| Team Leader First Name | Sean |
| Team Leader Last Name | Kaylor |
| Additional Team Members | Alex Korzh |
| Group Team Leader Contact Number | 805 296 2121 |
| Team Leader Email Address | kaylorsean@hotmail.com |
| Faculty Advisor First Name | Linda |
| Faculty Advisor Last Name | Vanasupa |
| Faculty Advisor Contact Number | 756 1537 |
| Project Title | SinoCHIP |
| Problem Description | SinoCHIP is currently building a low cost, micro scale, portable water analyzer for use in developing countries. Our prototype is designed to work in conjunction with cell phone infrastructures already prevalent in developing countries. The device is approximately the size of a credit card and requires the same basic skill level as operating a cell phone. SinoCHIPs could be manufactured using semiconductor related technologies for ultra low cost and highly scalable deployment around the world. |
| Project Description | The SinoCHIP project was initiated while Sean was in rural China during the summer of 2008. During that trip Cal Poly students were investigating opportunities for sustainable engineering design problems that matched Cal Poly’s technical capabilities and the needs of the local residents. Water quality was a major issue for all of the communities visited, but no widespread universal water testing infrastructure existed. Sean recognized that microscale fluid technologies already being pursued at Cal Poly might be a good fit for developing a low tech water testing device.
With the help of Alex both Cal Poly students set out developing two core technologies for the water testing device; a micro scale fluid handling chip and a chip reader to interface with a cell phone. Today the team has several working variations of the micro scale chip which was built at Cal Poly’s Microfabrication Laboratory. Currently the water testing device is capable of mixing a sample and reagent, then scan the reaction chamber with an LED, and analyze a water sample for phosphate which is a common pollutant in developing countries. Our initial goal is to refine the prototype so that other universities and or industry could easily see the potential of this technology. |
| Project Timeline | April - Finish the latest prototype
- Characterize design specifications May - Record / Document project - Demonstrate device to strategic personal at Cal Poly - Create professional looking information packets / brochures June - Make contact with industry using connections at Cal Poly to introduce our ideas |
| Budget | $200 - misc. electronics items for a
demonstration device $100 - materials for professional brochures $200 - trip to SF or LA area to introduce our idea |
| Image | picture |
| Picture Description | Picture depicts the overall SinoCHIP network that our team envisions. Currently we have built one prototype device which consists of one chip holder and several disposable fluid handling chips. |
| Links | http://www.calpolymst.org/index_files/Page556.htm |
