Sensors for Face Masks that help Gauge Fit

Engineers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed sensors for face masks that help gauge fit. Any type of mask can be used with the sensor, which detects direct physical contact between the mask and the wearer's face. The technology also measures biological and environmental changes such as breathing pattern, activities of individuals, skin temperature, the temperature and humidity inside the face mask, the position of the mask, including whether or not people are wearing it properly. The study is published in journal Nature Electronics.

Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), News

Smartphone’s Camera and Flash Measure Blood Oxygen Levels at Home

Image credit: Dennis Wise/University of Washington

Researchers from University of Washington and University of California San Diego have demonstrated that smartphones can detect blood oxygen saturation levels as low as 70%. In this technique, participants place their finger over the smartphone's camera and flash, which utilises a deep-learning algorithm to determine the blood oxygen levels. The smartphone correctly identified if a patient had low blood oxygen levels 80% of the time when the team gave six subjects a controlled dosage of nitrogen and oxygen to artificially lower their blood oxygen levels. The results are published in the journal npj Digital Medicine.

Source: University of Washington, News

New Materials for Stable LEDs Emitting Bright Light

Scientists from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) have developed a new material through which we can move towards bright, stable and affordable Light-emitting Diodes (LEDs). They discovered that simple plasma treatment of inorganic material of cesium lead halide nanocrystals can lead to many folds improved stabilisation, indicating the promise of bright and stable LEDs. The study is published in the journal ACS Applied Nano Materials.

Sourcce: PIB, Press release

iTad — interactive Touch active display

Researchers from IIT Madras have developed a novel touchscreen display technology called ‘iTad’ for interactive touch active display. The technology allows users to feel the textures of images as their finger goes across the touch surface. Present touchscreens can only sense the location of finger touch. Software allows the researchers to produce a variety of textures, including sharp edges, switches, and rich textures that range from smooth to gritty.

Source: IIT Madras, Press release

Biodegradable, Biopolymer Nanocomposite to Detect Relative Humidity

Scientists from the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), have developed biodegradable, biopolymer nanocomposite that can detect relative humidity. These materials can be used as smart packaging, particularly for the food industry. In this, carbon dots (nanomaterial) were combined with two biopolymers, Guar Gum (a variety of beans derived from plant) and Alginate (derived from brown algae) to develop a nanocomposite film that was effectively used to detect relative humidity. The fabricated nanocomposite film was an excellent smart sensor based on the fluorescence ‘on-off’ mechanisms against humidity. The research was published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.

Source: PIB, Press release

Sensing Pressure Using Paper

Wearable paper pressure sensor (Image Credit: Neha Sakhuja)

A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has fabricated pressure sensors that use paper as the medium. According to scientists, it is highly sensitive and can also detect a wide range of pressures (0-120 kPa) with a response time of just one millisecond. The sensor is made of plain and corrugated cellulose papers coated with the chemical tin-monosulfide (SnS), stacked alternatively to form a multi-layered architecture. Under specific conditions, semiconductor tin-monosulfide can conduct electricity. The paper was published in the ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.

Source: IISc, Press release

IIT Delhi Launches Mobile Application ‘IITD Aab Prahari’

A mobile application named "IITD Aab Prahari" has been launched by the Water Security Hub project of IIT Delhi to address waterlogging issues in urban areas during the monsoon. By capturing the waterlogging and uploading the data to a central server, the "IITD Aab Prahari" mobile application system enables individuals and communities to report the real-time incidence of flooding in and around their surroundings. The app is currently available on Google Play and will soon be available on the iOS app store.

Source: IIT Delhi, Press release

New Edible Coating to Extend Shelf Life of Fruits and Vegetables

A team of researchers from IIT, Guwahati, have developed an edible material that when coated on vegetables and fruits, significantly increased their shelf-life. To develop the edible material, the researchers combined an extract of a marine microalga called Dunaliella tertiolecta with polysaccharides. The material was tested on potatoes, tomatoes, green chillies, strawberries, Khasi Mandarin, apples, pineapples, and kiwis and was found to keep these fruits and vegetables fresh for nearly two months.

Source: India Science Wire

‘Snapping’ Footwear Prevents Diabetic Foot Complications

A team of researchers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Karnataka Institute of Endocrinology and Research (KIER), have developed a set of unique self-regulating footwear for people who suffer from nerve damage caused by diabetes, leading to a loss of sensation in the foot. Snapping mechanism in these footwear keeps the feet well-balanced, enabling faster healing of the injured region and preventing injuries from arising in other areas of the feet. The study was published in Wearable Technologies.

Source: IISc, Press release

Flexible, highly sensitive motion device

Wearable technology — smartwatches, heart monitors, sleep aid devices, even step counters — have become part of everyday life. And researchers with UBC Okanagan’s Nanomaterials and Polymer Nanocomposites Laboratory have created even smaller, lighter and highly-accurate sensors that can be integrated into clothing and equipment. Tiny and lightweight, these EMI shields can have applications in the health care, aerospace and automotive industries, explains Dr Mohammad Arjmand, Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Advanced Materials and Polymer Engineering at UBC Okanagan’s School of Engineering. The research was published in Carbon.

Source: University of British Columbia Okanagan campus, Media release

Hybrid Buckling-Restrained Braces (HBRBs) — Improve Earthquake Resistance of Structures

Researchers from the India Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) have developed a novel, low-cost, hybrid buckling-restrained brace (HBRB) that can provide improved protection to constructions from earthquakes. These braces have higher strength, better energy dissipation potential, and excellent ductility. 

Source: IIT Delhi, Press release

Flexible Microprobe for Neural Interfacing

Researchers at the University of California San Diego and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have developed a tiny neural probe that is approximately one-fifth of the width of a human hair. It can be implanted for a longer duration to record and stimulate neural activity while minimising injury to the surrounding tissue. The team says that this type of neural probe would be ideal for studying small and dynamic areas of the nervous system like peripheral nerves or the spinal cord. The details are published in the journal Nature Communications.

