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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.

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  • Hi ,

     

    I think the idea of building projects around sanitation is a great idea.  Perhaps these projects can pop up in existing themes?  To set up a competition would need something as a prize to organize it and don't know just what that would be.  I think the gravity of what's going on is obviously hitting different people, differently.  One way to deal with it would be to be part of the solution and not the problem.  There's a lot of merit in thinking up innovative solutions to problems and applying those ideas to complete projects that come up with solutions.  Maybe we'll see something with the events happening around Pi, Arduino, or Women Engineers?

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  • Hi ,

     

    I think the idea of building projects around sanitation is a great idea.  Perhaps these projects can pop up in existing themes?  To set up a competition would need something as a prize to organize it and don't know just what that would be.  I think the gravity of what's going on is obviously hitting different people, differently.  One way to deal with it would be to be part of the solution and not the problem.  There's a lot of merit in thinking up innovative solutions to problems and applying those ideas to complete projects that come up with solutions.  Maybe we'll see something with the events happening around Pi, Arduino, or Women Engineers?

Children
  • in reply to tariq.ahmad

    Hi Tariq,

     

    I hope things are ok where you are. We'll all need to do all we can to help each other here and in the physical community around us too, I guess that's becoming universal right now wherever we are.

    Now you mention it, I suspect we'll all spend some time using technology in extra or different ways, whether it's setting up whole neighborhood WhatsApp groups to keep in touch, or providing electrical fixes or minor repairs within our communities etc.

    I hope someone figures out a way to use a Pi and camera to indicate each time the face is touched, to train away that habit. Or thermal cameras to identify big heat gradients in rooms, so people learn not to put their bags or shopping or packages or other objects that many people may have handled, in an area where there's a lot of air movement. I've been conscious about that, thinking that where there are drafts of air, are areas that maybe need more thorough cleaning if people place things there. It's just speculation though I guess : ( these are exceptional times, and unfortunately some of it is a learning experience - but hopefully we can share good ideas as you say, and it might trigger someone to come up with novel things or more insight, to make this nightmare a bit easier for however long it takes.