JLSR Wellness, a startup in the healthcare and wellness space, has launched a first-of-its-kind Wi-Fi enabled smart oxygen generator with an aim to bring a practical solution to the nation’s dire need to breathe in the fresh air.
Air pollution is not a hidden fact; we are all aware of it. Yet deteriorating air quality continues to be a huge problem worldwide, with India being among the worst affected.
According to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report by The Energy Policy Institute, the University of Chicago, air pollution will reduce life expectancy in the country by 5.2 years if pollution is not reduced.
While reduced particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and 10 levels were observed during the lockdown, the pollutant levels are rising again with the unlock guidelines in action, which can aggravate the condition of Covid-19 patients.
Giving a boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat, JLSR Wellness, a startup in the healthcare and wellness space, recently launched a first-of-its-kind Wi-Fi enabled smart oxygen generator under the brand name UrbOx (Urban Oxygen) India with an aim to bring a practical solution to the nation’s dire need to breathe in the fresh air. The Made In India product was designed in partnership with leading technology companies from across the world. Anand Krishnan, COO, UrbOx, was the brainchild behind this product. He has had extensive experience in clinical research, medical devices, and drug development in the UK.
He says, “In 2019, with the spark of an idea, a group of women entrepreneurs put together a robust R&D team for the further vision of the product, and thus I got introduced to the project as the lead scientist. The women possess strong background and skills from business and trade, technology development, finance, and accounting.”
The artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and Internet of Things (IoT) configured solution has been created by fine-tuning and improvising an open source technology that was developed by NASA for its critical space missions to suit commercial and residential needs. The technology has been previously used in Apollo spacecraft.
The oxygen generator comes with oxygen-sensing air-quality monitor. The oxygen sensor, procured from a Switzerland-based company, is RoHS compliant based on the European Union’s Directive 2002/95/EC. The indoor unit can continuously measure the concentration of oxygen, besides other gases in a place. So, once you switch it on, it switches on and off automatically depending on the oxygen requirements in a room in real time. A mobile app, available on both iOS and Android, can be used to control and monitor the oxygen levels.
MCERTS-certified optical PM sensor, CMOSens Technology for IR detection during carbon dioxide measurement, and NIST-traceable ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration technology ensure high accuracy and credibility. Temperature and humidity sensors together form a single unit. According to the company, the precision levels are ±3 per cent accuracy for humidity, ±1 hPa accuracy for pressure, and ±1.0°C accuracy for temperature.
Krishnan says, “Developing world-class cutting-edge technology with the global partners was the key to success, and we had to overcome many hurdles during the corona times, but the team worked hard to make it available during these difficult times. Our product has exceptional long-term stability and is easy to install and operate. The sleek design perfectly complements the superior technology.”
The device uses a process called Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) to generate a high concentration of oxygen gas from ambient air. This technique uses high pressure to separate a gas from a mixture based on properties like molecular characteristics and affinity for an adsorbent material that differentiates one from another. Once the pressure is reduced, the adsorbed gas—here oxygen—gets pumped back into the environment. In simple terms, the device captures atmospheric air and filters it to provide pure and fresh oxygen.
The eco-friendly innovation works well for homes, workplaces, classrooms, operation theatres and clinics, and public places such as restaurants, airports, multiplexes, and gyms. These indoor areas can gain the maximum benefit from the generator when the doors and windows are kept closed. In summers, it can be used along with air-conditioners.
“Registered under the Make in India programme and Startup India programme, the need of the hour product has attracted many segments and audience. With India having more than 21 cities out of thirty cities which are most polluted in the world, UrB.Ox Smart Sensible Oxygen Generator becomes an important device to analyse, monitor, and generate your own oxygen for your enclosed indoors. Air purifiers cannot generate oxygen and are limited to an area. Patients with asthma, breathing, and respiratory disorders can feel at ease without any tubes around their noses,” adds Krishnan.
The oxygen generator was launched on 28th September, 2020 and comes in three variants. Urb.Ox Eco (two air dispensers, one indoor unit (AQI)) and Urb.Ox Premium (four air dispensers, one indoor unit (AQI)) are priced at ` 180,000 and ` 250,000, respectively, excluding eighteen per cent GST. Urb.Ox Booster can be ordered for commercial establishments or other large spaces by making a payment of ` 500,000+ 18% GST.
The benefit is that it can be used 24/7 without any side effects. Both outdoor and indoor units are noiseless and consume low power. The units do not require large space for installation either—the indoor unit can even be fitted on a room wall. Fireproof tubing ensures safety, and the oxygen is delivered in a controlled and optimised way.
The products will be available on the company’s website as well as popular e-commerce sites. To adapt to the constantly evolving market, the team plans to launch more futuristic products at affordable costs. Krishnan says, “The company is in talks with potential collaborators from countries such as the UK, Europe, UAE, Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and Africa, and is all set to foray into Sri Lanka in due course.”
You can also construct your own Air Quality Monitoring System here.
