Varsity designs device to help accident victims

J Vivek, the student innovator said that when an accident takes place in a remote location, it becomes difficult for the victim to identify the location and inform the emergency helpline for an ambulance. 

“The device will automatically send the location coordinates of the accident and the device’s unique  number to 108, the emergency helpline. This will be done by voice call, using cloud telephony technology without any human intervention. The nearest ambulance can pick up the victim easily,” he said. 

Adding to this, Prof. M Lakshmi, head of the faculty of computing at the University said that when an accident occurs, the device will wait for one minute to be deactivated, else it will automatically call the helpline. 

“This option is provided to avoid false alarm, which might get triggered due to minor impacts. Simultaneously alerts will also be sent to relatives, whose number is registered in the victim’s device.  The entire communication process will take place within two minutes. The university has sponsored the product’s development and the team has also filed for patent for this innovation,” Prof. Lakshmi said. 

The team includes R Sethuraman, an assistant professor from the Computer Science department and D Manuel, a technical assistant in the Electrical Engineering department. They have taken about a year to develop the device, which costs about Rs 2,000. 

Anybody who comes across an accident, can also press the help button in the device to inform the emergency helpline. This device is not only for accidents, but can also be used during fire outbreaks, industrial accidents and to help senior citizens. 

The device was launched by US Consul General in Chennai, Philip Min, Consul-General of Germany in Chennai, Achim Fabig during the International Conference On Emerging Novelties and Vistas in Space Technologies and Applications at the University on Thursday.