Source: University of California San Diego, Press release

Touchless Touch Sensor

Scientists from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced and Scientific Research (JNCASR), have developed a low-cost touch-cum-proximity sensor. They have come up with a semi-automated production plant which can be used in advanced touchless screen technologies.The touchlesstouch sensor can sense a proximal or hover touch even from a distance of 9 cm from the device. This technology helps minimise the spread of viruses that spread through contact. This work was published in the journal Materials Letters.

Source: dst.gov.in

Remote Controlled Robotic Crab

Engineers at the Northwestern University have developed a tiny robotic crab. Smaller than a flea half-millimetre widethe remote-controlled walking robot can walk, twist, turn and jump. Scientists believe that this technology helps carry out activities inside the tightly confined spaces, for example, can be used in the repairing of machines, as surgical assistants, etc.

Source: Northwestern University, News release

3D printed gloves for Rehabilitating Stroke Patients

Researchers in the Department of Physics at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, have developed a soft, wearable 3D printed device that utilises the fundamental properties of light to sense a physiotherapy patient’s limb or finger movements. A silicon-based polymer material is used that can be 3D printed to fit the patient's arms and fingers. The customisable, 3D printed gloves can be remotely controlled, opening up the possibility of teleconsultation by physiotherapists. 

Source: IISc, Press release

Smart Materials for applications in Soft Robotics

Researchers from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, have developed a smart material which responds to light stimulus easily by converting light energy into thermal energy. This can help in utilising solar energy for various applications in soft robotics and Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS) devices. This work was published in the journal Soft Matter.

Source: PIB, Press release 

Modular Device for Extra-terrestrial Experiments

Image credit: G Sai Santosh, Project Staff, IISc

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have developed a modular, self-contained device to cultivate microorganisms. Similar to spectrophotometers used in the lab, the device uses an LED and photodiode sensor combination to track bacterial growth by measuring the optical density or scattering of light. This enables scientists to carry out biological experiments in outer space. The study is published in Acta Astronautica.

Newly Devised Sensor Can Detect Explosives Swiftly

A team of scientists from the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati have developed a thermally stable and cost-effective electronic polymer-based sensor for rapidly detecting nitro-aromatic chemicals used in high-energy explosives. The device can be operated at room temperature, has a low response time and negligible interference from other chemicals. The fabrication is simple and is negligibly affected by humidity.

Source: India Science Wire

Baby Detector Software

Researchers from the University of South Australia have developed software that can automatically detect a premature baby’s face and skin when covered in tubes, clothing, and undergoing phototherapy. It is capable of remotely monitoring a baby's vital signs from a digital camera with the same accuracy as an Electrocardiogram (ECG) machine. The results have been published in the Journal of Imaging.

Source: UniSA Media Releases 

Unique Technology for Direct Generation of Hydrogen from Agricultural Residue

A team of researchers from Agharkar Research Institute, Pune in collaboration with Sentient labs of KPIT Technologies, have developed a unique technology for direct generation of Hydrogen from agricultural residue. This innovation can promote eco-friendly hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles by overcoming the challenge of hydrogen availability.

Source: PIB, Press release

Modified Cotton Fabric — Adsorbs Harmful Air Pollutants

A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, has developed a low-cost, modified cotton fabric that is capable of adsorbing harmful pollutants from ambient air. They are Zeolite Imidazolate Framework (ZIF)-modified functionalized fabrics and called ZIF-8@CM Cotton and ZIF-67@CM Cotton. They can adsorb high levels of organic air pollutants such as aniline, styrene, and benzene from the ambient air.

Source: IIT Delhi

'NeoBolt' Indigenous Motorized Wheelchair Vehicle

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, have developed India's first indigenous motorized wheelchair vehicle named 'NeoBolt'. It is powered by a Lithium-Ion Battery that will give 25 km for every charge and can be used not only on roads but even on uneven terrains. It empowers wheelchair users with a convenient, safe and low-cost mode of outdoor mobility when compared to cars, auto-rickshaws or modified scooters.

Source: IIT Madras, Press release

‘Smart’ Shirt

Rice University graduate student Lauren Taylor shows a shirt with carbon nanotube thread that provides constant monitoring of the wearer’s heart. Photo by Jeff Fitlow

Researchers from Rice University have developed a smart shirt which is basically a nanotube fibre into athletic wear to monitor the heart rate and take a continual electrocardiogram (EKG) of the wearer. The study is reported in the American Chemical Society journal Nano Letters.

Source: https://news.rice.edu/2021/08/30/smart-shirt-keeps-tabs-on-the-heart-2/

Charging Room

The finished charging room, located at the University of Tokyo. 
Image credit: The University of Tokyo

Researchers from the University of Michigan and the University of Tokyo have developed a system to safely deliver electricity over the air, potentially turning entire buildings into wireless charging zones. The technology can deliver 50 watts of power using magnetic fields. It wirelessly powers lamps, fans and cell phones that could draw current from anywhere in the room regardless of the placement of people and furniture. The study is published in Nature Electronics.

Source: https://news.umich.edu/charging-room-system-powers-lights-phones-laptops-without-wires/

Advanced Wound Dressing Material

Scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, have developed an advanced, biodegradable, non-immunogenic wound dressing material based on agarose (a natural polymer derived from seaweed agar) and by adding several additive molecules like iodine and citric acid. This dressing material will help in the treatment of infected diabetic wounds and patients suffering from chronic wounds. This indigenously developed dressing is cost-effective.

Source: PIB, Press release

New device to Reduce Frequency of Charging Electronic Gadgets

A researcher at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, in collaboration with the National University of Singapore (NUS) has designed a device for high-density magnetic memory. The proposed device may help reduce frequent charging of wireless electronic devices such as mobile phones and other Internet of Things (IoT) based devices. The work was published in Physical Review applied journal.

