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Robotic kites monitor greenhouse gas emissions
CategoriesSustainable News

Robotic kites monitor greenhouse gas emissions

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Wastewater treatment systems and rice farming produce a variety of greenhouse gasses (GHG), such as methane and nitrous oxide, that have a greater warming potential than carbon dioxide over the short term. Identifying when and where high volumes of these GHGs are emitted is essential if we are to tackle them, ensure reductions targets are being met, and mitigate climate change. However, there are few projects aimed at monitoring such emissions in an accurate and affordable way.

A new project at Surrey University hopes to change this with new, lightweight wireless gas sensors. The sensors will be attached to helium kites flown by autonomous robots and used to monitor the level and direction of emissions.

The research will involve several departments from across the university, such as fluid dynamics and robotics, and will incorporate skills such as data analysis. The sensors will be built by university spin-out Surrey Sensors, while Allsopp Helikites will provide the helium balloons. The technology will be tested in a variety of locations, including Thames Water treatment works and rice paddies in Spain.

The work is supported by a £620,000 (around €719,000) grant as one of 13 projects nationwide to be funded by a £12 million investment (around €13.9 million) from UK Research and Innovation’s Natural Environment Research Council, the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra), and Innovate UK. The funding seeks to support UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 — climate action.

Tackling methane emissions is the subject of a number of recent innovations spotted by Springwise, including a seaweed-based feed supplement that could reduce methane emissions from livestock and more sustainable methods for rice farming.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Reference

Robots monitor underwater environments without human intervention
CategoriesSustainable News

Robots monitor underwater environments without human intervention

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), our oceans have absorbed 90 per cent of all heat generated by rising greenhouse gas emissions and taken in 30 per cent of carbon emissions. Climate change, along with direct human activity like overfishing, is having a devastating impact on ocean biodiversity. Mapping these underwater environments provides experts with baseline data, with which they can monitor change and plan for mitigation. Belgium robotics company uWare is helping gather that data with autonomous underwater robots. 

Called the uOne, the system’s robot inspects both built and natural environments, providing essential data to organisations with underwater assets, as well as those working to conserve and repair marine habitats. The robots are programmed for consistent, continuous monitoring of a certain set of geolocal parameters and run for up to four hours at a time, remaining stable even in harsh weather conditions.  

The autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) deploy from shore or a boat and do not require users to be in the water. Monitoring routes are saved and repeated as regularly as required, with bespoke analyses of new locations or highly specific locations added whenever needed.

Video source uWare

UWare provides multiple data packages to clients. The initial gathering of data provides high-resolution imagery, depth and temperature readings, and other types of information tracking can be added to the drone’s capabilities depending on the environment being surveyed. The cloud-based uDataboard stores and tracks the data, and users can download raw files for in-house analysis. UWare can also provide visualisations and automated processing for easy, quick review and sharing of information.   

AUVs are frequently taking on some of the more dangerous jobs in monitoring the health of the world’s oceans. In the archive, Springwise has also spotted remote-controlled robots monitoring underwater gas leaks and a jellyfish-like robot collecting rubbish.

Written By: Keely Khoury

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Using computer vision to monitor hospital wards
CategoriesSustainable News

Using computer vision to monitor hospital wards

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: In countries such as the UK, health and social care workforce shortages are reaching crisis proportions. Each day brings a new report of staff shortages and their implications for patient care. While it can’t replace staff, a Danish health tech startup is developing technology to ensure staff are being deployed as efficiently as possible. The company, Teton.ai, has developed a system that uses computer vision to track patient movements and alert staff when patients are at risk of falling or need other types of assistance.

Teton’s system includes cameras and sensors that are easily installed in patient areas. The system then employs algorithms that can be integrated into existing platforms or supplied as a separate platform. The technology can operate independently of any personal information, and all video is processed offline by the hospital or care facility, preserving privacy. The platform alerts staff when an action needs to be taken so there is no need for staff to monitor or look at the video.

According to the company, the platform uses computer vision to understand different types of activity within a patients’ room, providing analytics and timely information to staff through integration into existing devices. Teton also points out that the platform can replace the use of a large number of “hyper-specific devices and sensors set up to measure all the different things that could happen in a room,” saving both time and money.

In 2019, the hospital services market size was estimated as being worth $8.22 trillion (around €8.28 trillion) and was expected to reach $15.45 trillion (around €15.6 trillion) by 2027. Given these figures, it is not surprising that Springwise is seeing an ever-increasing number of innovations in this space. Recent advances include the use of AI in diagnosing illness and apps that can connect doctors and patients. 

Written By: Lisa Magloff

8th September 2022

Email: info@teton.ai

Website: teton.ai

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Terra Nova soil monitor aims to avert future food crisis
CategoriesSustainable News

Terra Nova soil monitor aims to avert future food crisis

By Zarkon Group,

To fight the threat of soil degradation to food supply, design graduate Ryan Waterhouse has invented a portable device that monitors the health of topsoil.

Terra Nova allows users to measure the levels of three critical nutrients within topsoil — nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous — as well as its moisture content.

Waterhouse developed the smart farming device as his final-year project in Bournemouth University’s product design course, after learning that soil degradation presents an imminent threat to arable land.

