Entrapping solar energy for power generation is not new, but the students of Illinois Institute of Technology have designed unique solar chargers with a noble cause for supporting the education of under privileged school children of Haiti. Haiti is battling with acute power shortage ever since the devastating earthquake of 2010 has crippled the power supply of the country. This factor prompted the eleven students of IIT to launch the project of designing inexpensive solar chargers for the school children of Haiti.
An international non-profit organization donated 10,000 XO laptops to the Haitian government in 2008 under the scheme One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) with a noble aim to support the education of poor school children of the developing countries. The children were apt enough to master the skills of laptop operation often outperforming their teachers. But, the acute power shortage caused enough hindrance in proper utilization of the laptops as they could not avail the minimum power to charge their laptops or to connect the internet.
Guy Serge Pompilus, the coordinator of One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project of Haitian Government and Bruce Baikie, the President and CEO of Green WiFi put their heads together to find out the best alternative to charge the laptops. Laura Hosman, assistant professor of Political Science, also engaged in studies of introducing technology to developing countries forwarded the matter to the IIT class.
Baikie, also the technical advisor of the IIT class carried out his efforts with the IIT students in designing an inexpensive solar charging system to charge XO laptops. Specially designed solar panels will be connected to the batteries and the charge controller will supply direct current to charge 346 XO laptops. A demonstrative mini model solar solution was produced that could charge only 4 XO laptops involving minimum material costs. Solar energy undoubtedly is the most reliable and renewable resource of energy, but often huge installation and maintenance cost of solar panels and chargers prevent the implementation. Baikie demands the system to last for 15-20 years with minimum maintenance cost.
The job of the IIT class does not end here. The students have already started raising funds to travel and install the pilot solar solution to the Haitian schools and educate the Haitians about its operation and maintenance. The success of technology is heralded when it percolates the different strata of humanity breaking all economic barriers.
Via: Chicago Tribune
