PANAJI: In a significant advancement for prosthetic technology, Goa-based mechanical engineer Gurvinder Singh has developed the Phoenix Foot, an innovative prosthetic designed to provide ankle mobility to amputees. This project was inspired by Singh’s personal experience, as his army veteran father underwent a foot amputation due to an infection, leading to mobility challenges.
The Phoenix Foot was created in collaboration with the Indian Army’s Pune-based Artificial Limb Centre (ALC) and is poised to support high-activity levels for users. Following successful trials at ALC, the prosthetic is now ready for wider distribution.
The unveiling of the Phoenix Foot occurred during Inno-Yoddha 2024-25, an Idea and Innovation Seminar organized by the Indian Army’s Design Bureau. Singh expressed the vision behind his design: “After my father’s foot was amputated due to an infection, he struggled with mobility. This inspired me to design Phoenix with the ALC team headed by Lt Col G Parmeshwar Reddy . Today, he walks 8,000–10,000 steps daily with ease.”
This endeavor aims to tackle the scarcity of affordable, high-quality prosthetic options in India. Priced at approximately Rs 20,000, the Phoenix Foot offers a customizable solution meant to meet international standards. The development team emphasized the market dynamics for foot prosthetics, noting that high costs are primarily due to a limited number of private players dominating the niche market. “Phoenix changes that equation,” they stated.
Army chief general Upendra Dwivedi awarded the chief of army staff commendation medal to Gurvinder Singh for his achievement.