NanoSniffer: IIT Bombay Incubated Startup Develops World's First Microsensor-Based Explosive Trace Detector

Nanosniff Technologies, an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay incubated startup, has developed world's first Microsensor based Explosive Trace Detector.

The home-grown Explosive trace detector device (ETD), called NanoSniffer, can detect explosives in less than 10 seconds and it also identifies and categorises explosives into different classes.

It accuratedly detects all classes of military, conventional and homemade explosives including RDX, HMX, TNT, TATP, Nitroglycerin, Ammonium Nitrate and plastic explosives. The device gives visible and audible alerts with sunlight-readable color display.

NanoSniffer has successfully passed Pune based DRDO’s High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) testing and has also been tested by the country’s elite counter-terror force National Security Guard (NSG), the Ministry of Education said on Friday (9 April)

NanoSniffer was launched on Friday by Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

The device has been marketed by Vehant Technologies, a spin-off from a former IIT Delhi incubated startup Kritikal Solutions.

Speaking on the occasion, Pokhriyal said that NanoSniffer, developed by NanoSniff Technologies, is a step towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant India, the Education Ministry said in a statement.

NanoSniffer is a 100 per cent Made in India product in terms of research, development and manufacturing. The core technology of NanoSniffer is protected by patents in the US and Europe.

The minister further said that this affordable device will reduce India's dependency on imported explosive trace detector devices. It will also encourage other institutions, startups and medium-scale industries to research and develop products indigenously. It’s a perfect example of lab to market product, he added.