KOTA KINABALU: A group of students from SMK Pekan Telipok in Sabah has won a state championship in an invention competition organized by Shell for their creation of a device to quickly alert villagers of rising water levels. The device, called “The Alluvione”, was designed by three Form Two girls and their teachers to serve as a flood alert system for flood-prone regions.
Aimi Farisha Roslin, Siti Nureen Naziha Ismail, and Iman Batrisyia Syarimin explained that the problem of floods in their area inspired them to create an upgraded version of existing flood alarm inventions. Siti, who is from a village in Kota Belud, shared that floods always happen there and that nearby areas are frequently hit by flash floods. She expressed how a proper alert system can benefit the entire community. Aimi noted that the device, an advanced sensor unit, consists of an ultrasonic sensor, LED light, a siren speaker, and a dedicated mobile application. It operates by continuously monitoring water levels in the river and sending real-time data to the connected mobile app through a WiFi network.
The sensor is designed to automatically gauge the water levels and provide crucial information to the mobile app. This enables communities to stay informed about changing river conditions and take appropriate actions in response to the rising water levels. The Alluvione not only enhances public safety but also demonstrates the potential of smart solutions in addressing natural disasters and protecting vulnerable regions from flooding.
The teacher, Sylvester Liaw, expressed gratitude to Shell for providing the opportunity to learn and address sustainability-related issues. He added that they are excited to represent Sabah in the national challenge and hope to make their state proud.
The competition’s first runner-up was Team XO_Leiune from SM All Saints in Kota Kinabalu. The team created a prototype called The EcoSwitch, an innovative light management system that addresses electricity wastage in real-time. The EcoSwitch operates by detecting human presence and activating lights only when necessary, thereby minimizing unnecessary electricity consumption and promoting energy conservation.
The two winning teams will represent Sabah in the Shell NXplorers Malaysia challenge in Kuala Lumpur on November 8. They will compete against 81 teams from nine schools statewide.
In addition to these winners, SM St Michael Penampang was given the most innovative award for their water-related project named BekAch. BekAch is a system designed to efficiently harness water from air-conditioners.
With the support of the Education Ministry, Shell NXplorers Malaysia worked with over 1,000 secondary school students from 25 schools across Malaysia to provide hands-on STEM learning experiences with a focus on technology.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
