Marc Schneider
1st February 2014- 31st March 2014
Main Project: Mobile solar modules can produce up to 40% more power than static ones because they track to always face the sun. The key idea is to design a system as a kit so that people can easily set it up themselves. The tracking system is conceived of as totally Open-source in both its software and hardware. The importance of Open-source is that it allows you the user to be able to improve the system, to adapt it to your needs and/or just to repair it.
Local Challenge it addresses:
- Exploit the high sun potential of this region
- Encourage people to reconsider their energy consumption
How the Project has changed:
No changes.
Successes:
- Local integration
- Presentations in italian
- Event organization (Arduino Day)
Challenges:
- Start building the solar tracker
- Organize small-sized projects involving local people
- Improve my italian
Activities and Outputs:
Solar tracker project
- Presentation (in Italian) to the Matera Istituto Tecnico Industriale Open-ceremony day, University of Basilicata
- Initiated the project with the “Istituto Tecnico Industriale” of Matera.
- Designed the mechanical and the electrical parts with the Institute
- Currently waiting for an estimation of costs; once provided, it will be possible to provide a projected budget for the global system. Once agreed, it will be possible to start the production phase.
Hydroponics in the Sassi:
- Work carried out with Materans to install a prototype that uses the Arduino environment (open-source electronics prototyping platform) to control a hydroponics system.
- Next steps are set the prototype up for production use and to document it.
Arduino Day:
- Working in collaboration with Casa Netural, we organized an event on the 29th March at the unMonastery to celebrate the 10th birthday of Arduino, in line with world-wide celebrations.
- The aim was to establish relationships with local people (and potentially involve them in further projects) and to show the world that Matera is dynamic place.
- Research into a system that allows the monitoring the energy consumption in the unMonastery building.
- Equipment has been ordered, and we are currently working on outreach to involve local people (especially students) in setting up the system.
Relationships: http://www.immateriallabour.com/unmon/report/marc