Leishangthem Rup's Robot 'Kangleinganbi' fluent in Manipuri

Arish Longjam *

Leishangthem Rup with his parents :: Pix - The People's Chronicle

Leishangthem Rup, a class XII student, demonstrated his remarkable talent and passion for technology by successfully making a robot named "Kangleinganbi" that can communicate in Manipuri language. Rup, born to L Basanta and L Roma of Singjamei Leishangthem Leikai, is studying at Central Academy, Khabam Chumbreithong, Mantripukhri in the science stream.

His academic background in science has been attribute for his innovative approach to technology and robotics.

In a chat with The People's Chronicle, Rup recounted that he started working on making the robot in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic while studying at Kendriya Vidyalaya. The pandemic's social distancing measures inspired him to create the robot with the aim of assisting people by transporting and delivering goods and other essential materials, helping to minimize physical contact during those challenging times.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, he managed to use his time and resources effectively to develop his unique robot. Explaining the reason behind naming the robot, he expressed that "Kangleinganbi" holds cultural significance, blending "Kanglei" from Kangleipak, the ancient name for Manipur, with "Nganbi" defining "light".

The name has been deliberately chosen to give the robot a feminine name, considering his family does not have any female members other than his mother.

"Kangleinganbi" is equipped with the ability to answer all questions asked in Manipuri, making it an invaluable tool for those familiar with the language. This feature showcases the commitment to preserving and promoting Manipuri language and culture through technology.

Additionally, the robot has been programmed to sing Manipuri songs, adding a creative and cultural aspect to its capabilities, he added.

The robot is operated through a mobile application called "Automission" that could be downloaded, from Play Store, which connects the robot to a mobile device via Bluetooth, allowing efficient control and interaction, Rup explained, and added that after the successful assembling of the robot during the pandemic, he has continued to pursue his passion for utilising technology to help the people.

As the Covid pandemic has been contained, he expanded Kangleinganbi's potential applications. "I am now experimenting use of the robot in restaurants to perform tasks traditionally done by waiters, such as taking orders and serving food.

This trial has been successful which has shown the robot's ability to work in various environments," he added.

Rup envisions Kangleinganbi and similar robots being used to assist humans in different settings and performing tasks, providing valuable support and streamlining processes.

After completing Class XII, he plans to pursue engineering and further develop advanced technologies that benefit humanity.