SDWS

The lock-down won't be in place for long, the number of people expected to fill the streets again will be staggering, possibly making social distancing difficult. 

Therefore a simple walking regulation, to enforce social distancing will save lives and slow the spread. 

Innovated from the turnstile device, the SFWS is a device which can be fitted in crowded places, to regulate crowds. The device ensure users are well spaced from each other in crowded places like towns, transport areas and etc. 

The device can slow down the virus, if used properly. Properties of the device also include a Far-UVC lamp which sterilises the surface of the device. If the device was implemented in crowded areas of popular tourist attractions, the device will ensure people are well spaced and potentially save lives.    

The current pandemic we face is spread mainly through infected-droplets. 

Large crowds and public spaces are a major hot-spots for growing viruses, therefore governments have called for major lock-downs. 

There's an issue, which is once lock-downs are finished, there is no guarantee that the virus is free from the public. With people bored in lock-down, a staggering number of people are expected to flock the streets. Experts warn that social distancing will be diffcult, and warn that the virus may spread further again, causing more mayhem.

With over 1.3 million coronavirus cases and over 72 thousand deaths worldwide as i write this, the world is far from being out of the woods. 

There is no public regulations in place, to help enforce social distancing. As china opened its doors again, many tourist locations were packed and at full capacity. People crammed and in large groups, showed no signs of social distancing. This gave the world evidence of the social distancing issue, we will face post lock-down. 

My solution is a device which provides crowd control. The device ensures, there are space between people as they walk around crowded spaces. 

The device is an innovation to the turnstile gate, it forms a barrier against getting in contact with people around you, with the handrail (Fig.1). The handrails (Fig.1) are attached to a conveyor belt (Fig.3), which turns due to being attached to the rotating conveyor wheel driven by a motor (Fig.2). 

The device's handrails (Fig.1) is expected to come in contact with a lot of people, therefore Far-UVC lamps are installed within the handrails (Fig.1), to sterilise the surface and hand of the users (if holding the hand rails).  The handrails (Fig.1) are built with glass windows to allow the rays, to sterilise the surface of the device.

The device rotates the handrails, in a long spherical motion. This allows users to distance in either direction of walking, providing two lanes of distancing.  

The device will be optimised to serve those at risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms, which can be deemed life-threatening.

Although the device is strictly intended for the use of every member of the public within the area of the pandemic to avoid spread. 

More extensive research is required into the virus, as the virus has more of a tragic event on those with underlying conditions and compromised immune systems. 

The speed of the railing rotation must be suitable for everybody, therefore priority lanes may need to be introduced running at a slower pace, for such people with disabilities and the elderly.

The device will benefit families with high-risk people, by enabling them to travel around crowded places, with a lower chance of bringing home the virus.  

This challenge is regarding preparing the world to respond to health security threats and emerging pandemics. 

As the issue brought up describes the health threat of crowded places whilst in a pandemic, the risks being; getting infected and spreading it, infecting high risk individuals and posing a fatal risk to yourself. 

The risk outlined, all are related to pandemics and health security, therefore the solution provides a response to those issues by reducing contact, which will in return slow the spread of the virus. This also means our target population are every member of the public in countries affected.

Our device focuses on providing the first crowd regulation, as a response to this pandemic, as mentioned previously a staggering number of people are expected to fill the streets, therefore a correct response is in order.

Self Social distancing is the only solution out there, that achieves the same response. Social distancing can only do so much in places near full capacity. As you see the picture below, social distancing isn't possible in large crowds, therefore our device can help support distancing, with however number of people present.

By regulating member of the public, in an ordered manner to enforce distancing, there is no other regulation out there which achieves the same goal, which is what makes our solution unique.

For starters, the Far-UVC is a type of UV lamp which is effective in inactivating viruses and bacteria, the lamp doesn't have sufficient range to penetrate the outer layer (stratum corneum) of the human skin, but as virus and bacteria are micron size or smaller,Far-UVC can efficiently traverse and inactivate them. The lamp is safe for public use, and will be implemented within the handrail, which will be built with an exposed casing to release the rays.

The second technology is motor driven conveyor belts. The conveyor belts will be attached to the handrails and drive our device. 

The third is the flexible circuit boards, which will connect and power the lamps, as well as stay attached to the conveyor belt.

These properties are crucial to the function of this device, Far-UVC is a new technology which will be tested with our device, so we can sterilise our handrails and device surface. This device is mainly run by innovating existing mechanical and electrical components.

A study carried out at Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, 10032, USA by David Welch, Manuela Buonanno, Veljko Grilj, Igor Shuryak, Connor Crickmore, Alan W. Bigelow, Gerhard Randers-Pehrson, Gary W. Johnson & David J. Brenner

Studied and developed the experiment on the Far-uvc lamp, which determined that Far-uvc is capable of inactivating airborne viruses, and other forms of bacteria/viruses the size of a micron or smaller. The lamp is not capable of range that may penetrate the outer dead layers of skin, deeming it safe for public use. 

The Far-uvc is much more safer than convention uvc lamps, which is known to be carcinogenic and cataractogenic, after being proven to not penetrate mammalian skin.

