UV radiation and public safety
UV radiation is an increasingly urgent issue in our daily lives, with the potential to cause negative long-term impacts on human health. Mapping UV radiation in real environments is crucial for ensuring public safety in outdoor spaces.
In the first semester of his degree/course, Dravidan worked on a group project to build a 4-wheel drive (4WD) rover prototype that could record UV radiation data across various terrains.
The team’s goal was for the rover to safely and efficiently collect data that would monitor environmental changes in extreme climates, hazardous to humans. It would also inform the design of public areas to ensure proper UV protection.
Team building
The project team included two fellow students from the course, Elliot and Yana, whom Dravidan worked closely with throughout the project.
“During my undergraduate degree, there was never a group project; it was more focused on examination. Working with people around we always learn something.”
As team project manager, Dravidan played a vital role in the group. He was responsible for the development of the rover’s hardware and software integration, as well as maintaining the project timeline.
Building and programming a 4WD rover
Dravidan, Elliot and Yana drew on collective knowledge from prior education, online resources, and advice from their academic supervisor and lab technicians, to successfully build and programme the rover.
The team mostly worked in the 2 East labs on campus, using available resources like the university's 3D printers and laser cutters to build the rover prototype. These tools became a standout feature of the project.
“I liked the 3D printing and laser cutting for this project, it was so cool to use these from scratch to building the rover platform .”
The team also chose to use an XBee module—a wireless transceiver—to establish a connection between the rover and a laptop. This enabled them to remotely control the rover’s movements and track real-time data, including GPS location, speed, time, date, and UV radiation levels. All collected data was stored on an SD card for further reference.
The team tested the rover prototype in the labs and outdoors across the campus in different types of settings and weather conditions.
Enrichment through project work
Working on this project provided Dravidan and his team with valuable experience in project management, teamwork, and the practical application of theoretical knowledge.
“Project work has significantly enriched my degree experience by allowing me to apply theory to practical, time management, and develop my teamwork abilities.”