Source: IIT Delhi, Press release

“Neuroprosthesis” Restores Words to Man with Paralysis

Researchers at UC San Francisco have successfully developed a “speech neuroprosthesis” that allows people with paralysis to communicate even if they are unable to speak on their own. The technology has enabled a man with severe paralysis to communicate in sentences, translating signals from his brain to the vocal tract directly into words that appear as text on a screen. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Source: UC San Francisco, Press release

miSHERLOCK — A test that detects COVID-19 Variants in Saliva

Scientists from Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and several Boston-area hospitals have developed an inexpensive, CRISPR-based diagnostic device, known as minimally instrumented SHERLOCK (miSHERLOCK). The device helps to detect SARS-CoV-2 and its multiple variants using a sample of saliva at home. It gives results that can be read and checked by a smartphone application within an hour. It effectively recognised three different variants of SARS-CoV-2 in tests and can be quickly reconfigured to distinguish extra variations like Delta. The description of the diagnostic device was published in Science Advances.

Source: Wyss Institute at Harvard University

"AmbiTAG"— India's First Indigenous Temperature Data Logger for Cold Chain Management

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar, Punjab, has developed an IoT device called AmbiTag which records real-time ambient temperature during the transportation of perishable products, vaccines and even body organs and blood. The recorded temperature further helps to know whether an item transported from anywhere in the world is still usable or has perished because of temperature variation. This information is particularly critical for vaccines, organs and blood transportation.

Source: PIB, Press Release

PrivacyMic — Smart Home System

Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a system called PrivacyMic which is a smart speaker but doesn’t record speech. “There are a lot of situations where we want our home automation system or our smart speaker to understand what’s going on in our home, but we don’t necessarily want it listening to our conversations,” says Alanson Sample, U-M associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science. “And what we’ve found is that you can have a system that understands what’s going on and a hard guarantee that it will never record any audible information.”

Source: news.umich.edu

'Cool' PPE Kits for Corona Warriors

Student innovator Nihaal Singh Adarsh from Mumbai has developed a belt-like wearable ventilation system for PPE kits called Cov-Tech. The Ventilation System takes the surrounding air, filters it and pushes it into the PPE suit. The design of the ventilation system ensures a complete air seal from the PPE kit. It provides a breeze of fresh air to the user in a gap of just 100 seconds. Cov-Tech aims to keep the health workers well-ventilated while preventing bodily discomfort and also protect them safe from various fungal infections.

Source: PIB, Press Release

Smart Windows for Automatic Climate Control of Buildings

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, have developed smart window materials that can help design smart climate control systems in buildings to save energy and reduce carbon emissions. The smart window material can effectively control the amount of heat and light passing through it in response to an applied voltage. The results of their study have been published in the journal, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells.

Source: India Science Wire

Antibacterial, Self-cleaning Material for Face Masks and PPE Equipment

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, have developed a virus-filtering, self-cleaning and antibacterial material that can be used to make face masks and other PPE equipment. The researchers have developed prototypes of a 4-layered face mask using the MoS₂ modified fabric. They report that these masks, in addition to killing microbesand being light-cleanable, can also filter >96% of particles that are in the size range of the COVID Virus (120 nm), without compromising on the breathability of the fabric, and could thus be a powerful tool to prevent the spread of coronavirus and other microbial infections.Results of this work were published in the American Chemical Society – Applied Materials & Interfaces.

Source: IIT Mandi, Press Release

Electronic Nose with Biodegradable Polymer & Monomer

Scientists from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bangalore, in collaboration with their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, have developed an exceptionally sensitive and selective H2S Gas sensor by impersonating the neuron responsible for the identification of airborne molecules or Olfactory Receptor Neuron (ORN).It also has high ambient stability of around 8 months without compromising sensing performance. The study was published in the journals Materials Horizon and Advanced Electronic Materials.

Source: PIB, Press Release

NanoSniffer: A Microsensor based Explosive Trace Detector

NanoSniff Technologies, an IIT Bombay incubated startup developed NanoSniffer — Microsensorbased Explosive Trace Detector (ETD). It provides trace detection of nano-gram quantity of explosives & delivers result in less than 10 seconds. It can accurately detect a wide range of military, commercial and homemade explosives threats. It also gives visible & audible alerts with sunlight-readable colour display. Further analysis of the algorithms also helps in the categorisation of explosives into the appropriate class. With local manufacturing, including its MEMS sensor, it will save a lot of import cost for the country.

Source: PIB, Press Release

Sweat based non-invasive Device

A team of researchers led by an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad, has carried out a study and developed a device that can generate sweat at resting and detect markers and transmit through a mobile phone. This sweat based non-invasive point of health diagnosis technology would be an alternative to blood-based invasive diagnosis. This study has been published in Advanced Material Technologies Journals.

Source: India Science Wire

High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMTs)

Scientists from the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore (IISc), have developed a device made from Gallium Nitride (GaN), a highly reliable, High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMTs) that is a normally OFF device and can switch currents up to 4A and operates at 600V. This device is useful in locomotives, electric cars, power transmission and other areas requiring high voltage and high-frequency switching and would reduce the cost of importing such stable and efficient transistors required in power electronics. Such transistors are called enhancement mode or e-mode transistors.

Source: PIB, Press release

Multifunctional Heat Sink

Scientists from IIT Bombay with support from the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India under the ‘Make in India’ initiative have developed a multifunctional heat sink enabled by 3D printing technology in combination with electroplating, which can dissipate heat from mechanical devices at 50 per cent enhanced rate compared to conventional sinks. It can be used to develop heat exchangers, heat pipes, vapour chambers and noise reducing heat sinks. It can also be used in the electronics cooling, electronics as well as power or cooling industry.

Source: PIB, Press release

Electric Scooter ‘Hope’

Gelios Mobility, an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi incubated start-up has launched an electric scooter called 'Hope' having running cost of around 20 paisa per kilometre. This electric scooter is well-suited for last-mile delivery and personal travelling. It comes with a portable charger and a portable Li-ion battery that can be easily charged through a domestic socket found in households thereby eliminating the requirement of a charger in the parking area. The battery can be fully charged in four hours with a nominal current. The vehicle is integrated with a battery management system, data monitoring system and pedal-assist unit developed in-house. It is IOT enabled for data analytics and fleet management applications.

Source: India Science Wire

Giga Mesh

Giga Mesh deployed at the Indian Institute of Science campus for connectivity trials

A women-led startup, Astrome, has developed an innovative wireless product called Giga Mesh. It provides fibre-like bandwidth at a fraction of the cost of fibre to help telecom operators deliver reliable low-cost internet services to suburban and rural areas. It could enable telecom operators deploy quality, high-speed rural telecom infrastructure at five times lower cost.

