Developed by SNU Engineering Students in ‘Design for Manufacturing’ … Children Playing Generates Compressed Air for Dental Equipment<?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

▲ Jae-in Kim, Kyo-wook Shin, Se-hoon Park, and So-hee Yoon of Mechanical Engineering

▲ Trampoline that generates compressed air

A team of engineering students from Seoul National University has developed an apparatus that can be used in developing countries with inadequate access to dental care.

Seoul National University’s College of Engineering (Dean: Kookheon Char) announced that a team of Mechanical Engineering students Jae-in Kim, Kyo-wook Shin, Se-hoon Park, and So-hee Yoon (from Professor Yong-Lae Park’s lab) has developed a trampoline that generates compressed air needed for dental treatment, in the ‘Design for Manufacturing’ course of 2^nd semester taught by Professor Sung-Hoon Ahn. The course aims to develop products that can provide necessary aid for the less privileged people in developing countries at a low cost.

The team focused on children in Tanzania, who suffer from dental health issues due to a high level of fluorine in groundwater, but are often unable to receive quality dental care. The team decided to design an apparatus that could ameliorate their situation; they ended up developing a trampoline that generates energy via children jumping and playing on it.

This apparatus collects compressed air generated by the trampoline and adjusts the air pressure using a control system designed by the students. By adjusting the valve, the air can be sufficiently compressed to 1 to 2 bar, the pressure level generally required for dental equipment.

The trampoline provides access to dental care in places such as Tanzania, where it isn’t often feasible to obtain compressed air for medical purposes. Mr. Kim explained that he “had heard of people in Tanzania not having access to dental care, and that there are many children” and that he “got the idea of a trampoline while thinking of a way to help with dental care while entertaining the kids.”

This trampoline will be utilized in Mkalama, Tanzania in January 2018, where Global Solar Volunteer Corps from SNU College of Engineering is going to construct a solar photovoltaic power plant. They will be performing volunteer work, teaching science and offering medical service. The trampoline will also enter the International S.M.A.R.T. Startup Competition and Conference, organized by Innovative Technology and Energy Center (iTEC) in Tanzania, competing alongside Tanzanian teams.

Besides the trampoline, students came up with other ideas in the ‘Design for Manufacturing’ course such as portable dental drill, vaccine refrigerator operated by a bicycle, vaccine temperature maintenance machine using a balloon device, fluorine filter for drinking water, garbage collecting device motored by photovoltaic power, rehabilitation device for dislocated elbows, and apparatus for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Apart from Professor Ahn, experts from various fields mentored students in developing products: Professor Dung-Hun Han of SNU School of Dentistry; Dr. Vittal Mogasale of International Vaccine Institute; Director Herb Rhee of iTEC Tanzania; Professor Juhyun Eune from Department of Design, SNU College of Fine Arts; Professor Young Taek Shim from SNU School of Law; and Patent Attorney Jeong-bu Song from E-BIRD International IP Law Firm.

“Korean students and foreign students were divided into teams, and throughout the whole semester, they themselves brainstormed and designed products that could be used in volunteer work. They applied for patents as well,” Prof. Ahn commented. “Professors and experts offering suggestions from multiple aspects was immensely helpful in developing products.” He further expressed that he was “happy to have explored the potential of engineering education that branches out to volunteer work and research through this course.”

Related articles:- SNU Engineering News http://eng.snu.ac.kr/node/15323 
- Yonhap News http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2017/12/25/0200000000AKR20171225055400004.HTML 
- Dong-A Children’s Daily http://kids.donga.com/?ptype=article&no=20180110180654662311