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Projects That Fight Germs

14rhb

Just thinking....

 

I always think that us engineers are a very resourceful lot: TV shows like 'scrap heap challenge' and watching Youtube videos where someone makes an electronic circuit from junk are just a few examples. For anyone not familiar with what engineers do then just have a look around this website for a few minutes at the vast breadth of great project ideas. Therefore, given the current global outbreak of COVID-19, I wonder if there are a few things us engineers could devise that might help in some way. The idea being if they were affordable in terms of the component availability/resources then others with similar resources could replicate them and hopefully help a few friends, neighbours, colleagues out that way. Maybe even something that helps in the medium term while people, especially older folk, are in isolation. And finally looking much further ahead are there things that could help prevent the spread of germs.

My ideas, although most are not new: a contactless hand wash system would be very helpful, a contactless temperature monitor, a germ free door handle (can a low current effectively clean a metal handle?), a 3D printed gripper to open and close a variety of doors, a portable UV sterilizer for cutlery etc. If you could make a system that can electronically replace toilet roll then currently you'll be a hero/heroine in many countries - but please tone down any video evidence in subsequent blog posts .

 

Maybe this could be an 'E14 Flash Challenge' - a special E14 theme to address an urgent issue, . I'd also suggest no $100 shopping cart prizes for this but instead some unique badges? If not, then I'm sure any discussions or ideas below could help others make an electronics/engineering based project that they hope will make a slight difference in some way.

  • Regarding that today only I had a brilliant idea and tweeted this:

     

    If anyone can do this, opensource it then it will be super great! This is a great time to help the entire global community!

    Even I am thinking of some ideas related to the above mentioned cause. The main one being a amazon warehouse type robot but with tank on top to clean subways, buses, etc. Also drone spraying disinfectant will be great!

  • "...a germ free door handle (can a low current effectively clean a metal handle?)..."

     

    Episode 235: Ben Heck's Automatic Sanitizing Doorknob Episode

     

    I seem to recall in the old days hospitals used to use copper door plates and handrails a lot in an attempt to reduce the spread of germs but this practise was later stopped.

     

    "...If you could make a system that can electronically replace toilet roll then currently you'll be a hero/heroine in many countries..."

    This already exists in the form of bidet toilets. The auto targeting 'jet wash' is popular in some parts of Japan I believe.

  • Some sort of electronic automatic virus test kit would save the world a lot of time and money.

    The sensor element should be something like a blood sugar test strip.

    Scott

  • One thing that could be useful would be an ultra-low power / low cost communications system that is simple to use. Society has become so reliant on the power grid and communication systems reliant on the power grid, yet often when disaster strikes, these are often the first things we tend to lose, often with disastrous results.

     

    So some sort of basic telex system operating over LoRa radios powered from a power bank, and outputting to an e-ink display or a till roll type thermal printer.

  • in reply to beacon_dave

    Hi Dave,

     

    I also remember a study that showed copper (and maybe brass as well) had an inherent sterilising effect. Unfortunately they looked dirty compared to the stainless steel or plastic door accessories and were often replaced. Maybe they will get reintroduced in the longer term?

     

    The toilet challenge would IMO produce some interesting homebrew ideas, hopefully at lower-cost.

  • Hi Rod,

    Great to be thinking out-of-the-box like this. Awesome suggestions too, hopefully they inspire people if they have an idea.

     

    This isn't really a project,I created it the other evening, downloadable here:

    https://bit.ly/38PpXcY

    It's a hand sanitizer calculator (based on some WHO guide). I'll put it as a JavaScript app somewhere with input error-checking, but for now it's in a Excel spreadsheet format.

    The green cells are inputs. The yellow cells should be left as they are, and the gray cells are the outputs.

    No liability of course.. but hopefully it's useful.

     

    This is how it looks like:

     

  • in reply to 14rhb

    Perhaps all it would take would be some adhesive-backed thin copper sheet placed over the existing fittings for the duration of the outbreak.

    EMI Shielding TapeEMI Shielding Tape

    It could be removed and recycled after the all-clear to restore the aesthetics.

     

    I'm not sure whether to be more concerned about the homebrew ideas or the project titles...

  • in reply to vimarsh_

    can these drones have flame throwers?

  • When I read this I thought we need something to keep us from touching our faces.  Well, someone has beat me to it :-). https://blog.arduino.cc/2020/03/10/this-pair-of-arduino-glasses-stops-you-from-touching-your-face/

  • in reply to beacon_dave

    That copper tape has so many uses everyone should have some - or maybe another Project14 theme idea ? I've seen t used for PCB's and repelling snails in the garden. I like the idea of wrapping a modern door handle in the stuff though.