Source: PIB, Press release

PhonoGraft — Biomimetic Device

A team of scientists at Wyss Institute along with ENT clinicians at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston has developed an easy-to-use, biomimetic device called PhonoGraft – a biomimetic membrane that recapitulates the structure and functioning of normal human eardrum. It enables better hearing ability and the regeneration of perforated eardrum after injury. These grafts are manufactured from biodegradable elastomers in the form of biomimetic circular and radial scaffolds to accommodate different ear sizes. The study was published in Hearing Research.

Source: https://wyss.harvard.edu/

Perovskite Solar Modules

Researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), Japan, have developed perovskite solar modules with improved stability and efficiency by using a new fabrication technique that reduces defects. The study was published in Advanced Energy Materials.

Source: OIST, Press release

Wearable Device Turning Body into a Battery

A thermoelectric wearable device worn as a ring (Image Credit: Xiao Lab)

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, US, have developed a new, economical wearable device that transforms the human body into a biological battery. It's a stretchable device that can be worn like an accessory, ring or bracelet touching ones skin. The device is capable of converting a person’s internal temperature into electricity which could be enough to power gadgets like watches and fitness trackers. The research was published in the Journal of Science Advances.

Source: www.colorado.edu

Sticky mat

Scientists from the Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Kanpur, have developed a sticky mat that takes away dust from a contacting surface, ensuring a clean, hygienic, healthy, and refreshing atmosphere at homes, offices, hospitals, and laboratories as also smooth functioning of many expensive equipments. The nanoscopic pyramidal bump present on the surface of the adhesive attracts dust particles towards it thereby cleaning the sole of our shoes when we step on it. When the adhesive gets completely covered with particulate matter, it is washed in a way that we wash our clothes and the surface gets back its ability to stick and remains usable through hundreds of such cycles.

Biodegradable Plastic

The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, has developed a bio-plastic film using marine seaweed and PEG-3000 which could have a huge impact on limiting the usage of non-biodegradable plastics and a game-changer in the plastic industry. Bio-plastic films safely breakdown in the environment without leaving any toxicity. The physical and mechanical properties of bio-plastic film meet the properties of conventional plastics.

Source: India Science Wire

Biosensors to Detect Coronavirus Proteins and Antibodies

Scientists at the Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, have developed protein-based biosensors that can detect the virus that causes COVID-19, and also antibodies against it. The sensors glow when mixed with components of the virus or specific antibodies. This advancement could lead to quick and more widespread testing in future. “These protein-based devices can recognize either a target protein from the virus or antibodies, bind to them, then emit light through a biochemical luciferase reaction,” noted a release by the institute. The study was published in Nature.

Source: ipd.uw.edu

UAV-assisted 5G Infrastructure

Researchers from G S Sanyal School of Telecommunication at IIT Kharagpur have developed UAV-assisted communication infrastructure for 5G which can serve as an air-borne mobile telecom tower during emergencies. The developed system comprises an Android-based application fitted to a fleet of drones which are programmed to create emergency communication networks by extending cellular network coverage from the closest available mobile towers. 

Source: kgpchronicle.iitkgp.ac.in

LakshmanRekha — AI-driven Home Quarantine Management Application for COVID Patients

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi have developed LakshmanRekha, an Artificial Intelligence — biometric-driven Home Quarantine Management Application (HQMA) for COVID patients. The developed application uses a combination of biometric verification, geofencing, and artificial intelligence, to continuously monitor and accurately detect the identity of a home quarantined person. In addition to the quarantine management, this application can also serve as an unbreachable mobile phone platform for normal (non-COVID) mobile users, situations like under curfew, or any national emergency, for identifying the violators or lawbreakers.

Source: IIT Mandi, Press Release

World’s Fastest Optical Neuromorphic Processor

Dr Xingyuan (Mike) Xu with the integrated optical micro comb chip, which forms the core part of the optical neuromorphic processor

A team of researchers led by Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, has demonstrated the world’s fastest and most powerful optical neuromorphic processor for Artificial Intelligence (AI). The neuromorphic processor operates faster than 10 trillion operations per second (TeraOPs/s) and is capable of processing ultra-large-scale data. The study was published in the journal Nature.

Source: www.swinburne.edu.au

A New Device to Measure Evaporation

Evaporimeter tested in the lab (Credits: Aditya, Arjun, Anush, and Navneet)

A team of scientists from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has developed a new device that could measure the rate of evaporation of a local area within a couple of minutes. The device is a more efficient and inexpensive way to measure evaporation when compared with existing methods.

                 “Our method allows you to get a much more realistic measure of transpiration from plants and evaporation from soils,” says Jaywant H Arakeri, Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IISc, and senior author of the study recently published in the Journal of Hydrology.

Source: Press Release, IISc

A Laser Steering Device

Robotic engineers at Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and John A. Paulson School for Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) have developed a laser-steering microrobot for robot-assisted surgeries. The developed device is in a miniaturized 6×16 millimetre package that operates with high speed and precision and can be integrated with existing endoscopic tools. Their approach, reported in Science Robotics, could help significantly enhance the capabilities of numerous minimally invasive surgeries.

Source: Press Release Wyss Institute

Antimicrobial Water Storage Containers ‘AqCure’

Based on inherent antimicrobial properties of copper, IIT Delhi-incubated startup Nanosafe Solutions has developed a range of antimicrobial (antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal) water storage containers and launched it as "AqCure" which is a patented technology. In AqCure active nano-copper is released from a polymer framework. The delivered copper makes the external and internal surface of the compartment antimicrobial, lessening transmission of microorganisms upon direct contact, and making the stored water microbiologically protected.

