Hyderabad student builds a satellite device for villages that works without internet
Aagam Jain, a Class 12 student at Indus International School in Hyderabad, has developed SummitSathi, a satellite-based weather receiver designed to help remote Himalayan villages access weather information without internet or mobile networks. The idea came during a mountain-climbing trip near Dehradun, where poor connectivity made it difficult to obtain weather updates and highlighted the challenges faced by local communities.
The device, which costs approximately ₹68,000 per unit, receives signals directly from passing weather satellites and converts them into cloud images that can be viewed locally. After its initial field testing near Dehradun, Aagam improved the technology and introduced a simple grading scale to help villagers interpret the images. He is preparing to distribute the devices free of charge to 10 villages in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district.
SummitSathi is intended to provide an additional source of weather information during situations when heavy rain or snowfall disrupts regular communication channels. However, it is not an automated forecasting or cloudburst prediction system and does not replace official India Meteorological Department forecasts or government alerts. The project also aims to make the equipment accessible to local communities rather than depending entirely on outside technical support.
Beyond this project, Aagam has spent 24 months recording night-sky brightness at 25 locations across Hyderabad to study light pollution. He has also self-published an astrophotography book titled A Window to the Universe. His work combines his interests in astronomy, technology and mountain climbing to develop practical solutions for real-world challenges.
Aagam Jain, a Class 12 student at Indus International School in Hyderabad, has developed SummitSathi, a satellite-based weather receiver designed to help remote Himalayan villages access weather information without internet or mobile networks. The idea came during a mountain-climbing trip near Dehradun, where poor connectivity made it difficult to obtain weather updates and highlighted the challenges faced by local communities.
The device, which costs approximately ₹68,000 per unit, receives signals directly from passing weather satellites and converts them into cloud images that can be viewed locally. After its initial field testing near Dehradun, Aagam improved the technology and introduced a simple grading scale to help villagers interpret the images. He is preparing to distribute the devices free of charge to 10 villages in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district.
SummitSathi is intended to provide an additional source of weather information during situations when heavy rain or snowfall disrupts regular communication channels. However, it is not an automated forecasting or cloudburst prediction system and does not replace official India Meteorological Department forecasts or government alerts. The project also aims to make the equipment accessible to local communities rather than depending entirely on outside technical support.
Beyond this project, Aagam has spent 24 months recording night-sky brightness at 25 locations across Hyderabad to study light pollution. He has also self-published an astrophotography book titled A Window to the Universe. His work combines his interests in astronomy, technology and mountain climbing to develop practical solutions for real-world challenges.
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