HALO: Humanitarian Centre Management System

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Electronics

HALO is a human management system to be used in the case of a humanitarian disaster. This includes settings such as refugee camps. HALO helps camp management collect data from people at the camp, so that needs can be prioritised and met in a time of distress and chaos. Currently, the people management system in humanitarian camps is not automated or centralised, causing loss of collected data and inefficiencies in helping the people with their needs. With HALO, people arriving at the relief facility register and are given a wristband by the HALO dispensing unit. This wristband has a RFID unit and stores information about the registrant, such as their personal details, and other vital information (e.g. the need for medical attention or special considerations). The information collected is centralised. Relief workers can access this information and update it as required.

HALO consists of two products, the band dispensing podium and the bands themselves, and both are made from different materials. The wristband will face everyday use for the duration of the stay, and it needs to be comfortable enough so the user is not hindered in anyway. Hence there are several features required, namely, it needs to be comfortable and flexible. The wristband is injection moulded silicone to ensure flexibility while being dispensed from the Halo dispenser and is comfortable to wear. It is intentionally designed to have an undercut, so that the RFID componentry can be fitted into its cavity. The dispenser is a stationery device, which will be used for as long as there are newer refugees are entering the camp. Being situated in an undercover area within and open environment, it will face the daily conditions as well as use by the many refuges entering the camp on a daily basis. Therefore the best material choice is HDPE. It is a tough and rigid plastic, which has very good stress resistance as well as good impact strength. This thermoplastic has variety of applications, such as being used to manufacture water pipes, trash bins, and food safe storage. This material is also easily recyclable.

HALO is comprised of three sub-assemblies that are to be assembled by camp personnel. The sub-assemblies require the mating of assembly features in the lateral direction to make the assembly process simple and not require any tools. The tablet housing sub-assembly has locating ribs and non-permanent press fits to be assembled on the dispenser sub-assembly. The dispenser sub-assembly has a precision aluminium I-track at its base to slide into the base. A cap is fitted on once the base and dispenser sub-assembly have been mated together to prevent the dispenser sub-assembly from sliding. Because both assembly features (press fit and I-track) are non-permanent, the HALO can be easily disassembled for storage.

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  • ABOUT THE ENTRANT

  • Name:
    Hania P
  • Type of entry:
    team
    Team members:
    Katherine Mews Akki Khan Hania Poonawala
  • Software used for this entry:
    Solidworks and Keyshot
  • Patent status:
    none