Photo of a hand holding the Terra Nova prototype
Terra Nova is a soil monitor that measures levels of moisture, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium

“The world grows 90 per cent of its food in topsoil – the uppermost layer of soil – making it one of the most critical components in our food system,” said Waterhouse.

“Current rates of nutritional soil degradation suggest that topsoil will run out in just 60 years, posing a significant threat to food production,” he continued. “Every minute, 30 football fields’ worth of topsoil is lost due to degradation.”

According to Waterhouse, Terra Nova could help to reverse this trend. The device enables farmers and gardeners to track degradation and assists them to improve the quality of the soil, in turn improving their crops.

Small circualr LCD screen on the top of the soil monitor shows four sets of numbers prefixed by the initials N, P, K and M
A small screen on the device shows real-time readings

It has three retractable probes on the bottom that stick into the soil, with sensors that measure the levels of moisture and key nutrients in the soil.

The collected data is then displayed in two ways: on a small LCD screen on top of the device, which shows the soil readings at the present time, and on a web app, which presents weeks, months or even years of data in graphs and visualisation.

The app also has additional functionality, as users can tell which crops they are planting and get recommendations for their care, such as when to add a particular fertiliser.

Laptop open to the Terra Nova web app showing line graphs of various data sets
Full data can be viewed on an accompanying web app

The soil monitor connects to the app using Long Range Networking (LoRa), a low-power wireless technology, so it can relay data even in remote locations with no Wi-Fi.

According to Waterhouse, growers can use Terra Nova in one of two main ways: the first option is to leave it in the ground long-term, in which case one device per fruit or vegetable variant being grown is usually recommended.

Alternatively, the user can pick up the device and replant it to test a variety of areas at one time. Waterhouse suggests this option would suit allotment holders growing multiple fruits and vegetables.

Waterhouse sees Terra Nova as being of extra use now amid skyrocketing fertiliser prices, which are particularly putting pressure on farmers in Africa.

Terra Nova device planted in a garden bed surrounded by plants
The device is recommended for farmers, gardeners and allotment holders

“It is increasingly becoming more and more important to make educated and informed decisions on fertiliser usage because of recent cost increases,” Waterhouse told Dezeen. “I believe Terra Nova could significantly impact developing countries with education in increasing crop yields through correct farming practices.”

Waterhouse won the 2022 New Designer of the Year award, the top award at the UK’s New Designers showcase, with Terra Nova.

Other recent innovations designed for sustainable farming, include Pasturebird’s robotic chicken coop, which is meant to integrate animals with crops, and Studio Roosegaarde’s Grow light installation, designed to stimulate plant growth.

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Tech for Architects: An Edgeless Monitor to Enhance Your Workstation
CategoriesArchitecture

Tech for Architects: An Edgeless Monitor to Enhance Your Workstation

By Zarkon Group,

For more laptops and workstation recommendations for architects, checkout 15 Top Laptops for Architects and Designers, and watch out for more in our Tech for Architects series, coming soon.

A monitor for an architect is like a magnifying glass for a jeweler. It permits close-up and detailed views of an architect’s designs. When working with design software and intricate images, computer monitors help enhance a working environment and ultimately lead to a more successful project outcome. As the design industry heavily relies on technology, accessorizing a workstation with quality monitors, mouses and laptops are paramount.

Choosing the right monitor for professional work is equally important, and there are numerous aspects to consider, such as resolution, speed and brightness. And for many industry professionals, budget plays a significant role in the decision-making process. Luckily, there are monitors on the market today — such as the KOORUI 24-Inch Business Computer Monitor — that respond to designers looking to enhance their workstations while respecting their budget. The new KOORUI monitor offers great performance capabilities, pronounced screen visibility and advanced eye comfort.

All of these qualities can stand up to similar products by Dell and HP, making it KOORUI’s a very good price point for the product. As one reviewer succinctly explains, “I do CAD work on this monitor and find it very close in picture quality to those costing 4 times as much.” 

The KOORUI’s 23.8 inch monitor boasts a wide screen that offers clear views of one’s work. It comes with a frameless screen that displays images in their unaltered form. This edgeless design is ideal for designers connecting multiple monitors and require reliable and uninterrupted views of their work. The KOORUI’s VA screen covers 99% of the SRGB color gamut. This VA screen produces clear and precise color depictions and is ideal for architects whose work is often dependent on color accuracy.

In their product reviews, Amazon customers underlined how well the edge-less design lent itself to dual-monitor workflow setups: “It’s sleek looking and all the buttons are right there in the front so when it’s side-by-side with my other monitor, it is more seamless looking from one screen to another.”

Meanwhile, when spending all day in front of a screen, it’s important to use products that maximize comfort. The KOORUI monitor can be tilted up to five degrees forward and 20 degrees backwards. This feature permits bespoke adjustments that adhere to each designer’s personal viewing preferences — including transitions from seated to standing work set-ups. Additionally, the monitor comes equipped with Flicker-Free technology and a Blue Light Filter which helps make a full day of screen time manageable and less straining.

The monitor comes with multiple ports including HDMI and VGA and can be connected to PC, Xbox and other laptops, thus suitable for both professional and personal use. The new KOORUI 23.8 inch monitor is an economical and straightforward solution for architects looking to enhance their workstation and improve their productivity.

For more laptops and workstation recommendations for architects, checkout 15 Top Laptops for Architects and Designers, and watch out for more in our Tech for Architects series, coming soon.

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