27 June,2026 10:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram Iyengar
Nachiket and Shivangi Shetye with the children. Pics/Atul Kamble
There is a point of disbelief, in between conversations about Python coding, LEGO robotics, and Quarky boards, where one remembers that the speakers are still only 10-years-old. Food-entrepreneur Nachiket Shetye concurs. "I know a friend of mine whose child presented a better engineering paper than his, at college," he shares with a chuckle. His twins, Neev and Nysa, are proving that generational gap right with their latest win in the Track Two Elementary Challenge of the Codeavour 7.0 robotics competition at Jakarta last month.
The journey into robotics started early for the Worli-based twins, at the age of four. "We were at their maternal grandparents' place during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we thought of introducing them to robotics. A friend directed us to the OMOTEC Institute in Juhu, and it went on from there," the co-founder of Kytchens shares.
While other kids play with robots, the twins are taking a different approach. They first competed in a robotics competition last year, shares mother Shivangi. "Once we started building moving parts, we wanted to find out more," shares Nysa.
The journey to Jakarta was shaped by regional competitions in Pune, and later the nationals at Bengaluru, before the international podium arrived for the students of the Aditya Birla World Academy. Neev explains, "We built a robot with a Quarky board which could pick up blocks. We made a camera to detect the blocks, place them, and correctly navigate without taking fouls. There were eight tasks in all that we had to complete, and four minutes to complete it."
His sister adds, "We coded in Pictoblox, and it was all blockchain coding. This year, the theme was AI with Wellness. So, we had to build a robot that picks up and delivers vaccines, and mimics yoga poses."
From Python to Duplo, the twins are already well versed with multiple coding forms. "The coding bit on Scratch was fun. It is challenging," shares Neev casually. This writer has to Google to learn that Scratch is a programme developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
For the parents, it is also about learning life skills. Nachiket shares, "You can see the diligence and attention to detail they have. There is strategising, designing, and different facets that they have learnt, as well as adapting during competition and problem-solving."
As for the kids, they are already on to their next challenge. Working with the Indian Mouth and Foot Painting Association, the duo have crafted a robotic system titled SPARSH - Smart Precision Art Robot for Sustaining Heritage. "Since the next theme for World Robotics Olympiad 2026 coming up is about Robots Meet Culture, we thought of helping differently-abled mouth and foot artists paint bigger and faster while preserving culture. It is a co-creation project with the artist where the artist always stays in control. We met up with Nadeem Shaikh, and learned how his neck and back hurt, while he rushes for short deadlines," shares Neev. Nysa chips in, "Also, he cannot do large works. And when he can't meet deadlines, he loses clients orders."
As long as they retain this empathy, technology will be in good hands.
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