The new solution, called Digi-Pet, was unveiled at IATA’s World Cargo Symposium in Dallas last week with the aim of enhancing the safety of animals in the aircraft hold. The tool utilises the Internet of Things and sensors capable of tracking location, temperature, light and oxygen levels, automatically notifying the airline and owner if any of the conditions become cause for concern.
In time, pet owners will also be able to subscribe to live video streaming, photos and voice exchange services via the Unisys mobile app, which will enable them to virtually keep in touch with their pets throughout the journey.
Venkatesh Pazhyanur, Senior Industry Director of Freight Solutions for Unisys, said that Digi-Pet will, “provide pet owners with full visibility of their pet’s comfort and the environmental conditions, as well as enabling them to talk to their pet — calming both the pet and owner.”
In addition to transporting domestic pets, the Digi-Pet tool can be used by shippers and carriers that transport other live cargo such as horses, day-old chicks or hatching eggs, which require consistent heat, oxygen and light.
Looking to the future, this digital tool could well hold promise for other areas of the air cargo industry, too, in the monitoring of perishables and pharmaceuticals cargo.