Other functions of the SDWS, consists of a motorised rotating conveyor system, which is similar to the device known as an escalator. This mechanical system is implemented in crowded areas, and public walkways across the world, which shows that an innovated concept of similar technology that is already widely accepted, may not be so difficult to integrate within society 

Link to theory of change sheet : https://drive.google.com/file/...

Please click on the link to read more about our theory of change.

Our device intends for public use, implementation of our device in major cities on crowded location will serve millions, possibly billions a year. 

Our device is currently in concept, therefore answering prior to official development approval will be difficult. Our device could impact billions across many large countries affected by this pandemic, but without official approval in countries, calculating that sum will be uncertain. 

Our goals for next year, are to be able to cripple the scale of this pandemic by mid-2021, and allowing rapid economic recovery by introducing virus-free travels within crowded public locations with our device. We plan to achieve this goal by requesting approval to develop such a device, by governments across the globe. 

Within the next five years, we would like to ensure in similar future scenarios, our device deployment will be classed as a safety response to counter any growing attempts of a pandemic. We plan to achieve this by introducing a crowd pandemic response regulation, which will consist of measure to manage and control contact within large crowds to avoid rapid spread. We plan to achieve these goals through our organisation, Nine Rings Ltd.

Funding, approval and technical support, we currently require funding to be able to hire technical experts, to develop and test a prototype. To be able to then achieve our goals for 2021, requesting and achieving government approvals is a legal issue which falls also into funding, is an active barrier which holds us back from our goals.

We also require technical support from mechanical and electrical engineering experts, in order to develop such a device, basic understanding of electrical and mechanical engineering is required, which is currently a barrier until we can hire suitable team members.     

We plan to request funding from government grants, investors and crowdfunding source, this will allows us to develop our first prototype and begin testing. Requesting approvals would require legal experts which falls into the issue of funding, therefore hiring legal experts to support us through achieving approvals is necessary for the development of this device.

Sourcing technical support from industry experts will be found using either from the mentor-ship, expertise and support at solve. 

As well as correct mentor-ship of the team to guide a successful development of this device.  

1. Abdirahman Abdi

Abdirahman is very capable of delivering such a solution. As the founder of Nine Rings Ltd and CEO, Abdirahman has experience within the entrepreneurial life, with a driven spirit to bring concepts to life. Sadly due to the effects of COVID-19, it slowed development of one start-up currently run by Abdirahman, which has driven Abdirahman to come to this solution. 

A marketing product concept idealised by Abdirahman, made it to the regional finals, in the founders of the future competition. Abdirahman has understood tasks are important to be completed in order to execute goals, therefore creating strategies and organizing tasks effectively is a skill, Abdirahman is no stranger to. 

Abdirahman has developed a strong concept to support a smooth operation, developed from a vision. Abdirahman sees clearly what the main goal of such a device is, a vision with objectives which can impact billions of lives must be properly understood and built with good understanding. Abdirahman is a crucial component in driving success from this device.   

Customers

• Our customers will be businesses, who's premises will be filled with large crowds of the public or large crowds in general, other key customers are government official who's purpose is to implement our device in public settings to counter virus spread.
• Our customer will be served with the purpose of providing them, clean travel through crowded spaces
• Other customers may need smaller devices to manage queues within premises, such as, stores, takeaways, hospitals and etc.

Our product

•  Our products allows large crowds to moves around locations, without contact. To ensure mobility around crowded locations are contact-free

Our delivery

• We plan to deliver our devices to governments through contractual agreements.
• Other organisations that also have uses for our devices, may also agree to contractual agreements. 

Our proof of demand

• we've defined a need for a device through the current pandemic, a need for safer travel through crowded public space a factor which has grew the scale of this virus without it.

Our funding will be intended to come from investment, grants and crowdfunding.  

Once we have developed the prototype, and have achieved government approval, we will be able to begin negotiations and receive government & organisation contracts to develop the device on major cities and premises.

our revenue models is uncertain as it derives from contracts, which can vary on by location and client of the installation.

Our barriers varies from reaching government officials to discuss this solution to sourcing the correct mentor-ship and expertise to guide this project.

We believe a community such as solve, will provide us the correct environment of technical experts, successful solvers and mentor-ship to incubate and develop a strong solution. 

Becoming a solver not only will help us break down our barriers ranging from expertise to funding, but allows us to build our solution to make the change we need in these uncertain times and allows us to be apart of it.

Becoming a solver will provide me, with a strong 9 month of advancing my ability to develop our solution and grow my expertise. It will test my potential, and teach me new experiences from the development of technologies to entrepreneurial expertise. This is why i am applying to solve.

My partnership goals

• Receiving close technical expertise to support development
• Access to discuss this solution to government officials
• Marketing insights and exposure 
• Legal personnel for matter involving device approval
• Access to required funded need for the development of the prototype.

These goals are crucial for the development and legal protection of the device, also marketing are crucial to spread the word of such a device, this will inform the public of its purpose and prepare the market for the device.

Solve members

• which will support me and grow in a community of fellow solvers
• prepare me, to understand what to expect, as well as share tips to ensure success.

MIT Faculty

• may provide knowledge and insight within the project.
• support development with guidance, as well as possibly join the development of the solution and be apart of the change.

With the large range of expertise and knowledge being offered, i would like to partner through mentor-ship and other avenues, to further grow together and build a strong solution.