Source: https://home.iitd.ac.in/press-antim.php

IIT Delhi Startups Launch Antiviral Protection Kit

Two IIT Delhi incubated start-ups, E-TEX and Clensta, have teamed up and launched a complete antiviral protection kit at an affordable price. The antiviral kit, unveiled by Prof V. Ramgopal Rao, Director, IIT Delhi, consists of a novel Clensta protection lotion and hand sanitiser; E-TEX Kawach Antiviral T-Shirt and Kawach Mask. The products are backed up by experts from the chemical and textile departments of IIT Delhi.

https://home.iitd.ac.in/startup-etex.php

IIT Kharagpur Rolls Out Telemedicine Technology For Home Care

Researchers at IIT Kharagpur’s Department of Computer Science & Engineering have developed a telemedicine system, iMediX. The system integrates homecare with healthcare services from the hospital. The system facilitates critical health care support to patients at their doorsteps through remote consultation by a physician. The system is accessible by any standard internet browser and also from a mobile device. The patient can also download the prescription from her account.

https://kgpchronicle.iitkgp.ac.in/iit-kgp-develops-telemedicine-for-home-care/

CRISPR-based Malaria Testing on-the-fly

A multi-disciplinary research collaboration led by Wyss Core Faculty member James Collins at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and assembled by clinical fellow Rose Lee has created a field-applicable, ultrasensitive diagnostic assay that specifically detects DNA sequences from all Plasmodium species in symptomatic and asymptomatic malaria. The new malaria diagnostic method combines an optimized 10-minute rapid sample preparation protocol with the CRISPR-based SHERLOCK system to enable highly specific and sensitive Plasmodium detection in 60 minutes in simple reporter devices. It is published in PNAS.

https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/crispr-based-malaria-testing-on-the-fly/

Indigenous Device can help Prevent Blood Clot in Deep Vein

The formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the legs or Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), can lead to life threatening complications. Scientists have come up with a device that can facilitate flow of blood from the veins in the legs thus preventing DVT.

The device developed by the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum (SCTIMST), can bring relief to patients affected by prolonged immobility, bedridden state, post-operative immobilization, paralysis of legs, a large number of whom are affected by DVT causing pain, swelling, redness, warmth and engorged surface veins. The detachment of the clot and its transport to the arteries carrying impure blood to the lungs can cause ‘pulmonary artery embolism’, a potentially life-threatening complication.

PIB Press Release

AI and IoT based Diagnostic Device for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases developed by IIT Kharagpur

Researchers at IIT Kharagpur have developed an affordable diagnostic intervention for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease based on the internet-of-things medical devices (IoT-MD) integrated with AI.

At the Organic Electronics Laboratory (ORELA), Department of Physics, IIT Kharagpur, Prof. Dipak Kumar Goswami and his research team have developed SenFlex.T, a smart mask synced with an android monitoring app through Bluetooth that can continuously monitor breathing patterns, rate, heart rate, oxygen saturation level in blood. The app is connected to a cloud computing server, where artificial intelligence (AI) has been implemented to predict the severity of COPD through Machine Learning (ML).

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.8b19051

‘Harit Path’ Application Launched by NHAI

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the "Harit Path" mobile application, developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The app is designed to monitor and observe location, growth, species details, along with the maintenance activities, targets and achievements of each of the field units of NHAI for all plant under its plantation projects. The application will also facilitate the tracking of growth and health of the plants. The photographs of the plants captured by the app along with the relevant data of the plants will be uploaded every three months on NHAI’s AI-powered platform – Data Lake. Subsequent to launch of the app, NHAI has swiftly started working and has created user ids of over 150 ROs/PDs/Horticulture experts and about 7800 plants have been geo-tagged. 

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1647625

Painless Drug Delivery and Vaccination Device

Department of Electronics & Electrical Communication Engineering at IIT Kharagpur has developed a painless transdermal controlled drug delivery and vaccination device. The researchers have developed a micropump and microneedle which are integral parts of transdermal drug delivery systems and can administer large and viscous drug molecules painlessly. The innovation will further enable the transdermal application of COVID-19 vaccine. Says lead researcher Prof. Tarun Kanti Bhattacharyya, “We have fabricated high strength glassy carbon microneedles which can withstand the skin resistive forces. Added to this is our designing of the ionic polymer-metal composite membrane based micropump which increases the flow rate of the drug molecules in a controlled and precise manner. We have further integrated this microneedle and micropump to achieve controlled drug delivery.”

Source: https://kgpchronicle.iitkgp.ac.in/

Scientists Develop Artificial Electronic Skin

Scientists of RMIT have created electronic artificial skin.  It reacts to pain in a similar way to real skin. This prototype opens the way for enhanced prosthetics, smarter robotics and non-invasive alternatives to skin grafts. The device works by mimicking the body’s near-instant feedback response. It reacts to painful sensations with lightning speed similar to nerve signals that travel to the brain. According to RMIT, Lead researcher Professor Madhu Bhaskaran, “It’s a critical step forward in the future development of the sophisticated feedback systems that we need to deliver truly smart prosthetics and intelligent robotics.” The research team has also developed pressure and temperature sensing devices with stretchable electronics. The related research is published in the journal Advanced Intelligent Systems.

Source: https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2020/sep/electronic-skin

EnglishPro app Launched by Union Education Minister

Union Minister of Education Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal launched a mobile application ‘EnglishPro’ developed by the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad. It is a free learning app suitable for learning English pronunciation. It is developed under USR (University Social Responsibility) initiative of EFL University and can be used by any person who has studied English as a curricular subject in five years of school education. The application teaches the user about general English pronunciation in the unique Bharatiya way – as it allows the organic transitioning of beginner-level English users from their mother tongue to English. It relates English sounds with related sounds in Indian languages. It also promotes the use of Standard Indian English.

Source: https://www.efluniversity.ac.in/EnglishPro.php

A New Device — Error-correcting Cat

Physicists at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, have developed a new device called an error-correcting cat. This newly developed device combines the Schrödinger’s cat concept of superposition capable of fixing the fiddliest errors in quantum computation. The device can correct an array of errors that come up among fragile bits of quantum information, called qubits while performing a task. The study appears in the journal Nature. 

