Appropriate Technology for the World's People, Design, Spring 2024

To be Renamed: Mechanical design and international collaboration with an underserved community

Cross listed: PSC-392/492, HNRS-392

MWF 10:10-11:0 in 53-202. Shop sections (Monday 6:10 - 9:00 PM, or Tuesdays 3:10 PM - 6:00 PM) are in Mustang '60 shop, Bonderson, Bld. 197, near the library.

Pete Schwartz, Cal Poly Physics, Pete's Webpage, pschwart@calpoly.edu

Office Hours: Mon: 11:10-noon, Tues: 4:30 - 5:20, Wed: 11:10-noon, Thurs: 1:10-2:00 and 2:10-3:00

See information from Design (392, Spring 2024), Design (392, Spring 2022), Design (392, Spring 2021), Design (392, Spring 2020), Development (the "development theory class", 391, W2025), and from other previous classes.

Grade determined by weekly assessments, participation, and projects. Course expectations can be found on Syllabus.

Assessment Solutions:

Description of Fabulous Failures

Timeline for the class. Activities subject to change. Please check 24 hours before class.

Student Eval Results

Week 1, April 1	Tues: morning shop Wed: Meet Group Fri: Nathan Bair talks about designing for the people
Week 2 April 8	Mon: Pete and the design process Wed: Grp #1 Presentation Fri: Grp #2 Presentation, Graham Roberts and Drilling Antarctic Ice
Week 3 April 15	Mon: Grp #3 Wed: Grp #4, Garrett Morris, Nepal Fri: Grp #5
Week 4 April 22	Mon: Doug Hall Presents! Group #7 Wed: Group #1 Fri: Michael Albert, Skip the Grid, Group #2
Week 5 April 29	Mon: Chris Nelson, Lean Start Up, Group #3 Wed: Peter Keller, Group #4 Fri: Group #5
Week 6 May 6	Mon: Group #7, assessment Wed: Group #1, Miles Fesler, EWB Water Project in Kenya Fri: Group #2, SDG, Maldives
Week 7 May 13	Mon: Pete and ISEC in Africa Wed: Fri: Nick Babin
Week 8 May 20	Mon: Wed: Carley on Bamboo Construction Fri: Meet at Pete's House
Week 9 May 27	Tues (Monday's Schedule): Wed: Fri: Alex and EWB
Week 10, June 3	Mon: Chris and Rosa and SAMPE Wed: Pete, Guateca, and Class, Research, Service Integration Fri:
Misc. Repository	Information that may or may not be used
Exam Week. Final Presentations! Cal Poly Exam Schedule	10:10 AM - 1:00 PM, Wednesday, June 11. In the Classroom. This is a Potluck brunch. Please bring a culinary creation of your choice. If you don't bring food, you are still welcome (and required) to come.

Notes on Course Improvement

Archived Information

Website Link	Description of the topic	Members
1. Ceramic Heater	We have been developing Insulated Solar Electric Cooking (ISEC) since 2015, collaboratively with partners in Africa and Nepal. We will be working with Salma (Togo), Victor (Malawi), Crevan <crevanblack@aseiug.org> (of ASEI in Uganda), and Abe M (Cal Poly grad who did ISEC in Uganda last year and is now in Kenya teaching with a group of students building ISECs). We will address one remaining challenge: the construction of a reliable ceramic burner made from clay and NiCr wire. See discussion in the second half of this report to our funder, MECS. Also see my blog for the following dates: March 13, March 20, March 24, April 30, May 5, July 12, July 24, Tuesday Shop	Amir S Rosa A Hannah LM
2. Concrete Cooking Surface	We have been developing Insulated Solar Electric Cooking (ISEC) since 2015, collaboratively with partners in Africa and Nepal. We will be working with Salma (Togo), Victor (Malawi, see January 15 until March 11, in blog, ), Crevan <crevanblack@aseiug.org> (of ASEI in Uganda), and Abe M (Cal Poly grad, see ISEC in Uganda from 392 Spring 2024, now in Kenya teach). Abe's group made progress toward high quality concrete construction. We will continue this work with African collaborators to facilitate manufacturing. Monday Shop	Aman S Chris M Bennett K
3. Insulated Mitad / Chapati maker	We have been developing Insulated Solar Electric Cooking (ISEC) since 2015, collaboratively with partners in Africa and Nepal. We will be working with Crevan (of ASEI in Uganda), and Betty (Ethiopia), Crevan <crevanblack@aseiug.org> (of ASEI in Uganda), and with Ebony (SLO on Higuera). We will address one remaining challenge: the construction of a reliable ceramic burner made from clay and NiCr wire. See discussion in the second half of this report to our funder, MECS. See last year's project: Mitad Injera Making, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Also see my blog for the following dates: March 13, March 20, March 24, April 30, May 5, July 12, July 24, Monday Shop	Rae B-W Jojo D Will J
4. Music in Malawi	We are building on progress from last year's Musical Instruments in Malawi. Bruno is the carpentry instructor for Kindle Vocational School of Kindle Orphan Outreach where we started a vocational program for electricity and ISEC technology, see blog Jan 14 - March 11. Bruno has begun to build guitars for play and profit. Last year's Musical Instruments in Malawi figured out how to make the string tuning pegs. The remaining challenge is building the neck with frets. Tuesday Shop	Colin B Nicolas P Nick S
5. DC microgrid	Alexis Zeigler of Living Energy Farm (and here) promotes Direct Drive Solar where solar electricity is used primarily as it is generated, during the day. What needs to be done to build small DC electrical capacity in low income communities? Read Alexis's challenge plan and work done in PSC-391: Winter, 2025, Direct Drive Solar in Africa, Winter, 2024, Direct Drive Solar in Puerto Rico. Alexis is considering partnerships in Africa. We will be following up last year's 392 project, DC home system, Navajo Nation. Tuesday Shop For 391 continuation: "This project group will focus on the creation of a solar micro-grid for the Mbwezera Primary School in Malawi, operated by the non-profit Kindle Orphan Outreach. Joseph Kandiyesa, the director of Kindle, is asking for electricity, since the school doesn’t have access at the moment. Their main request is to provide lighting for the interior of the school buildings as well as the outdoor center of the campus. Joseph also asked to fulfill remaining energy needs for the students, teachers (who live on-site) and administrators. This involves powering appliances such as fans, laptops, a projector, a TV, and a mini cooker. Your group will be coordinating with Joseph to determine what is feasible. This group will also communicate with another collaborator, Victor Chikoti, who is a local instructor at a solar vocational school. Victor has the technical experience to procure and install electrical and solar materials."	Dan P Allison O Alex Z Krithi S
6. Insulation for ISEC	We have been developing Insulated Solar Electric Cooking (ISEC) since 2015, collaboratively with partners in Africa and Nepal. We will be working with Salma (Togo), Victor (Malawi), Crevan (of ASEI in Uganda), and Abe M (Cal Poly grad who did ISEC in Uganda last year and is now in Kenya teaching with a group of students building ISECs). I am interested in finding locally-available insulation for ISECooking. You will work with Victor and possibly others. One substance that could work is chicken feathers. I have read that feathers can reach high temperatures. Also see my blog
7. Solar food processing	Processing Moringa : Moringa is a super food tree. The leaves are high in vitamins and nutrients and grows quickly. Additionally, the seeds can be pressed producing an oil that is valued by the cosmetics industry. An MIT project, True Moringa has been profitable. They need a way to dry the leaves onsite. I'm not sure this project will be offered, as it is a large business and may be outside the scope of the class. This could be a separate project, or be part of development of a DC microgrid. Monday Shop.	Nika Z David R Michael D Isadora DL