India’s prestigious technology institute, The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and Kanpur-based Troop Comforts Limited (TCL), a Government of India enterprise, will work together to develop Smart Protective Clothing for the Indian security forces.
Both organisations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for this. To work on the collaborative projects, both will also constitute a Joint Working Group (JWG).
IIT Delhi and TCL will work in the area of research and development of garments and equipment for the security personnel deployed in the high-altitude areas like Siachen Glacier, clothing for protection from ballistic weapons and development of sensor-fitted garments.
SK Sinha, CMD, TCL, said, “Under the self-reliant India mission, this MoU with IIT Delhi will prove to be a milestone in the direction of making the country’s security forces empowered and modern.”
Sunil Kumar Khare, Dean R&D, IIT Delhi, said, “IIT Delhi’s Textile and Fibre Engineering Department is well known for innovations in the area of smart textiles. It’s a privilege for us to support our security forces through this MoU with TCL.”
Four factories, namely, Ordnance Equipment Factory, Kanpur; Ordnance Clothing Factory, Shahjahanpur; Ordnance Equipment Factory, Hazratpur (all in Uttar Pradesh) and Ordnance Clothing Factory, Avadi (in Tamil Nadu) produce items for defence and paramilitary forces.
All the four TCL factories, depending upon their requirements, will assign projects to IIT Delhi for research and innovation.
The scope of the collaboration will cover all the new fields including application of smart textiles to defence applications, integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in Troop Comfort Items and development of futuristic infantry soldier as a system (Integration of Telecommunication & Health Monitoring Device).
