IIIT Hyderabad Develops Low-Cost IoT Device to Prevent UPS Failures
In a significant advancement for power management, IIIT Hyderabad has developed a low-cost IoT device aimed at preventing failures in Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems. This innovative solution addresses a common issue faced by many organizations—unpredictable power outages that can lead to equipment damage and operational downtime.
Background of the Research
The initiative for this project emerged not from a laboratory setting, but from the frustrations of Prakash Nayak, an IT staff member at IIIT Hyderabad. He observed frequent equipment failures and power outages, which were occurring despite the presence of UPS systems. The lack of clarity regarding the performance of these UPS units during outages prompted the need for a reliable monitoring solution.
Development of the IoT Device
The resulting device is a ₹2,000 IoT-based system capable of tracking UPS behavior during power outages with near-second precision. The research was documented in a paper titled “Low-cost IoT-based Downtime Detection for UPS and Behavior Analysis,” authored by Sannidhya Gupta, Prakash Nayak, and Prof. Sachin Chaudhari. This paper received the Best Paper award at the 18th International Conference on COMmunication System and NETworkS (COMSNETS-2026) Workshop on AI of Things held in Bangalore.
Challenges with Existing Solutions
According to Sannidhya Gupta, frequent power outages in developing regions can lead to significant issues, including equipment damage and data loss. While UPS systems are designed to provide backup power, the options for monitoring their performance have been limited and often prohibitively expensive. Commercial UPS monitoring tools, such as SNMP cards, can exceed ₹20,000 per unit, making them impractical for widespread deployment. Moreover, these commercial solutions often fail during outages, making it difficult to diagnose issues post-event.
Innovative Monitoring Approach
The research team designed a non-intrusive current-monitoring device that clamps onto the input and output lines of the UPS. This approach allows the device to observe current flow before, during, and after power outages without interfering with the UPS’s internal workings. The device is also battery-backed, ensuring it continues to record data even when mains power and internet connectivity are lost.
Testing and Results
To validate the device, it was deployed across four UPS installations on the IIIT Hyderabad campus, including one unit suspected of malfunctioning. Over the course of a month, the devices collected approximately 3.7 million data points and automatically detected 61 outage events. The data confirmed suspicions about one UPS that exhibited no clear charging behavior after outages, indicating a failure to recharge its batteries properly.
Smart Algorithms for Analysis
The backend analytics of the device automatically categorize each event into phases: normal operation, outage, stabilization, and battery charging. This automated labeling process eliminates the need for manual configuration and allows the system to adapt to different installations. The results were impressive, with no missed outages, no false alarms, and timing errors typically within three seconds.
Real-Time Monitoring and Cost Efficiency
The IoT device features a web-based dashboard that provides IT staff with unprecedented visibility into UPS performance. Instead of relying on guesswork, administrators can now monitor the health of UPS units in real-time and access historical data on their behavior. Built using off-the-shelf components, the device costs around ₹2,000, making it approximately ten times cheaper than commercial monitoring solutions.
Significance of the Research
This project stands out not only for its technological advancements but also for its origin rooted in real operational challenges. The involvement of campus IT staff in the research process highlights the importance of treating operational teams as co-creators of research problems rather than mere end users. This collaborative approach fosters more relevant and impactful outcomes.
Conclusion
The development of this low-cost IoT device by IIIT Hyderabad represents a significant step forward in addressing the challenges posed by UPS failures. By providing an affordable, reliable, and non-intrusive monitoring solution, the device has the potential to enhance operational efficiency and reduce downtime in environments where power reliability is critical.
Note: This article is based on research and developments reported as of January 2026. For the latest updates, please refer to trusted technology news sources.
