A 20-year-old BTech student from Andhra Pradesh has won the India National Winner title at the prestigious James Dyson Award 2026 for inventing a voice-enabled Braille printing system called RUDHRA.
Himaja Lingampalli, a student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Sri Vishnu Engineering College for Women, developed the device after visiting a school for visually impaired students near her college. She observed that the traditional slate-and-stylus method was physically demanding and required learners to master reverse Braille patterns. A simple question from a student — “Why should I type when I can speak?” — further inspired her to create a more accessible solution.
How RUDHRA Works
RUDHRA allows users to create, edit and print Braille documents using voice commands. Spoken input is converted into text (via integration with Alexa), processed by a Raspberry Pi, and then embossed as Braille patterns on paper. The system aims to reduce physical effort and eliminate the need to learn reverse writing techniques, making Braille creation faster and more independent
The name “RUDHRA” is inspired by Lord Shiva.
As the India national winner, Himaja will receive a prize of approximately ₹6 lakh (around £5,000). She will now represent India at the international stage of the James Dyson Award, where Sir James Dyson will select the global winners.
The James Dyson Award is an international design competition that invites university students and recent graduates to develop practical engineering solutions to real-world problems. Himaja’s invention has been recognised for its potential to improve accessibility and independence for visually impaired individuals in education and daily communication.
Her achievement highlights the power of student-led innovation in assistive technology and brings pride to Andhra Pradesh and Indian engineering education.