A Novel Low-Cost, Recyclable, Easy-to-Build Robot Blimp For Transporting Supplies in Hard-to-Reach Locations

Rural communities in remote areas often encounter significant challenges when it comes to accessing emergency healthcare services and essential supplies due to a lack of adequate transportation infrastructure. The situation is further exacerbated by poorly maintained, damaged, or flooded roads, making it arduous for rural residents to obtain the necessary aid in critical situations. Limited budgets and technological constraints pose additional obstacles, hindering the prompt response of local rescue teams during emergencies. The transportation of crucial resources, such as medical supplies and food, plays a vital role in saving lives in these situations. In light of these obstacles, our objective is to improve accessibility and alleviate the suffering of vulnerable populations by automating transportation tasks using low-cost robotic systems. We propose a low-cost, easy-to-build blimp robot (UAVs), that can significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of local emergency responses.Comment: IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC 2023

Putting medical devices in context: a systematic review of evidence on design targeting low-resource settings

Most medical devices are inaccessible to healthcare facilities in low-resource settings (LRSs), severely limiting medical care for a vast proportion of the world's population. This article characterises the process used for designing medical devices for LRSs and investigate how the context-of-use is integrated into the process. A systematic review of 64 papers was conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies of devices intended for LRSs. Using the biodesign process as an analytic framework, a qualitative meta-analysis was conducted. Findings show the studies predominantly describe the later stages of medical device design, whilst largely neglecting how knowledge of the context is considered. To support engineers and improve outcomes, it is imperative that an understanding of the context is integrated throughout the design and product development process. This article highlights this gap and hopes to stimulate research into how context can be better incorporated into the design process for medical devices targeting those populations most in need.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Inderscience Publishers via http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJDE.2015.07637

Blood vein detection system for SmartPhone

Needle infusion into the body for the nurses or medical respondents is one of the most common activities in current clinical activities. However, a considerable number of mistakes are occurring by the medical practitioner because of the vein pattern that is beneath the human skin and sometimes unidentifiable. These inaccuracies can lead to unavoidable bad circumstances for both patients and phlebotomists. Here, a mechanism that can alleviate that is necessary. The major objective of this research is to develop a real-time process for the detection of the vein by the phlebotomists along with an application in the most widely used handheld device (Android Smartphones) to avoid or at least diminish the number of inevitable scenarios for the patients and the nurses in their SOPs. Illuminated infrared light in the blood cells of the vein is absorbed due to the manifestation of the Haemoglobin in blood and the IR non-blocking camera can capture the vein patterns in the IR light spectrum. Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) algorithm was used to enhance the pattern of the vein in the Android application developed using OpenCV3. Developed system can detect the veins up to 7mm underneath of human skin in real time with a frame rate of 25fps. This is a far better improvement than commercial systems that can detect veins only below 10mm underneath the skin. Moreover, this system not only focused on needle infusion but also it can be used to indicate the place of bleeding for the clots from the human body strokes, etc. in the upper layer of skin. It can also be used to detect & measure liquids in encapsulated in confined dark bottles, for example, liquid chemical pouring into the bottles in the chemical companies, liquid medicine pouring to bottles, etc

Pedagogical participatory experiences to promote Public Interest Technology from volunteer work

Public Interest Technologies allow practices and learning opportunities for the sustainable improvement of living conditions. Our analysis of participatory pedagogical experiences, from the perspective of student volunteer tourism, adds elements to this emerging field of study by analyzing the steps, main opportunities, and challenges as a basis for the implementation of PIT in higher education. In six case studies, students from the Northern hemisphere reached out to vulnerable communities in Lima (Peru) through universities and local NGOs, in events ranging from welfarism to co-design and participation. Experiences of Practice Based Education promoted direct interaction with different local realities, enhancing communication, socialization and empathy, key skills in the training of a new generation of professionals that will work in the implementation of new inclusive and participatory policies in our communities. Technology becomes an ally of processes once trust has been consolidated, seeking sustainability in the public interest

Prototype Media Sosial Pertanian di Indonesia untuk Perangkat Bergerak Berbasis Android

Meskipun terkenal sebagai negara agraris, kebutuhan pokok masyarakat Indonesia masih tergantung pada negara asing. Produksi pertanian Indonesia tidak mengalami peningkatan, bahkan cenderung menurun. Salah satu penyebabnya adalah kurangnya pengetahuan petani dan tidak adanya komunikasi atas kebijakan yang telah dibuat pemerintah kepada penggerak pertanian. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk merancang aplikasi media sosial bidang pertanian di Indonesia yang disebut dengan ASMI (Agriculture Social Media Indonesia). Perancangan prototype menggunakan metode Mobile Development Life Cycle (MDLC) dengan tahapan identifikasi, perancangan, pembangunan, prototype, pengujian,dan perawatan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan prototype ASMI dapat digunakan untuk melengkapi kebutuhan informasi dan komunikasi bidang pertanian. Prototype ASMI dapat digunakan oleh masyarakat, petani, pemerintah, pemerhati pertanian, peneliti, dosen, dan pakar sebagai media komunikasi bidang pertanian

Remote monitoring of off-grid renewable energy case studies in rural Malawi, Zambia, and Gambia

Increased understanding of off-grid renewable energy technology (RET) performance can assist in improving sustainability of such systems. The technologies for remote monitoring of RET deployments in developing countries are promising with various configurations and usages being tested. Recent applications of remote monitoring technologies in Malawi, Gambia, and Zambia are presented along with their respective strengths and weaknesses. The potential for remote monitoring applications to improve sustainability of off-grid RET is explored along with some theoretical directions of the technologies