My new Project - The BME pod!

ProfCJJ

Member
Hi all

Certainly not about a Z4 or even a BMW! Rather this project will most likely involve a VW T6!

I’m an academic from the University of Warwick and as part of my job (mainly research around biomedical engineering) I do what we call “outreach” i.e. talking to school children/ public about engineering and the importance of STEM (science technology engineering and maths). I’ve done this in a variety of ways including through Brain Controlled Scalextric, and in my biggest claim to fame wiring up James May to an electric wheelchair through brain-computer interfacing. See the following for the details:

[youtube]Uyrd0uOuyms[/youtube]

[youtube]B63smyVjzrU[/youtube]

This time I will be building a mobile Pod to take to schools, fairs and whatever all over the country.

The explainer video below gives you a bit of an idea of what the van will be about.

Essentially I want it black, tinted, lowered. Wide cool alloys with subtle artwork. The inside will be like a cross between the space shuttle and the set of TRON Legacy. The idea is to attract attention, get children and public to interact, ask questions and be enthralled with the possibilities that STEM education provides.

The building and fitting out of the van will be part of the education process for the undergraduate students designing, project managing and deploying the systems on board - from the solar panels, to comms and the biomed tech demos.

I have a few avenues I am pursuing for funding but would be greatful if anyone could provide any contacts with people or entities that might be of help in this regard. I am partially self-funding this through my own startup company, EMbody Biosignals, but can only go so far.

Any ideas for looks, styles, suppliers - anything - please do post - I am all ears.

So this is still a project in the making, but I am confident this will happen - one way or another :) if VW could get involved then I probably won’t de-badge the T6 either!!

I hope this excites you as much as it does me :)

[youtube]NXQ0RO8aYHY[/youtube]

Thanks!

Christopher
 
Sounds brilliant - love the idea of a mobile showcase supporting STEM. [ref]Beedub[/ref] (Byron) could potentially help with custom vinyl for the van. :)
 
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