Health Security & Pandemics Challenge
Anteneh's Ventilation against COVID-19
One-line solution summary:
I have built new kind of ventilation system for indoor that prevents transmission of COVID-19
Pitch your solution.
I have built new kind of ventilation system for indoor that prevents transmission of COVID through air circulation due to ventilation equipments that help us stay cool
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Ventilators are very important equipments in an indoor environment. They help us stay cool, warm and breathe filtered air. But the very device we relay up on to keep us safe from air bourn pandemic have become the major liability because indoor air filtration system before filtering the air will help the virus move from one place to another on the process of air circulation. In an indoor café, restaurant, school or office, people sit in rows and columns separated by desks or tables. If one person sitting on the last bench has the COVID-19 virus and the air filtration inlet is on the other side of the person infected with the COVID19, the ventilation system will make the COVID-19 virus found on the exhaled air of the infected person travel all over the room because of the inevitable circulation characteristics of the system. This problem has been found and reported in many indoors in many countries of the world during this short period of time.
What is your solution?
I have built new kind of ventilation system for indoor that prevents transmission of COVID through air circulation due to ventilation equipments that help us stay cool. This is done by separating the circulation process of air filtration by taking out exhaled air through different path from the path it originally came after it is filtered by using multiple small suction hoses or pipes installed at different positions which will prevent the exhaled air travel from one side of the room to another spreading the COVID virus before it is filtered in ventilation system. We install one suction pipe in each desk or table in gathering indoor places like café, restaurant, school and office. Each suction pipes are connected to each other to be directed in to a header. The header will be connected to an exhaust fan which will be connected to the room air filtration system. When a person sitting in a specific table breaths out, the exhaled air will be sucked into the suction pipe on that specific table preventing any chance of infection to the person sitting on the next table who is in the way of the air circulation path to the ventilation equipment.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
The main targeted markets for this product are all places where people gather for long period of time for work and/ or recreation. These include the following places but not limited to;
- Schools,
- Public libraries,
- Conference halls,
- Cafés,
- Bars,
- Restaurants,
- Offices,
- Clubs,
- Stadiums and so many more
The market targets of this project listed above are very important for the economic survival and fulfillment of the basic need of a society. The impacts on the society due to the collapse of these industries have been seen in the recent COVID-19 crisis. According to resources "The International Monetary Fund has scaled back its estimate of the hit to the global economy from Covid-19 this year but warned that the final bill for the pandemic would total $28tn (£21.5tn) in lost output. Gita Gopinath, the IMF’s economic counsellor, described coronavirus as the worst crisis since the Great Depression, and said the pandemic would leave deep and enduring scars caused by job losses, weaker investment and children being deprived of education." This lose are results of the summation of lose of the above listed industries.
Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?
Strengthen disease surveillance, early warning predictive systems, and other data systems to detect, slow, or halt future disease outbreaks.Explain how the problem you are addressing, the solution you have designed, and the population you are serving align with the Challenge.
This project has huge impact for the halt and/ or slowing future disease outbreaks transmitted trough air. This is because it breaks the transmission means in crowded indoor places where peoples cannot keep their distance apart by making sure the exhaled air of a certain person sitting on a specific spot will not be inhaled by a person sitting next to the spot before the air is filtered. This is very important because even if there is airborne diseases outbreak worse than the COVID-19, the transmission will be significantly controlled big time.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Addis Ababa, EthiopiaWhat is your solution’s stage of development?
Pilot: An organization deploying a tested product, service, or business model in at least one community.Explain why you selected this stage of development for your solution.
I have built the prototype and done the first testing on a very small coffee house to see the mechanism convenience when implemented at public space. I can proudly say that it was a success with flying colors because the installed pipe lines was visually attractive and did not created an issue when it comes to physical blockage for movement of a person. Above all this mechanism will be 100 percent efficient and will work as intended which will save lives in mass number, boost the economy and keep the functionality of the social life of the society. The following pictures were taken during the prototype testing of the mechanism on the small coffee house.
Who is the Team Lead for your solution?
Anteneh Gashaw
Which of the following categories best describes your solution?
A new application of an existing technologyWhat makes your solution innovative?
There have been some developments for controlling the spread of airborne pandemic COVID-19 in indoors but as we have seen from the up to date crisis none of the solutions have managed to be successful and even for some technologies like the ventilation systems they have become major liability of getting infected than becoming a solution. Meaning room ventilator manufacturing companies have managed to come up with a product that can filter air up to 99 percent but prior filtration the room ventilators spread the COVID-19 virus trough air circulation caused by the fans of the ventilation system. This implies that it will worsen the problem rather than solve it because without the high air circulation current at least the virus will not get a pushing force to travel from one spot to another. This project will provide an efficient way to solve this problem by small modification of air filtration system of an indoor place by separating the route of the incoming filtered air for inhaling from the exit path of the exhaled air to be filtered or for discharging in to the outdoor. This is very innovative because this mechanism is first in its core idea and working mechanism that no place in the world has come up with. This mechanism will change the indoor air filtration and room ventilation system worldwide and create many new possibilities.
Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:
Select the key characteristics of your target population.
Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?
In which countries do you currently operate?
In which countries will you be operating within the next year?
How many people does your solution currently serve? How many will it serve in one year? In five years?
Currently this project has zero impact because I have not started supplying to end users. My goal is to distribute the product on a large scale but it is important to start with a small margins to 100 - 200 customers in the first year of launch. This will enable us to test the market and get feedback to improve any potential problems from the end users from all. On the second year of the product launch, we will progress to delivering 1000 - 2000 products per year. On the third year of the product launch, we will progress to delivering 3000 - 4000 products per year. On the fourth year of the product launch, we will progress to delivering 4000 - 5000 products per year. On the fifth year of the product launch, we will progress to delivering 6000 – 10,000 products per year. In five years we will deliver 21,000 products at or maximum capacity.
How are you measuring your progress toward your impact goals?
The main measurement that is used to indicate the importance of implementing this solution is the reduction of health risk it creates for the society during outbreaks of pandemics. It is one of the very important measuring indicators in the 17 UN sustainable development goals which is Good Health and Well-being. When this project is implemented in schools it insures the safety of all the students, teachers and staffs which is also an important measuring indicators in the 17 UN sustainable development goals which is quality education and decent work and economic growth in sustainable cities and communities with industry, innovation and infrastructure.
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
How many people work on your solution team?
Currently I am the only person who is running the project.
How long have you been working on your solution?
1 year
How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?
I have dedicated my life for invention and research because not only I have big dreams but also it is my only way out of poverty. We all have a talent we know or did not find out yet. Mine happens to be inventing. I discovered this talent of mine when I was in second year student during my university life. Starting from that point everything seemed not important except creating new ideas. So, until now I have invented more than 70 inventions.You can find some of my inventions via https://hackaday.io/projects/h... https://contest.techbriefs.com... https://www.herox.com/crowdsou... https://desall.com/User/Antene... https://challenges.openideo.co...
My latest big international honors are
- Winner of Mechanical maker challenge by NASA/ JPL- 2019 with my design invention “Mechanical eye”
- Finalist in the TIC AMERICAS 2020 contest with my project “Caribbean Sargassum Problem”
- Finalist in TKF plastic innovation challenge 2019 with my invention “Smart green washer”
- Top 100 inventions of 2019 by create the future contest by tech briefs with my project “Cone solar panel”
- Top 10 winner of TIA challenge 2019 with my multiple unique invention
- Finalist in Enel challenge on MV & LV distribution challenge 2019 with my invention “Turbine for avoiding birds in MV & LV distribution lines”
- In the recent Hawaii natural problem challenge which is the saving the Ohi’a challenge (https://conservationx.com/challenge/invasives/ohia), I submitted more than 30 possible solution which you can see via https://conservationx.com/chal...
- I have developed more that 20 inventions for solution, management and prevention of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) which you can see via https://solve.mit.edu/challeng... or https://contest.techbriefs.com...
What is your approach to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive leadership team?
The level of harm it causes from excluding a person based on the skin of their color or race, gender, sexual preference, disability, socioeconomic status and other factors has a very big negative impact not just on the person who is being excluded but also on the excluding party as well. So I always believe in giving fair and equal opportunity for all kind of people irrespective of their identity. And I can assure you that all opportunity from the employee of this project to vendors are selected based on their ability to deliver their skill and commitment they will show for the project.
Do you primarily provide products or services directly to individuals, to other organizations, or to the government?
Organizations (B2B)Why are you applying to Solve?
Funding oopportunities and potential partnership are the two main reasons for me. This two key components are the only things holding me back from success.
In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?
Please explain in more detail here.
The main support I need at this time is capital funding to progress my self from struggling inventor to a start up company with some budget.
What organizations would you like to partner with, and how would you like to partner with them?
Any big firm with appreciation for invention will do.
Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.
Yes, I wish to apply for this prize
Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Prize to advance your solution?
My invention has direct connection with the funder goal.
Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.
Yes, I wish to apply for this prize
Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use The Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion to advance your solution?
My invention have more or less direct connection with the funder goal.
Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for the Innovation for Women Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.
Yes, I wish to apply for this prize
Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use the Innovation for Women Prize to advance your solution?
My invention have more or less direct connection with the funder goal.
Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The AI for Humanity Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.
Yes, I wish to apply for this prize
Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use The AI for Humanity Prize to advance your solution?
My invention have indirect connection with the funder goal.
Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The Global Fund Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.
Yes
Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use The Global Fund Prize to advance your solution?
My invention have direct connection with the funder goal.
Solution Team
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Mr Anteneh Gashaw CEO, Anteneh Engineering
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Solution Name:
Anteneh's Ventilation against COVID-19