Low-cost remote monitoring system for small scale power plants
This project is run through Engineers for a Sustainable World at Stanford. I joined it initially as a freshman focusing on mechanical design, and was the project lead my sophomore year. This device functions as a low cost emergency warning system and data logger for remote micro-hydro power plants. Designed to operate in rural/undeveloped areas, it utilizes 2g and 3g connections to upload compressed data, and SMS to convey warnings. The primary goal of the product is to function reliably and durably, while remaining affordable and easy to install. We work with IBEKA, an NGO in Jakarta, Indonesia that builds small scale, sustainable power plants in rural areas. This is still an active project, and we have been improving the design each year.