adminBeaven Dhliwayo Features Writer
Two Form 4 students from Nyatsime College, in Chitungwiza, got the better of their frustrations when they built an award-winning automated power back-up unit so as to be able to study during blackouts.
The two science students — Panashe Muzite and Macfaden Munyoro — came second in the energy category at the just ended MEGIF Science Fair in Valencia, Spain.
Using pieces of a discarded computer, they constructed an automated power supply back-up unit which ensures telecommunications and electrical devices are up and running at all times even when electricity goes off.
The device is for household use and can supply power to appliances consuming up to 600 watts.
According to the innovative boys, the unit uses solar, battery and electricity from the main grid as sources of energy.
“We were so excited about winning in Spain. We felt proud to be Zimbabweans,” Panashe said in an interview.
“When there is sunlight it automatically switches itself to solar and then amplifies the voltage from 20 to 240 volts by itself because there is a micro-controller which we programmed so that when there is sunlight it can switch to solar and when there is no sunlight it reverts to the battery.”
Macfaden weighed in: “If the battery reaches a certain threshold in terms of voltage, it switches to the main supply which then charges the battery.”
The device also has a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections which makes it possible to control it using a mobile phone.
The boys embarked on the project after getting frustrated with power blackouts that often affected them and fellow students in Chitungwiza whenever they wanted to study at night.
“When we did a quick research in Chitungwiza, we found that students were experiencing serious problems due to load shedding. This led to inadequate time for study during the night due to the unavailability of electricity,” says MacFaden.
“Then I and Panashe came up with the idea of designing this automated power back-up supply system which combines the solar system and the main grid and we hope this is going to help students in their studies nationwide.”
Panashe and Macfaden first showcased their project outside the country last year when they were still Four 3 students.
They went to South Africa’s Gauteng Science Fair where they competed not only with secondary school students but battled it out with tertiary students across the globe.
They represented the country very well, scooping first prize which paved way for them to compete in Spain.
“Last year we went for a competition in South Africa — the Gauteng Science Fair — when these boys were in Form 3 with their project and came up number one. We were competing against students from tertiary colleges and boys’ project was the best.
“From there we were then invited to compete at the Spain MEGIF International Science Fair. So when we went there we were competing against South Africa, Spain, Turkey and China and we were representing Zimbabwe in the energy category and we came second,” said Mr Claudius Choto, the head of science at Nyatsime College.
“So when we came second in Spain, the Spanish guys were stunned by the advanced technology that the boys exhibited from their project made from parts of an old broken computer.
“They gave the boys sophisticated gadgets including a Wi-Fi module, two Adriano circuits and a 3D printer.”
A 3D printer is a machine that allows the creation of a physical object from a three-dimensional digital model, typically by laying down many thin layers of a material in succession.
“It’s a first of this kind in Zimbabwe and it can print anything, even a phone and other gadgets like drones,” Mr Choto said.
He said it took them seven hours to assemble the 3D printer and with the approval of the Nyatsime College principal, Mr Maone Veremu, they involved students from other schools.
The schools that took part in the assembling of the 3D printer were from Regina Mundi, St Faith’s, Zengeza High 1, Seke 1 and Kriste Mambo.
Mr Veremu believes strongly that promoting creativity and innovation among the youth is the way to go.
“As a school we are very excited about the achievements of our young boys,” he said. “At Nyatsime College we believe science must address the current problems we are facing as a nation especially in terms of electricity challenges.
“So we are encouraging our students to be very innovative, to apply what they learn in science to real-life situations. We want them to address problems we are facing in our communities and society in general.”
He says all schools should adopt the competence-based curriculum which was recently introduced.
The competence-based curriculum emphasises the complex outcomes of a learning process; that is knowledge, skills and attitudes to be applied by learners rather than mainly focusing on what learners are expected to learn about in terms of traditionally-defined subject content.
This is in line with the Government’s vision of an upper middle-income economy by 2030 that will lead to industrialisation and modernisation.
Panashe and Macfaden say their next project will focus on the automation of homes.
“What we are going to create is also called a smart home or smart house. The automation system will control lighting, climate, entertainment systems and appliances,” Panashe said.
“This will also include home security such as access control and alarm systems. The system will typically connect controlled devices to a central hub.
“The user interface for control of the system uses either wall-mounted terminals, tablet or desktop computers, a mobile phone application, or a Web interface that may also be accessible off-site through the Internet.”
Online Reporter