Unisys launches Digi-Pet so owners can ‘talk’ to their animals during air transit

Product will allow airlines to offer niche pet transport services Continue reading →

Technology allowing pet owners to monitor and ‘talk’ to their pets while they are being transported in the cargo hold of aircraft has been launched.

Digi-Pet from Unisys Corporation says the tech allows owner to engage with their pets via their personal devices such as smartphones.

It said the product will allow airlines to offer niche pet transport services featuring a “high-quality customer experience for both the pet and pet owner”.

Digi-Pet uses Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology via smart sensors attached to the pet’s kennel or carry case to monitor and transmit information such as temperature, oxygen levels, vibration and light, and automatically alert the pet owner and airline staff if any factors require action.

Pet owners can also subscribe to live video streaming, photos and voice exchanges so that they can see and talk to their pet via an app on their smart phone or tablet.

Venkatesh Pazhyanur, senior industry director of Freight Solutions for Unisys, said: “We are emotionally attached to our pets and it can be distressing to be separated from them when traveling by air.

“Large pets – whether accompanied or not – must travel in the cargo hold. Unisys Digi-Pet uses IoT sensors to 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.”

Digi-Pet is part of the Digistics suite of logistics solutions for air cargo carriers. The 20 global carriers that subscribe to Unisys Digistics transport more than 180,000 animals annually.

“Unisys Digi-Pet uses innovative IoT technology to enable air carriers to offer niche pet travel services, allowing them to enter and capture a high yield growing market while improving customer experience and loyalty as pet owners don’t need to find specialised pet or other transport modes for their needs,” added Pazhyanur.

Unisys said Digi-Pet helps airlines comply with the IATA Live Animals Regulations. Unisys launched Digi-Pet in the US at World Cargo Symposium in Dallas.