Dr. Rambabu Muppidi, Senior Faculty (FD) at FDDI, Chennai Campus, has added another significant achievement to his distinguished academic and research career with the grant of two Indian Design Patents.
Widely recognized for integrating traditional craft knowledge with modern design innovation, Dr. Muppidi, a Ph.D. Gold Medalist in Handicrafts History from Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, has filed over 50 design applications, of which 29 Indian Design Patents have been granted so far.
One of the newly granted patents is titled “Slippers with Timer Monitoring Unit (Timer Slippers),” (Design No. 481687-001) under Class 02–04 (Footwear), filed on 26 November 2025 and granted in March 2026 by the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks, India. The innovative concept integrates a timer monitoring unit into slippers to track walking duration and promote health awareness and physical activity. Inspired by observations of daily walking habits and the lack of simple tracking mechanisms in conventional footwear, the design combines functionality, comfort, and technology. Developed through market research, sketching, rendering, and CAD modelling, the project was supported by Resolute 4IP under the guidance of Mr. Subhajit Saha, with academic collaboration from Dr. Murali V. Kesaboina and Mr. Mattagunja Anirudh.
Dr. Muppidi also received a patent grant for the innovative “Craft Blue Robo Toy” (Design No. 489119-001) under Class 21–01 (Games and Toys), published in the Indian Patent Office Journal on 13 March 2026. Inspired by pose-to-pose animation techniques, the robot-themed toy is designed to encourage imagination, storytelling, cognitive development, and hands-on learning among children. The design integrates traditional craft thinking with modern production technologies through sketching, manual rendering,
CAD modelling, and CAM-based development. Its ergonomic structure, lightweight build, and dynamic action-pose aesthetics make it visually engaging and child-friendly. The project was developed collaboratively with Mr. Mattagunja Anirudh of FDDI and Mr. Hari Krishna Silamanthula, Assistant Professor at Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, with IP support from Resolute 4IP.
These achievements reflect FDDI’s continued emphasis on innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and research-driven design education. The patents also reinforce Dr. Rambabu Muppidi’s valuable contribution to India’s evolving footwear and product design ecosystem through the successful integration of craft heritage, sustainability, and modern technology.