Source: https://news.yale.edu/

Wearable Sweat Sensor

Researchers from Brazil have created a wearable sweat sensor which is a skin-adherent biosensor based on pure nanocellulose fibre substrate. The natural polymer offers a breathable interface with the skin and permits sweat to travel through for further electrochemical analysis with the help of printed electrodes. It can measure a range of metabolites and biomarkers present in sweat and monitor problems like diabetes. This wearable sensor overcomes various drawbacks caused by plastic sensors including sweat to build up, irritation etc. It can measure various biomarkers like glucose, lactic acid, potassium, and sodium. The related study is published in the journal Talanta.

Source: medgadget.com

Air Unique-quality Monitoring (AUM)

With support from Department of Science and Technology’s Clean Air Research Initiative, Prof. Rao Tatavarti, Director of Gayatri Vidya Parishad-Scientific and Industrial Research Centre (GVP-SIRC) & GVP College of Engineering, Visakhapatnam, has developed an indigenous photonic system for real-time remote monitoring of air quality parameters. The AUM system (patent pending) is an innovative application of the principles of laser backscattering, statistical mechanics, optoelectronics, artificial intelligence, machine/deep learning, and Internet of Things. It can identify, classify, and quantify various pollutants simultaneously (of orders of less than one part per billion) and meteorological parameters, with very high precision, sensitivity and accuracy.

Source: https://dst.gov.in/

Colonoscopy-like Bacteria Grabber

Purdue University researchers have built a way to swallow a tool that acts like a colonoscopy, except that instead of looking at the colon with a camera, the technology takes samples of bacteria. The tool is a drug-like capsule that passively weasels through the gut without needing a battery. The technology could also move throughout the whole GI tract, not just the colon. This tract, in addition to the colon, includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, small intestine and rectum. Essentially, this tool would make it possible to conduct a “gut-oscopy.” An initial demonstration of the prototype is published in RSC Advances, a journal by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Source: https://www.purdue.edu/

Smartwatch Tracks Medication Levels

Researchers of UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, Los Angeles, California along with Stanford School of Medicine have developed a smartwatch that can trace drug levels inside the body. The smartwatch analyses the chemicals present in sweat. This wearable technology can be used to design an ideal drug and decide its dosages as per the requirements of an individual. According to the researchers, existing efforts to personalize the drug dosage rely profoundly on repeated blood draws at the hospital. These solutions are inconvenient, time-consuming, invasive and expensive. The related research is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Source: https://samueli.ucla.edu/

Timekettle M2: Real-time Offline Translation Earbuds

Timekettle, a tech startup in US, has come up with the world’s first real-time offline translation earbuds which can translate up to 93 languages and accents without network restrictions between English and 6 other languages. The earbuds are versatile and easy to use.

Source: Indiegogo
 

"Unlock Me" — COVID-19 Game

‘Unlock Me’ is a game developed by B Tech student Shreyansh Anchlia along with ideation from faculty members of the Munjal University (BMU) to help spread awareness about COVID-19. It is available on all Android phones, running Version 4.4 and above. The application is secure as it does not demand any personal information to start. The game plays out as an imitation of real-life risks associated with COVID-19, like players getting infected by coming in the vicinity of coronavirus infected places and people. In the game, players need to make the right choices and be cautious of various risks as they proceed further in the game.

Source: digital.in (Press Release)

DocStack App by IIT Delhi

IIT Delhi has developed “DocStack” which is a new document scanning and organising App. The App description on App store reads, “It not only lets you take pro-quality scans on the go, but the universal search feature lets you find them easily when you need them the most. Be it your bills, visiting cards, medical records, credit card bills, ID proofs, down to your grocery bills! Anything for which you wish to save a digital copy, DocStack lets you store it in an organised way. This helps you prevent the clutter of documents that you have been saving in your photo library instead of the photos of your loved ones.”

Source: apps.apple.com
 

Advanced Weather Prediction System

IIT Kharagpur has developed an advanced weather prediction system to facilitate better decision making in agricultural production and reduction of climatic uncertainties and risks. Sponsored by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the two projects ‘Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa’ ‘and ‘Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agrometeorology & Land-based observations’ provide timely and right management decisions to farmers to minimize the climatic risk of agricultural production and improve the economic return of farming community.

Source: kgpchronicle.iitkgp.ac.in

AI-based Cyber-physical System

To monitor social distancing in public places, researchers at IIT Kharagpur’s Autonomous Ground Vehicle (AGV) under the Centre of Excellence for Robotics Research have developed a low-cost Artificial Intelligence-based cyber-physical system. The device will give a proximity alert whenever there is a violation of social distancing norms. The device can visually detect the gap between individuals and play a proximity alert sound through audio output, for any violation of the social distancing norms. The device uses images in the field view of a camera and computes the distance as per criterion set by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

CAVILITY — A Transparent Mask

Designers coordinated by French engineer Pierre Blondon have designed and developed the stylish high-security Cavility Mask with features including  Thermo-Plastic Elastomer (TPE). It suits any type of face giving you optimal airtight, high-performance filters, replaceable filters, etc. It is easy to clean and cost-saving too.

Removable Surgical Tape

MIT engineers last year came up with a double-sided adhesive capable of quickly and firmly sticking to wet surfaces such as biological tissues. Now they have further developed their adhesive so that it can be detached from the underlying tissue without causing any damage. As mentioned in MIT News, “This is like a painless Band-Aid for internal organs,” says Xuanhe Zhao, professor of mechanical engineering and civil and environmental engineering at MIT. “You put the adhesive on, and if for any reason you want to take it off, you can do so on-demand, without pain”.

AI-powered Mobile App — National Test Abhyas

Union Human Resource Development Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has launched a new mobile application called the ‘National Test Abhyas'. It is developed by NTA to enable candidates to take mock tests for upcoming exams such as JEE Main, NEET under the NTA’s purview. The app will facilitate candidates to access high-quality mock tests in the safety and comfort of their homes. Students from the entire country can use the application to access high-quality tests, free of cost. The tests can be downloaded easily and can be completed off-line too. The app works on Android-based smartphones and tablets and can be easily downloaded from Google Play Store.

Source: PIB

Washable Textile Coating

Research from the LAMP Lab at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering has created a textile coating which is capable of preventing viruses from adhering to the surface. The work was recently published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. “If the treated fabric would repel betacoronaviruses, and in particular SARS-CoV-2, this could have a huge impact for healthcare workers and even the general public if PPE, scrubs, or even clothing could be made from protein, blood-, bacteria-, and virus-repelling fabrics,” said Romanowski, Research Director, Charles T. Campbell Microbiology Laboratory.

