Jamshedpur: 22-year-old, Komal Panda from Odisha, has been named the Indian winner of 2024 James Dyson Award for her Novocarry portable cooler to carry insulin and other medications. She device was inspired by power banks and beer coolers.
Komal has graduated from the National Institute of Design, Haryana. She got the idea to make the product after watching her father struggle with the insulin medication for his diabetes. She says, she has seen her father struggle with the insulin as he had to come home during lunch break to take his insulin shot and eat because there was no refrigerator in his workplace.
She also added how not only her father but many people other people goes through this information everyday. During her research she interviewed individuals managing arthritis, growth hormones, and diabetes.
It was explained by Panda, that the device draws inspiration from both beer coolers and vaccine coolers, utilizing conduction and air multiplier effect methods for efficient heat transfer to cool the insulin vials and the Peltier chip. The Peltier chip was noted to directly cool the vials, which eliminates the need for a fan, enabling a more compact and portable design.
She also explained the large batter and robust charging options mean the cooler can also double up as a power bank. Komal will receive a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh and will represent India in the International round of the competition along with first and second runner up respectively.
