What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
KANPUR (UTTAR PRADESH): If you are an Army man or a trekker frequenting extremely cold places like Kargil, Ladakh, or Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur has good news for you.
IIT-Kanpur, considered one of the premier institutes of the country, has developed an electrically-heated warm jacket known as the “warm hug”. And the best part: it is pocket-friendly. It will cost just around Rs 500.
‘Warm Hug’ is not exactly a jacket, but an electric heating strap that can be easily fitted into any jacket of your choice. It has been designed using flexible electronics technology which involves printing electronic circuits on flexible plastic substrates and transparent conductive polyester film.
“The strap sources energy from an ordinary power bank, which makes it suitable for all geographies and conditions. It works in five charging modes – indicated by different light colours i.e. blue, green, and red. While blue colour light indicates that the device is working on lowest heating mode, red represents its top performance,” an engineer involved in the development told The New Indian.
The device can keep a jacket warm at the maximum temperature of 55 degrees Celsius continuously for 10 hours if it is connected to a portable charger of 20000 mAH capacity.
“The device is essentially a heater. The only difference is that this heater is printed on a plastic surface, which is nothing sort of a miracle made possible by flexible electronics technology. And the icing on the cake: it does not carry any risk of electric shocks. Its three power modes make it energy efficient,” said Baquer Mazhari, a professor in the Department of Electric Engineering who was part of the development team.
Since it works in different heating modes, the jacket is suitable for all kinds of terrains – be it plains or mountains or high altitude, Mazhari said. “Since it provides protection from extreme heat, it is particularly suitable for military personnel posted in high altitude areas and trekkers and mountaineers,” he added.
Since the 100-gram device has been designed like a removable patch, it makes it easier for the user to easily wash the jacket.
“We are currently at the prototyping stage. The design and functions of the product can be customized as per the requirements of the user, said IIT Kanpur Director Prof. Abhay Karandikar, adding that it will be tested in different weather conditions.
The institute has collaborated with Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which will test the jacket in harsh weather conditions along the borders. “Once it is evaluated in different conditions, we will make necessary changes if we get any. At the same time, we are in talks with some players in the industry for the technology transfer and mass production,” Prof. Karandikar told The New Indian. “Once it passes all the tests in all types of conditions, then we could enter into an agreement.”
Private companies have already started showing interest in the product, he said.
