Future Directions and Conclusion

What does the future hold for our prototype?

We envision several improvements that would make it an overall better system:

• Code a formula that converts the results received by the photo sensor into an actual real arsenic concentration and turbulence indicator.
• Have a built-in system :
  • Closed box with only one opening to insert the vial. The top lid of the box could have screws so you could remove it if the system inside needs maintenance.
  • Electronic system (i.e. Arduino and electric wiring) incorporated inside the box in order to keep it isolated from the environmental disturbances like water, sun etc…
  • Screen with buttons on the side of the box to start the measurements and read the results.
  • Battery pack to power the prototype so we don’t need a computer in the field.
• Design a smartphone application that could communicate with the prototype and receive its results. We could then map where the water measurements were done using GPS and save the results to that position.
• Adapt it to the detection of other harmful elements like Mercury etc…

In conclusion, our prototype is still in its early stages and needs aforementioned improvements to be more efficient and field testable.

Finally, we’d like to thank Sachiko Hirosue and Robin Scheibler for taking us on board on the Biodesign team. We had a fun hands-on, challenging and interesting experience building this prototype while improving our overall skills as future engineers! We hope that our work had an important impact on the advancement of the prototype and we look forward to see how it will evolve with the next team.

We’d also like to thank Prof. Jan Van Der Meer, Sabrina Leuenberger, Siham Beggah, Basil Gerber, Urs Gaudenz and Yashas Shetty for their precious input and help.

►Previous page

►Main page