Indigenous temperature data logger device ‘AmbiTag’ for cold chain monitoring

Technology Innovation Hub AWaDH will give away the AmbiTag device at production cost for COVID vaccine transportation. 

Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar (IIT Ropar) in Punjab has developed a first-of-its-kind IoT device – AmbiTag that records real-time ambient temperature during the transportation of perishable products, vaccines and even body organs and blood. That recorded temperature further helps to know whether that particular item transported from anywhere in the world is still usable or perished because of temperature variation. This information is particularly critical for vaccines including Covid-19 vaccine, organs and blood transportation. ‘AmbiTag’ is a USB-shaped device that continuously records the real-time ambient temperature of its immediate surroundings from -40 to +80 degrees in any time zone for a full 90 days on a single charge, according to a statement issued by IIT-Ropar. 

The device will be made available to all companies involved in COVID vaccine transportation from production facilities to the last mile vaccination centres in the country at the production cost of Rs 400. Suman Kumar, the coordinator of the Internet of Things (IoT) Systems Domain at AWaDH, said, “AmbiTag, which is certified with ISO 13485, is priced below Rs 1,000 to ensure the broader use of the device in different applications. It generates an alert when the temperature goes beyond a pre-set limit. The recorded data can be retrieved in user-defined format by connecting the USB with any computer.” The device advises the user whether the transported item is usable or the cold chain has been compromised during the transportation. This information is particularly critical for vaccines, organs and blood transportation, Kumar said. 

AWaDH Project Director, Professor Pushpendra P. Singh informed that IIT Ropar Technology Innovation Hub is gearing up for mass-production of AmbiTag. AmbiTag in India is developed by the researchers at IITRopar, Technology Innovation Hub – Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub (AWaDH) and ‘ScratchNest’, which is a startup founded by four IIT-Ropar students. 

Most of the similar devices available in the international market record data only for a duration of 30-60 days. Such devices were being imported by India in a massive quantity from other countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, Ireland and China.