A team of CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML) in Burmamines has developed two infrared thermometers that are necessary for temperature screening at workplaces, but are already missing from the market.
An infrared thermometer facilitates temperature checks from a distance, a feature crucial for fever screening in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Along with temperature checks, the use of masks and hand sanitisers have been made mandatory in all workplaces.
CISR-NML will use the two thermometers to screen its skeletal staff who are coming to office with specially issued passes.
A team led by senior principal scientist Sharmishtha Palit and comprising principal scientist Tarun Kumar Das; research fellow Chandan Dutta and project assistant Ravi Bhushan developed the thermometers that will be used at the institute’s two entry gates.
The team members said making the gadget at a time when the materials weren’t easily available was a challenge for them.
“The infrared thermometers are mandatory for any organisation, but we didn’t get it anywhere. Also, we couldn’t order those available online because their delivery wouldn’t have been possible amid the lockdown. India, I believe, doesn’t have too many manufacturers of infrared thermometers, and the ones that were available ran out of stock. Therefore, we decided to make them ourselves,” Palit said.
Palit said that it was NML director Indranil Chattoraj who motivated the team to develop the mandatory gadget. For the team, the biggest challenge was to procure the infrared sensors, capacitors and micro-controllers. The thermometer developed by the NML team can detect temperature in the range of minus 20 to 125°C from a distance of approximately four inches.
The team is now trying to get contacts of suppliers for infrared sensors that aren't available in the market.
“Once we get the sensors, we can develop more thermometers for other organisations. We are in constant search for the product. As of now, we will use the available devices at our entry gates,” Palit added.
