Engineer builds robotic Golu display to teach son
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In Chennai, India, an engineer from IIT Madras transformed her family’s Navaratri Golu display, a tiered arrangement of dolls, into an interactive robotics lesson for her son.
She used her experience with robotics from university and her current work in wind energy to build working models within the traditional display. A miniature chariot moves along a track using line-following sensors, and a replica of Krishna’s discus spins with the push of a button.
The engineer began designing the robotic elements one to two months before Navaratri, balancing the project with her work and family life. She intentionally used simple mechanics to demonstrate that robotics doesn’t require complex technology. Inspired by her mother’s interest in science and tradition and her mother-in-law’s love of Golu displays, the engineer hopes her creation will encourage more children, especially girls, to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Visiting children have responded positively to the interactive exhibit.
