Effort towards sustainable technologies

From the desk of Director, CSIR-CMERI

Since the advent of the lethal Corona-virus pandemic, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has mandated to place itself as a sentinel to contain and arrest the spread of the contagion. The CSIR, is consistently engaged in their capacities to tackle the current crisis. Some of the Fortes that a few labs of CSIR are working upon are Vaccine Development, Rapid Testing Facilities/Kits, Drug Development & Formulation and Enhanced Detection Mechanisms. CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur has focused upon the development of Technologies/ Products which aims at non-pharmaceutical Interventions and more so towards the development of Protective/Precautionary technologies. The primary focus of the Institute has been two-pronged that is creating Positive Social Impact & Uplifting the Economic Architecture of the disadvantaged. As has been stated by the World Health Organization, the development of a comprehensive Anti-COVID19 vaccine may require a minimum of One year clinical trial to prove its efficacy. Therefore, CSIR-CMERI’s efforts are consistently focused upon development of an array of Small Protective/ Precautionary Intervention Technologies (Healthcare Assistive Devices), which when synchronized collectively, can work as a veritable front against the spread of the lethal virus. The Institute developed technologies needs to be rigorously implemented throughout different spheres of the society. Some of such technologies developed by the Institute are:

• Disinfection Walkway
• Road Sanitizing Unit
• Face Mask
• Mechanical Ventilator
• Oxygen Concentrator
• Soap, Sanitizer and Dispenser
• Indoor Disinfection Unit
• Hospital Care Assistive Robotic Device

Besides, to maintain Protocol Standard Hygiene, CSIR-CMERI has also tried to further intensify its efforts towards Waste Management. Recently, we have also delivered a Webinar for CII on “Solid Waste Management”, where we received an unprecedented interest and constructive feedback from the Industrial participants. The two primary target areas for the Institute in this regard have been Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSW) and Hospital Waste Management. These technologies aim to upgrade current hygiene standards to a level, whereby contamination and transmission can be arrested to a major extent, even in the post-COVID19 era.

The current situation is not only a period of global health pandemic but also a time-span of significant economic crisis. To boost the economic prospects of the concerned, CSIR-CMERI is endeavoring to align with the financial institutions so they may extend the best possible financial support to the StartUps and the MSEs to bring the CSIR-CMERI’s technologies to the market for the larger benefit of the society. CSIR-CMERI is also committed throughout to prioritize the interests of the Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs), while developing its products. For the benefit of the small industry, particularly MSEs, we are bringing a compendium of CSIR-CMERI’s technology bouquet related to COVID-19 pandemic. The technology and pricing profile of the Institute-developed products and technologies have always been aligned to the needs of the MSEs and Rural Small Businesses. In the current scenario, the MSEs are urged to come forward and join hands with CSIR-CMERI to enhance the Economic and Societal Profile of their enterprises. These priorities have been given a further thrust during the current National Crisis, so that the economic prospects of this Sector can be intensified to help develop a Self-Reliant India or AtmaNirbhar Bharat.

A step towards journey of our technological innovation

Considering the persistent situation of COVID-19, Govt. of India is taking a number of appreciable and effective steps to check the spread of the pandemic in the country. Following the same trend, CSIR-CMERI is continuously endeavoring to bring technological solutions which can be helpful in slowing down the effect of this invisible enemy of the mankind. Containment and arresting the exponential spread of the Lethal Virus is the mantra of the hour.

After the development of community-based technologies such as Sanitizing Walkways, Tractor Mounted Disinfection System, Value-added Face Masks and Hospital Waste Management System, we now have developed Touchless Soap-cum-water Dispensing Unit and HCARD.

Our newly launched robotic system (HCARD), which is meant for the help of frontline healthcare personnel, recently attracted a huge attention of media (https://bit.ly/2WQ2aG3, https://bit.ly/3bnoZWI, https://bit.ly/35X8QpG, https://bit.ly/2yIwryz,  https://bit.ly/2T4574K, https://bit.ly/2T0L1Z2, https://bit.ly/3fNdLOz, https://bit.ly/2zCJPnC, https://bit.ly/2T1Dvgn, https://bit.ly/2T45Eng, https://bit.ly/2YVz0b7)


The increasing trend of infection of the health-workers and doctors is alarming and need innovative solution so that two-way audio-visual communication between the patient and the health-care staffs and doctors, opening and closing the of drawers for delivery of foods, medicines etc. are carried out by nursing staff sitting in remotely located booth outside the ward. All the drawers are fitted with UV lights for disinfection. HCARD, a guided vehicle, can follow pre-defined paths marked on the floor and reach various locations inside the ward. Apart from the guided mode, the robot can also be operated using joystick. HCARD is equipped with obstacle detection feature. Continuous (24X7) operation in hospitals is possible with such system owing to the manual swapping of batteries. An indicator constantly monitors the status of the residual charge of the battery pack and upon reaching the threshold limit audible alarm is generated so that the batteries can be changed/ charged.

One of the most common practice to be followed by the society on a whole is to follow good hygiene and soap based hand cleansing stands a top in the practice list. It is observed that available soap / water dispensing systems are mostly covered consumer electronics and are available in various packages. However, portable systems are not available which provide soap as well as water from same outlet. To cater to this requirement, one of the major initiatives of CSIR-CMERI Durgapur is the design and development of a touch free soap-cum-water dispensing system. The contact less design is based upon usage of proximity sensors which activates itself on proximity of objects. The system is unique in its own as dispensing soap and water from the same outlet and time gap of 20 seconds between soap and water. This is the game changer (https://bit.ly/35XujyN, https://bit.ly/2yS3gsM, https://bit.ly/2zwn5Ww, https://bit.ly/3ctWzeX, https://bit.ly/3bsnJSf) as it ensures that the user is compelled to rub his/her hands for the requisite time span as per standard hygiene guidelines. The arrangement aims to reduce wastage of water as well.

CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur is also engaged in further adding value and modifying the configuration of all the existing technologies to adapt to the changing needs and demands of the society as well as conform to the updated guidelines and protocols. Since functioning of essential services is imperative in the country for its continuous growth, thus technologies related to functioning of Offices/Industries/Markets are also the priority of the Institute. CSIR-CMERI is therefore now striving to develop various Disinfectant Devices which can be a de-facto standard and part of the standard operating procedure in everyday life during post-lockdown era.