IIT-Ropar develops device to screen suspects

Tribune News Service

Ropar, April 24

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, have claimed to develop InfraRed Thermography (IRT) with which it can remotely screen Covid-19 suspects with symptoms such as fever, tiredness, shortness of breath or a runny nose.

Ravibabu Mulaveesala, associate professor, electrical engineering department, who headed the team, said the remote-controlled device could be put at the entrance gate of crowded places, including railway stations, airports, bus stands, cinema halls and shopping malls.

He said the device would take an infrared image of the face of every person and reveal whether the person is infected, healthy or a suspect.

Other team members who developed this infrared vision system with decision-making algorithms include Dr Vanita Arora and M Suresh of SS Automation, Bangalore.

Mulaveesala said at present, temperature screening devices was one of the most widely used screening mechanisms for Covid-19 at large gathering places.

The infrared vision system can detect the suspects without any human intervention.

He said, “The institute invites the medical industry experts for clinical trials.”