Twenty-year-old Lingampalli Himaja from Andhra Pradesh has earned a place in the global top 20 shortlist of the James Dyson Award 2026 for her innovation, Rudhra. A student of Shri Vishnu Engineering College for Women in Bhimavaram, she developed the voice-enabled Braille printer to help visually impaired people create documents independently.Hailing from West Godavari district, Himaja is the daughter of Lingampalli Kishore Kumar and Vani. Her project will now be reviewed by British inventor and industrialist Sir James Dyson, with the winners scheduled to be announced on November 4. The winning entry will receive £30,000 towards further development and commercialisation.
How a school visit inspired Rudhra
The idea took shape about two years ago when Himaja visited a school for visually impaired students run by ophthalmologist UV Ramanaraju under the UV Subbaraju Memorial Trust.The visit exposed the challenges students face while writing Braille using the traditional slate-and-stylus method. The process involves manually punching dots onto paper and, in conventional practice, writing characters in reverse so they can be read correctly from the other side. Repeated punching can also affect the sensitivity of fingertips, which is essential for reading Braille.Himaja’s initial solution was a Braille printer operated using six push buttons. It automatically embossed reverse Braille patterns, allowing the final text to be read normally without requiring users to learn reverse writing.However, feedback during prototype testing led to a more significant change. A student suggested using speech instead of typing, inspiring Himaja to develop a voice-enabled version.
A visit to a school for visually impaired students sparked her idea; 20-year-old Himaja’s voice-enabled Braille printer reaches global top 20. (Photo: SM)
How the voice-enabled Braille printer works
Rudhra uses Alexa to convert spoken words into text, while a Raspberry Pi processes the text and translates it into reverse Braille patterns. Stepper motors move the printing mechanism across the page, and a solenoid embosses the required dots onto the paper.Users can create, edit and store notes through voice commands and verify the text before printing. The system then produces readable Braille documents without requiring users to punch each character manually.Unlike workflows that depend on computer-based input or specialised Braille entry methods, Rudhra aims to make document creation more intuitive through voice commands and automated translation. Its design focuses on simplifying the process from entering text to producing the final document.
A student asked why they had to type when they could speak; 20-year-old Himaja’s Braille printer now reaches the global top 20 of the James Dyson Award 2026. (Photo: jamesdysonaward.org)
What comes next for Rudhra?
The next phase of development is expected to include an automatic paper-feeding system and AI-based assistance for more natural interaction. Himaja’s broader vision is to make the device available in schools for visually impaired students, examination settings and individual households.Further development and testing will be important before the printer can be adopted widely. However, its selection for the James Dyson Award 2026 global top 20 has brought international attention to a student-led innovation addressing a practical accessibility challenge.For Himaja, the recognition marks a significant step towards developing Rudhra into a more compact and accessible device. The project demonstrates how observing a problem in an educational setting can lead to an engineering solution with the potential to make learning and communication more independent for visually impaired people.Disclaimer: This article is based on information available on the official James Dyson Award website and details provided about the project. The information has not been independently verified by TOI Education.