James Dyson Award 2026: Indian student builds electric vehicle for security patrols

Shakeel Akthar S's Trike 2π, a compact electric vehicle for security patrols, has been named a James Dyson Award 2026 India runner-up. The project has moved from a campus concept to use by Coimbatore City Police and Railway Protection Force personnel.

In Short

• The project began after repeated long walks across a 150-acre campus
• The three-wheel design enables tight turns within crowded pedestrian spaces
• User feedback drove suspension, ergonomics and braking changes across four iterations

A compact electric patrol vehicle designed to help security personnel move through large pedestrian spaces has earned national recognition at the James Dyson Award 2026 – India.

Trike 2 pi, developed by Shakeel Akthar S, has been named a national runner-up in the competition. Akthar is currently pursuing an ME in Industrial Automation and Robotics at Kumaraguru College of Technology (KCT) in Coimbatore. KCT is affiliated with Anna University. His LinkedIn profile describes his interest in developing sustainable and efficient electric transportation solutions.

The project began during Akthar's undergraduate studies, when he was part of a research team that frequently travelled across a 150-acre campus. Walking long distances made him think about how security personnel manage prolonged patrols in even larger spaces such as railway stations, industrial facilities, airports and universities.

Instead of adapting an existing vehicle, the team developed a purpose-built patrol mobility solution.

HOW DOES TRIKE 2 pi WORK?

Trike 2 pi is a compact, front-wheel-drive electric patrol vehicle built around a three-wheel architecture. It combines the stability of a four-wheeler with the manoeuvrability of a two-wheeler.

Its front hub-driven wheel allows a high steering angle, while the two rear wheels rotate independently on a dead axle. This allows the vehicle to make tight turns within a five-foot radius, making it suitable for confined pedestrian spaces.

The rider stands on an integrated platform, which provides greater visibility and allows quick mounting, dismounting and interaction during patrols.

The vehicle also has independent coil suspension on each wheel to improve comfort and stability on uneven surfaces. Its mild-steel chassis keeps the centre of gravity low, while a 250W motor provides the required torque and complies with India's low-speed vehicle regulations.

FOUR ITERATIONS SHAPED THE CURRENT VEHICLE

The development of Trike 2 pi went through four engineering iterations, with feedback from security personnel guiding changes to the design.

The first prototype was used to test the standing patrol concept and compact three-wheel architecture. Initial trials with campus security personnel highlighted poor ride comfort because the vehicle did not have suspension.

The second version introduced independent coil suspension, improved ergonomics and a lower centre of gravity.

Testing on uneven terrain then revealed an issue with front-wheel-only braking. The team developed a mechanical braking system that distributes braking force equally to both rear wheels through a single brake lever.

The final iteration focused on manufacturing, while adding features including a siren, public address system, beacon lights, GPS, lighting and body panels. More than 50 users from different age groups and professions evaluated the different iterations, according to the James Dyson Award project page.

FROM STUDENT PROJECT TO REAL-WORLD USE

Trike 2 pi has since moved beyond prototype development and into public-use environments.

According to a recent update from Kumaraguru College of Technology, Trike 2 pi units are being used by the Coimbatore City Police for patrolling, while 10 units have been deployed at Chennai Central Railway Station for surveillance by Railway Protection Force personnel.

The project has also opened an entrepreneurial route for Akthar through Elaicle Innovations Private Limited, an IPTIF-supported startup. His LinkedIn profile lists Elaicle Innovations among his professional experience.

AWARDS AND SUPPORT

The project has received several recognitions and grants during its development.

These include the IEI Research Excellence Award, an AICTE-MIC YUKTI Innovation Challenge grant of Rs 5 lakh for proof-of-concept development, a Rs 2 lakh NewGen IEDC grant for product development and Rs 10 lakh product development support under IPTIF IMPACT 3.0.

Akthar's LinkedIn profile also lists the Technical Star – Research award from Kumaraguru College of Technology in 2024, the IEI Research Excellence recognition, the Visvesvaraya Award from KCT and a finalist recognition from the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology.

The next milestone for Trike 2 pi is the completion of its first production batch and operational validation with Railway Protection Force personnel, according to the James Dyson Award project page.

The team plans to use feedback from the deployment for further engineering refinement, testing, certification and compliance before expanding production.

Future plans include deploying the vehicle across universities, industrial facilities, airports, hospitals and other large pedestrian environments. The project also proposes a rear-wheel-drive Gen-2 platform for off-road applications and a Gen-3 battery-swappable platform for continuous patrol operations.

Trike 2 pi will now be considered for the James Dyson Award's global Top 20 shortlist.

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