPatrol’ has encouraged Keerthan and his mentor to commercialise the product. “We are planning to release thiscommercially. I’ve been invited to various events to represent my project and I’ve taken a lot of feedback from judges, which will help us make further improvements,”
he said.
Unauthorised parking often disrupts peace and harmony in communities and he believes his invention can address this issue effectively. “A community’s peace and harmony are really important. Unauthorised parking is a common problem in every community. This invention can help reduce conflicts and create a positive impact on society,” he added.
In conclusion, this young inventor shared that he is currently working on new robotics projects and plans to present ‘ParkPatrol’ at an upcoming business carnival in February.
