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FabLab Projects
Pre-Primary Educational Puzzles
The pre-primary educational puzzles project consists of 42 different puzzles categorized under three disciplines: the disciplines of Science, Language, and Mathematics. The puzzle prototypes were produced aiming to address pre-primary students of age from 5 to 6. The puzzles are designed to serve as a playful learning tool to help children enhance their physical, cognitive, and emotional skills as described below.
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Physical skills - from holding puzzle pieces and playing with them until they fit.
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Cognitive skills - as they solve puzzle problems.
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Emotional skills - they learn patience and experience the rewards of successfully solving a puzzle.
Currently, 33 out of the 42 puzzle designs are prototyped and are available for display at STEMpower FabLab. The pilot project will be done for 40 schools on the first round and the final plan is to distribute the puzzles on multiple rounds to 22,000 pre-primary schools across the country.
Science Kits Development
A. Basic Electricity Working Principle
A kit for demonstrating the basic concepts of electricity is produced as part of the FabLab science kits development program. The kit can help students learn about the working principle behind the conversion of electrical energy to light energy, the concept of an electric circuit and its basic elements like voltage source, resistors, and switches. It also teaches students about the difference between conductor and insulator materials. The kit comes with its own cover which is produced using laser cut acrylic plates.
B. Digital Logic Gates
In a digital system there are only a few basic operations performed, irrespective of the complexities of the system. These operations may be required to be performed several times in a large digital system like a digital computer or a digital control system, etc.
The basic logic gates are used to perform fundamental logical functions. These are the basic building blocks in the digital ICs (integrated circuits). Most of the logic gates use two binary inputs and generates a single output like 1 or 0. In some electronic circuits, few logic gates are used whereas in some other circuits and microprocessors include millions of logic gates.
The implementation of Logic gates can be done through diodes, transistors, relays, molecules, and optics otherwise different mechanical elements. Because of this reason, basic logic gates are used like electronic circuits. Five kits for demonstrating the fundamental logical operations of, AND, OR, NOT, NAND and NOR are produced inside the FabLab so that students can easily learn about the operation of this gates.
C. Kinematics Kit
This kit is designed to teach students about the kinematic parameters of distance, speed, and time. The device has an ultrasonic sensor that can detect a sound signal that bounces off a reflector. Using the standard speed of sound in air at room temperature and the time it takes for the sound wave to bounce back, students can calculate the distance traveled by the sound wave. Students can relate these parameters with the motion of a car in real life. With such a kit, students can apply the equations of motion they learned from textbooks into real-world problems.
D. Slider crank mechanism kit
This kit is used to demonstrate how rotational motion can be converted to translation and vice-versa. The device consists of four basic components: a crank, a connecting rod, a slider, and the guide rails. Students can identify these major parts by rotating the handle and studying the motion produced. Rotating the crank by equal angular intervals, students can measure the linear distance traveled by the slider along the guide rails. Recording this data, they can plot the result on a graph to get the required sinusoidal pattern. Hence, the kit is important in teaching students about the relationship between oscillation and trigonometric functions.
E. Archimedes’ kit
This kit demonstrates the basic principle of buoyancy. The kit contains many different components that helps students measure the density and volume of objects of varying sizes. Various experiments can be done; results can be recorded and compared against theoretical calculations. With the aid of this kit, students can differentiate between body and buoyancy forces and learn about the effect of density of a fluid on buoyancy.
F. Force Polygon kit
A kit with a tabular platform that demonstrates the relationship between mathematics and physics is developed using some simple materials like MDF boards and transparent acrylic plates. The device consists of an elastic rubber band having a triangular geometry and which changes its configuration depending on three different suspended weights at three points. The weights are attached to the rubber band via a cable and pulley system. Students can record the length of the rubber band using a ruler and its internal angles by using the attached protractor at each vertex of the triangle. The kit is helpful for delivering the concept of vectors and trigonometry in mathematics and the associated concepts equilibrium and elasticity of materials in physics.
Negative pressure wound therapy device
A negative pressure wound therapy device also called a vacuum assisted closure device is developed inside the FabLab, in partnership with the Black Lion hospital. The device is used in the treatment of severe wounds which would otherwise take more time to heal without the application of vacuum assisted closure. The device works by producing a pressure gradient to suck in the bacterial fluid (exudate) which is produced around the wound environment. Negative pressure causes wound shrinkage and reduction of the bacterial count by evacuating the effusion into a disposable canister placed on the device. The device basically consists of 4 major components.
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A negative pressure source
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Disposable canister
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Dressing and tubes
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Foam dressing
The device currently found on the market uses electricity to power the vacuum source and there is no option available that can work on areas where there is frequent interruption of power or no power at all. The development of this product is provided as a solution for a purely mechanical alternative that can solve the issue of wound care in remote areas where there is no electric power.
CNC LASER Engraver Model 1
STEMpower FabLab is engaged with the development of various new innovative products, which includes both student and in-house innovations. Recently, a CNC laser engraver model is developed as part of the FabLab in-house project. The machine uses a 2.5Watt laser diode and the standard CNC accessories like, stepper motors, guide rails, an Arduino Uno control board, stepper motor drivers and a 12 Volt power supply unit. The machine can do both engraving and profiling works on leather sheets, acrylic plates, woods, and plastics. The successful completion of the project marks a new beginning for the FabLab in the area of automation systems development.
Home Automation System
A home automation system was able to be developed by a young 12th grader named Bereket as part of the FabLab’s innovators coaching program. The device includes a water pump, motion, fire, and smoke sensors, an Arduino Uno control board, and a mobile phone apparatus. Home automation system devices can make our homes more comfortable, more convenient, and more secure than ever. The system works by using a smart wireless system that sends notification messages and a voice call to the homeowner if any trespasser enters a person’s residence. It also gives an alarm signal if any fire accident happens inside the home. Once any smoke and fire is detected, the water pump will automatically operate.