IIT Madras startups are developing smart bins, touchless dispensers and portable ventilators to tackle Coronavirus

• Researchers at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Madras are developing innovative solutions to tackle Coronavirus.
  
• Startups incubated by IIT-Madras in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu government, have launched an IVRS — Interactive Voice Response Systems to report the Covid-19 cases in the state.
  
• An IIT-M incubated startup also developed 'AirBin,' that enables remote monitoring of waste accumulation levels.
  
• Across IITs, as many as 202 active research projects are underway to tackle Covid-19.

While India goes into quarantine mode to contain Coronavirus, researchers at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Madras are developing solutions like N-95 masks, face shields and interactive voice response systems to tackle the global pandemic.

Recently, an IIT-Madras incubated startup Antariksh developed a smart bin system - 'AirBin.' It allows remote monitoring of the waste accumulation levels via smartphone.


Startups incubated by IIT-Madras, in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu government, has launched an IVRS — Interactive Voice Response Systems to report the Covid-19 cases in the state. The IVR gives advisory in real-time, if the user should take any precautions based on the travel history, symptoms and other personal information shared.

The initiative was launched as a part of the Aarogya Setu app.

“Close to 65% of mobile phone users in the country use feature phones. Especially for those sitting in villages who are feeling unwell or possibly infected, it becomes difficult to reach out or report cases if help is limited to smart phone technology. This initiative aims to fill this gap,” Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Head at the IIT-M Incubation Cell told The Times of India.

The faculty staff at the institute also developed a touchless portable sanitizer dispenser that can be installed in public places to contain Coronavirus.

Meanwhile, AirOk Technologies, which is an IIT-M incubated startup has developed 25,000 masks and protective gear for medical professionals. Another startup Ubifly Technologies deployed drones for delivery of drugs and medicines. A med-tech startup incubated at IIT-M also developed a smartphone-based portable ventilator with a humidifier.

In fact, the researchers at IIT Madras are currently engaged in nearly five active projects aiming to develop testing kits for Covid-19. The institute has even proposed to set up a testing facility.

Across IITs, as many as 202 active research projects are underway to tackle Covid-19.

At IIT Roorkee, Hyderabad and Kharagpur campuses, research students also made their own sanitizers. While IIT Delhi researchers developed ‘cheaper’ test kits to trim the cost of diagnosis. These test kits are now at the clinical trial stage. However, the cost of the kits hasn’t been disclosed as yet.

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