FightCOVID: DRDO develops contactless mist-based sanitizer dispenser

Hyderabad: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an automatic mist-based sanitiser dispensing unit, a UV sanitisation box, and a hand-held UV device to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

The sanitiser dispenser was developed by DRDO’s Centre for Fire Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES), Delhi. The organisation has worked on mist-based technology for fire suppression and came up with the idea for the automatic, contactless sanitiser dispenser which sprays alcohol-based hand sanitiser on the hands of people entering a building. It is activated through an ultrasonic sensor and is based on water mist aerator technology which was developed to save water.

The dispenser ensures minimum wastage of sanitiser by automatically dispensing only five to six ml of sanitiser in 12 seconds on both the palms. The device can be mounted on the wall and bunk filling ensures that it lasts longer. The unit, which has already been installed at DRDO Bhawan, can be used in hospitals, offices, and frequently-visited areas.

The UV sanitisation box and the hand-held UV device have been developed by DRDO laboratories at Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS) and Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS).

The hand-held device uses ultraviolet light to destroy the genetic material in COVID-19. The UV rays capture the RNA for the virus which doesn’t let them multiply and then kills the virus. A special feature of the device is that it doesn’t use any chemical. The UV sanitisation box, meanwhile, can be used to sanitise personal belongings like phone and wallet. It takes a minute to destroy the virus from these items.

DRDO aims to use these devices to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in office spaces and hospitals.