Source: https://www.pitt.edu/

Published in SR July 2020

Health Ministry Launches Aarogya Setu IVRS Facility

Health Ministry has launched the Aarogya Setu IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System) facility for those without smartphones. The 'Aarogya Setu IVRS' has been implemented to include citizens with feature phones and landline connections. It is a toll-free service, available throughout the country. To avail its service a person can give a missed call on the number '1921' and get a call back requesting for inputs regarding the caller’s health. The questions asked will be aligned with the Aarogya Setu App, and based on the responses given, the individual will also get an SMS. The SMS will indicate the health status of the person and also provide alerts for improving health. The service is toll-free and is implemented in 11 regional languages similar to the mobile application.

Source: PIB

AI Powered Flexible Throat Sensor to Track COVID-19

Flexible throat sensor 

Researchers at Northwestern University and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab have developed a novel wearable device and are also creating a set of data algorithms specifically designed to identify early signs and symptoms related to COVID-19 and to screen patients as the illness advances. The device can be worn 24x7 and produces a continuous stream of data. It uses artificial intelligence to reveal subtle, yet potentially life-saving, insights. It continuously measures and interprets coughing and respiratory activity in ways that are not possible with conventional monitoring systems. The devices are presently being used in a study at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab by COVID-19 patients and the healthcare workers treating them.

Source: https://news.northwestern.edu/

Affordable and Effective Face Mask — KAWACH

The IIT Delhi start-up, ETEX has launched an affordable and effective face mask namely KAWACH to protect and safeguard people from the risk of COVID-19. Prof. Bipin Kumar, Textile and Fiber Engineering Dept., IIT Delhi said, “India has several massive challenges ahead – disposal of PPEs (including mask and coveralls) after one-time use and ensuring the minimum use of nonwoven technology for making PPEs. Though a nonwoven layer is must for ensuring the desired filtration level but the loose fibrous structure makes the product disposable after one use. Disposing of synthetic polypropylene nonwoven could have a detrimental effect on the environment. Finding other textile solutions that offer reusability, biodegradability, affordability and scalability for PPEs is the need of the hour; this could ensure meeting both the demand and also safeguarding our environment.” 

Source: iitd.ac.in

Electronic Skin — Human-machine Interface

Wei Gao, assistant professor at Caltech’s Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, has developed an electronic skin, or e-skin, which can be applied directly on top of the real skin. The newly developed e-skin which is made from soft, flexible rubber, can be embedded with sensors. These sensors can monitor information like body temperature, heart rate, levels of blood sugar and metabolic byproducts that are indicators of health, and even the nerve signals that control our muscles. It does not require a battery, as it runs solely on biofuel cells powered by one of the body's own waste products.

        According to Gao, “One of the major challenges with these kinds of wearable devices is on the power side. Many people are using batteries, but that's not very sustainable. Some people have tried using solar cells or harvesting the power of human motion, but we wanted to know, 'Can we get sufficient energy from sweat to power the wearables?' and the answer is yes.”

Source: https://www.caltech.edu/

Published in SR June 2020 issue

GOKADDAL —World’s First-ever Digital Solutions Exchange Cloud

GOKADDAL, the world’s first Digital Solutions Exchange in Cloud, was launched in India. gokaddal.com is a cloud-based solution exchange platform. It mainly emphasises on 4A’s – Automation, Artificial Intelligence, Analytics and Augmentative Technologies. It is a Business to Business (B2B), Business to Government (B2G), Business to Consumer (B2C) solution platform connecting solution providers to solution seekers. It is also an innovative platform for Startups and SME companies. It seeks to facilitate how digital solutions are sourced, delivered and managed. Gokkadal Technologies is a Dubai based emerging Technology company and is a part of the Mekado Group at Bangalore, Karnataka.

Source: https://gokaddal.com/

Apple Unveils COVID-19 Information App and Website

Apple has also launched a website and a new application devoted to the screening of COVID-19. The resources provide an online screening tool, information regarding the disease, and also provides guidance suggesting when to seek testing or emergency care. The site and the application are developed by Apple in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the White House. The app is available for download on the App Store.

Source: https://www.apple.com/covid19/

GOI Launches Aarogya Setu App

Aarogya Setu is a mobile application developed by the Government of India to link essential health services with the people of India to fight against COVID-19. The App is intended at enhancing the initiatives of the Government of India, mainly the Department of Health, in actively reaching out to and informing the users of the app regarding various risks, best practices and relevant advisories relating to the control of COVID-19. The application tracks through a bluetooth and location generated social graph, it notifies the user about closeness with a COVID-19 positive individual. The app alerts are accompanied by instructions on how to self-isolate and what to do in case if someone has developed symptoms. The app has various advisories on how to maintain social distancing, and various recommendations to stay safe. It also indicates the level of risk regarding infection.

Source: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nic.goi.aarogyasetu

Rocketbook Notepad Orbit

Legal pads are often considered unfashionable, unorganised and un-eco-friendly. Rocketbook Orbit is a reusable, stylish, cloud-connected and eco friendly notepad. It is customisable, modular, and also connects with your favourite cloud services. It also uses customised “Page Packs” which can easily be removed from the pad. The novel technology uses a magnetic base and has stainless steel rings attached to every pack of Rocketbook pages that can be lifted off the Orbit, flipped 360 degrees, and changed out for a brand new mission.

