High school robotics team creates portable ventilator.
A high school robotics team hopes to provide ventilators to those in need amid the coronavirus pandemic while inspiring younger generations to tackle current issues.
The Bionic Wolves of Wolcott College Prep, 524 N. Wolcott St., is seeking clinical trials and FDA approval for its TETRIX Portable Ventilator, which only took two to three hours to make.
Bionic Wolves coach and physics teacher Kenny Bae said his team used recycled materials to create innovative devices in robotics competitions. The idea for the device was sparked by his students’ competition experiences and a global need for ventilators to aid the recovery of coronavirus patients, Bae said.
“As we’ve seen, there’s a huge demand for ventilators, not just in the U.S. but all over the world,” Bae said. “What if we could create a portable ventilator using the equipment we already have? That is the question we started with, and that’s what we’ve been working on from spring break until now.”
The ventilator is made of used cables, two iPhones, hand tools, a hardware controller and a battery pack. The device can stay on for five hours straight.
“Right now, we’re trying to make sure that this product is viable by working with health care workers to get feedback about it’s practical use in a hospital setting,” Bae said. “And once that process works out, we have to get clinical testing.”
So far, he’s been told by health care workers the ventilator could be a last resort option during an emergency, he said.
“I think about very poor neighborhoods, villages or areas where patients are far away from a hospital,” Bae said. “It could buy patients some time.”
Bae’s robotics team is part of For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, an international STEM mentorship program founded by inventor Dean Kamen, who Bae said supports the team’s work on the device. FIRST holds annual competitions where students design, build, program and operate robots.
Wolcott sophomore Lionel Billingsley worked on a 3D model of the ventilator.
“[Modeling] allows you to see potential issues before you actually spend a bunch of time building an actual, working prototype,” Billingsley said. “You may find a significant issue in the design that you can then go and change more quickly.”
Though the team isn’t able to work in the same space due to social distancing measures, sophomore Bethany Blackman sets up calls on Google Meet to discuss how to improve the ventilator. She said their work is important to her because she wants to inspire younger generations.
“You wouldn’t think that high school students would do something like this, especially with what’s going on, but we’ve managed to get through it,” Bethany said. “And it also shows that anyone can do something if they put their mind to it.”
Bae said the next steps for the ventilator are to keep testing it.
“We want to eventually partner with a biotech company to conduct more clinical testing and then ultimately get FDA emergency approval,” he said.
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Expert in Learning & Development and Small Business Strategy
4 年Kenny Bae, always leading with love and a mission of being generous and kind in the world. Thank you! Congrats to the Bionic Wolves!
I started in 3rd grade and stopped in 8th grade.
4 年Mr. Bae at work ladies and gentleman. He is always working with students to make their dreams happen. I am proud to be from Wolcott and to have worked with Mr. Bae!
Maths & Science teacher, and throw in some VEX Robotics on the side! ??????
4 年Congrats to all involved.