Designs on the market

The devices are expected to be launched commercially next year.

Developed by Kissadee Ditpradub, a master's student at Ramkhamhaeng University, ThaiSOS is a tracking device that can be attached to a cellphone. It comes with a global-positioning system and general packet-radio service. The system pinpoints the location of users on a Google map.

The device is designed to help foreigners on a visit to Thailand and provide them with a sense of security.

The device allows users to access tourism-related and promotional campaigns at the places they visit.

"The system can also be used to send out SOSes. When a user presses the SOS button on the device or the cellphone, an assistance centre in the area will receive an alert. In case of an accident, the centre will then be able to locate the site and send in police and rescue teams there," Kissadee said.

Once the device is commercially launched, tourists will be able to book it on a website and collect it at the airport after landing in Thailand.

The MiniCNC, or the  mini-computer numerical control, reads code instruction and drives a machine tool - a mechanical device used to fabricate metal components by the selective removal of aluminium, plastic, copper and brass.

The machine has been developed by Pongthep Puentain.

The MiniCNC offers 3D functions, allowing the speed at which a machine cuts a metal, the depth and the dimension to be preset.

The MiniCNC will be commercially launched next year. It will be available for Bt100,000, one-third the price of imported machine tools. 

The National Innovation Agency provided Bt143,000 for the ThaiSOS project and Bt177,000 for the MiniCNC project. The aim was to give developers the confidence to bring new devices to the market.