Source:https://www.kickstarter.com

Published in SR May 2020 issue

Wearable Coils for Medical Testing

Researchers from Purdue University have created a novel way of doing medical imaging using technology involved in defence and aerospace industries. Medical imaging tests like MRI are often uncomfortable as they use rigid Radio-frequency (RF) coils to detect signals from the body. Purdue's team has developed RF coils that are formable and stretchable. They have created an adaptable, wearable and stretchable fabric embroidered with conductive threads which provide excellent signal-to-noise ratio which facilitates enhanced MRI scanning. The team’s work is published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

Source: https://www.purdue.edu 

Simplify your Diabetes Care Plan with InPen

InPen consists of a reusable injector pen and an instinctive smartphone interface. InPen is an insulin injector pen which is easy-to-use and facilitates the user to calculate their insulin doses. When the pen is paired via Bluetooth with the mobile app, the InPen's delivery system keeps a track of doses the patient has taken. InPen was designed for insulin-dependent individuals and elderly people who undergo regular numerous subcutaneous injections. It also allows the user to correct the dosage of insulin without wasting it. It lasts for one year and it does not need any recharge. The app uses information transmitted by the pen to track insulin therapy, calculate dose and can also share therapy data with the patient's doctor or family.

Source: https://www.companionmedical.com

PM KISAN Mobile App

PM-KISAN Mobile App was launched to widen the reach of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme which may help in doubling the farmers’ income. With this App, farmers can view the status of their application, update or carry out corrections of their Aadhaar cards. They can also check the history of credits to their respective bank accounts, know about the scheme and dial helpline numbers. Around 14 crore beneficiaries are to be covered under the PM Kisan scheme. The PM-KISAN application is designed and developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India.

Source: https://www.pib.gov.in

Smart Insulin-delivery Patch

Researchers from the University of California Los Angeles, University of North Carolina, and MIT have designed a smart insulin-delivery wearable patch which could automatically regulate and monitor glucose level in diabetics by delivering the required insulin dose.

        The stick-on device is about the size of a U.S. quarter coin and has tiny needles preloaded with insulin, which are less than a millimetre in length and made out of a polymer that’s sensitive to glucose. The technology is cheap to manufacture and one day people with diabetes will hopefully be able to put on one of these patches in the morning without worrying about the glucose levels throughout the day.

Source: http://news.unchealthcare.org/

Published in SR April 2020 issue

HUNU — A Reusable Coffee Cup

HUNU is a beautifully designed and easy-to-carry reusable coffee cup which is incredibly light weighing less than 100 g and measures less than 0.75 inches thin when folded down. Because of collapsible design HUNU can easily be fitted in the pocket. All materials used in designing are BPA-free and fully non-toxic.

Source: https://www.kickstarter.com/

Wearable AC — On-skin Electronic Device

Engineers from the University of Missouri have developed an on-skin device called “Wearable air conditioning” having the ability to monitor blood pressure, the electrical activity of the heart and the level of skin hydration. 

        The device is breathable and waterproof and delivers personal air conditioning to a human body by the process of passive cooling. The cooling does not utilise electricity, such as a fan or pump avoiding any discomfort to the user. Presently, the device is a small wired patch, and researchers suggest that after two years they'll be able to design a wireless version. The findings of the work were published in the Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Source: https://news.missouri.edu/2020/wearable-ac/

AppStreamer — A New Software to Stream Data

A team led by Indian-origin researcher Saurabh Bagchi who is a professor at Purdue University, US, has developed an AppStreamer which is a software capable of streaming the data and reducing the space occupied by apps on a smartphone. Without deleting the already existing apps, the software enables the users to continue downloading the apps they desire. The software helps in streaming the data to an app from a cloud server when required which means the app will occupy only the space it needs on a mobile at any given time. 5G connectivity can better be accommodated by using AppStreamer. 

Source: https://www.purdue.edu

Self-moisturising Smart Contact Lenses

Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a novel kind of smart contact lenses which are self-moisturising preventing eyes from dryness. The self moisturising system maintains a layer of fluid between the contact lens and the eye.

        The common problem with contact lenses is that they often cause "dry eye syndrome" due to less blinking and increased moisture evaporation. In order to tackle this problem, the researchers have developed a novel mechanism to keep the lens moist. The system uses Electro-osmotic Flow (EOF), which allows liquid to flow when a voltage is applied across a charged surface. The research is published in the journal Advanced Materials Technologies.

Source: http://www.tohoku.ac.jp/

Published in SR March 2020 issue

Edible “Security Tags” Protecting Drugs from Duplicacy

Purdue University researchers have designed an edible “security tag” to tackle the problem of counterfeiting of drugs. The security tag can be embedded in medicine. To copy the drug, a counterfeiter would have to solve a complicated puzzle of patterns not completely visible to the naked eye.

        The tag serves as a digital fingerprint for a drug capsule or tablet. It uses a verification technique called “physical unclonable functions,” or PUF. PUFs generate a different response once stimulated, rendering them unpredictable and very difficult to imitate. It is the first edible PUF – a thin, transparent film made up of silk proteins and fluorescent proteins which are fused genetically. As the tag is easily digestible and made entirely of proteins, it can be consumed as part of a pill or tablet. The research has been published in the journal Nature Communications.

Source: purdue.edu

Perfusion Machine to Keep Liver Alive

Researchers at the University Hospital Zurich, ETH Zurich, Wyss Zurich and the University of Zurich have developed a machine that repairs injured human livers and keeps them alive outside the body for one week. This invention will increase the availability of organs for transplantation, saving the lives of many patients with severe liver diseases.
        Till date, livers could be stored safely outside the body for only a few hours. However, with the new perfusion technology, livers even the injured ones, can now be kept alive outside the body for a week. The basis of this technology is a complex perfusion system that mimics core body functions. The related study was published in the Journal Nature Biotechnology.

Source: Press Release (University of Zurich)

GoFindMe — Track your Loved Ones

GoFindMe is a real-time GPS tracker that can track even without cell service. The device can locate the loved ones more easily as it has built-in GPS and long-range radio technology, etc. The features of the device help you to stay in touch with your loved ones even if your cellphone fails. This provides an all-round tracking and communication solution for all outdoor activities.

Source: https://www.aiblue.com/

Yoto Player — a Smart Speaker for Kids

Yoto player is a screen-free smart speaker designed for kids by Pentagram. The smart speaker is controlled by physical cards helping parents to control their kids by making them listen to what they want them to listen. The device has been equipped with a built-in battery for portable play and a clever magnetic dock to re-charge. In the smart speaker, parents can easily upload the desired content to the blank cards by using a parent app enabling them to manage settings behind the scenes.

Source: https://www.yotoplay.com/