IIM Vadodara Students Develop Battery-Powered AC Helmets for Traffic Police

Students from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Vadodara have created innovative battery-powered air-conditioned helmets to provide relief to traffic police, also who have to stand in the scorching sun for long hours. These AC helmets are currently being tested by traffic police departments in Vadodara, Kanpur, and Lucknow.

The helmets are designed with AC vents to channel coolness to the head and a hard plastic shield that serves as goggles to protect the eyes from the sun's glare. They are powered by a battery pack worn around the waist, which can provide cooling for up to 8 hours on a single charge. The AC installed in the helmet is expected to reduce the temperature by 10-15 degrees, offering much-needed respite to cops from the extreme heat.

Weighing around 500 grams, similar to a regular helmet, the AC helmets also feature vents to aid ventilation and a visor to shade the eyes from the sun. Traffic police, also, got who have used the helmets during the trial run have reported being able to perform better in the sun and find them comfortable to wear, even as temperatures reach 40-45 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country.

Why this matters: With heatwaves becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, innovative solutions like these AC helmets can help protect the health and well-being of frontline workers who are exposed to extreme weather conditions. The success of this initiative could pave the way for wider adoption of such technology across the country.

The Lucknow Traffic Police have provided AC helmets to four traffic personnel as part of the trial phase. If the trial proves successful, the department plans to procure about 500 such helmets from a Hyderabad-based company. "The helmets are being provided to Lucknow traffic police on a trial basis, and if successful, they will be distributed to police across the state," stated the Lucknow Additional Police Commissioner.

Key Takeaways

• IIM Vadodara students created battery-powered AC helmets for traffic police.
• AC helmets reduce temperature by 10-15°C, aiding cops in extreme heat.
• Helmets being tested in Vadodara, Kanpur, and Lucknow police departments.
• Lucknow police to procure 500 AC helmets if trial is successful.
• AC helmets can protect frontline workers from heatwaves due to climate change.