Aggies Invent

OutlineDiscoveryParticipation 1: Internet of ThingsParticipation 2: Conflict and DevelopmentParticipation 3: Pediatrics(Work Environment)

DiscoveryI learned of this event through an acquaintance in an organization I joined junior year. Adway, an electrical engineering major, inquired my interest in an event called Aggies Invent. Within ten minutes, I had successfully completed my application for the program. A few days later I received an email from Mr. Boehm, congratulating me on my acceptance and attached was a detailed schedule of the upcoming weekend, a list of need statements, and directions on where to find the building.Every time I participate, it's a new team same duration of time. In 48 hours, you form a team of four to six people, take the need statement concept and bring it into fruition. Typically you spend all day Saturday designing, and Sunday is the presentation. 

Participation 1: Internet of Things

Growing up, I had access to the outdoors, basketballs, volleyballs, cameras, and a limited amount of art supplies. This was the first time I was exposed to "grown up toys". My kind teammates did their best to dumb down the technical jargon for me. However, it is impossible to learn such technical detail in a weekend. I had a strong team, composed of two graduate students, engineers.. and then me. I pestered them as they programmed the xbee microcontroller. Adway, my friend, programmed an android app, while Chris and Mike worked on programming blinds to open upon command. Jake worked on the solar panel pv cell. JC worked on a fantastic video (which they like to use as an example of what to do in other Invent weekends).  I worked on the graphics to describe the technical process in a beautiful way, and the powerpoint. Side StoryI built the window sill for the blinds to hang on out in the open lab space. This was my first time building a box, but I knew I was capable of it. One of the other team mentors made a comment, "Who gave the girl a drill" as I was assembling.. I was utterly offended. It never occurred to me that I was working in a "man's" environment. From that moment on, I have only wished to prove that women are just as capable of doing ANYTHING a man can do, with few exceptions. Sexist comments needs to stop.Blind Sided, app controlled solar panel blinds, was able to successfully prove their concept. We placed third, winning $500, divided six ways. 

(app interface with working dial)

Participation 2: Conflict and Development

Most of the needs statements were focused around the Shea Butter process and economically empowering women in Africa. I was on a team of 5 members, and we decided to tackle and innovate upon the drying process of the Shea Kernels which is the 7th step in the entire process.I found this Aggies Invent to be most challenging to create a working prototype to prove our concept because the process alone takes a week, and we only had 48 hours.. We decided to innovate upon the actual drier. The women currently dry the nuts on racks within a mud bed.My idea was to have a fan to be implemented to circulate the air in between the racks, which will be powered by bicycles. I feel that incorporating bicycles into manufacturing, you humanize the manufacturing process, while allowing employees/workers to sustain a healthy lifestyle through exercise. I wanted to focus on this bicycle aspect, the simple mechanics of having the uniformed bike be placed on a stand, strapped to a belt, turn a fan, generate a current within the plastic covered bed, in a simple and inexpensive attempt to dehumidify the interior of the bed. Due to internal disputes on what the team should focus on, my idea was overlooked. We ended up 3D printing a box, and small scale modeling the design given to us in a research paper. To say the least, there was more conflict than development.Although we did not win, I learned a few video editing techniques, utilized my photoshop skills, and learned a lot about the Shea butter process in Africa and women empowerment.

Participation 3: PediatricsI know close to nothing about medicine. I had to have a blank google page just to process the need statements. I did not know my team until I raised my hand for the need statement listed above. Google, marvelous wonderful Google, provided me with quick and accurate information for all of my many inquiries. I did more research than designing, to fully understand the problem.

My team-
Carly: Freshmen General Engineer

Brandon: First Year Medical School

Ryan: Freshman Business

Dr. Ken Brady
Margret: Junior Systems Engineer

Vanella: Freshmen General EngineerJess: Junior Environmental Design 

Abdul: Mentor

We worked together. Made every decision as a team (which took a lot of time when there was disagreements). We decided to focus on an operating table. 

The Problem-There is limited surface area on premature babies, and applying sticky leads takes up too much space.The Solution-Weave electrodes into a fabric sheet, to be placed on top of a pressure sensor to give coordinates and activate appropriate electrodes to accurately get an ekg reading. 

Our Product-

Market Validation-We were able to communicate with two doctors, both supporting this innovation for the operating room.

We are planning on starting a business with this product. (Tapping into a 6.9 billion dollar market might help pay off my ever growing student loans.)

(Work Environment)Instead of staying at home and watching Netflix with a bottle of wine, or going out to the clubs and getting "turnt" like a lot of my snapchat friends, I chose to spend 3 weekends creative problem solving, learning how to deal with different personality traits from engineer-types to business-minded individuals to students pursuing professions in medicine. I am beyond blessed for them allowing me into a program, three times! After the second event, they offered me employment in the engineering innovation center facility. Where I will continue to learn, and be surrounded by people much more intelligent than I. This may intimidate some, but this means I have nothing but knowledge to gain. I can not wait for the future projects I am brought onto the team, because of the experience I have gained while being associated with this facility. I am thankful every day.