NUS ME students clinch Silver award for ramp design at iCREATe 2019

Our team has developed a water-resistant, fire-retardant, recycled cardboard ramp able to configure to 1-5 steps and curve a radius of beyond 90 degrees for deployment in constrained areas. The prototype ramp has been constructed such that it is made up of stages that are joined together to form the entirety of the ramp. The stages are held together by detachable yet reliable fasteners that allow for easy repair and replacement of the parts of ramp. These stages cater for different stair configurations and also for compactness when stowage. Additionally for stowage, the prototype ramp is collapsable due to the way the cardboard is interlaced and can be compressed about 70-80% of its original length. The prototype ramp has an incline of about 10 degrees and a textured surface to provide friction for rolling of the wheelchair going up and assists with grooves when the wheelchair is going downwards. The current first prototype was deliberately over-designed for safety as proof of concept and has a safety factor of about 3-5 times the required amount.  The current recycled cardboard used is in collaboration with a cardboard manufacturer in Singapore which produces its own recycled cardboard from pulp. Water-resistant and fire-retardant chemicals allow the cardboard to withstand certain weathering conditions and is safe for keeping in public housing while the material remains eco-friendly. The total material cost of the entire ramp is about SGD $420-$450, comparatively cheaper for commercially available aluminum ramps at SGD $600-800. We hope to lower this cost substantially through re-design and bulk production. Further development of the project includes experimental usage of recycled plastics and other materials. As well as lightening the overall weight of the ramp and increasing ergonomics and aesthetics for potential commercialisation. Integration of smart devices into the ramp is also an additional potential aim of the product.

Asst Prof Shin Sunmi named among Nanoscale 2023 Emerging Investigators

Assistant Professor Shin Sunmi has been named among the Nanoscale 2023 Emerging Investigators by the journal Nanoscale, highlighting rising stars of nanoscience and nanotechnology research. Her paper, Enhanced far-field coherent thermal emission using mid-infrared bilayer metasurfaces, was featured by the journal in a themed collection of research contributions highlighting “the very best work from researchers in the early stages of

[Business Times] Engineering Singapore’s green future

Countries have pledged zero emissions by 2050 but the means to get there are vague. Businesses need specific details on the decarbonisation of economies to align their own strategies, to raise and make investments, and to participate with impact. To read the full article by Professor Seeram Ramakrishna and Dalson Chung: Engineering Singapore’s green future

[Straits Times] Smart recycling boxes that reward residents for sorting waste have cut contamination rate

A trial in Bishan and Sin Ming to collect recyclables using smart boxes has managed to cut the contamination rate of their contents to just 5 per cent – far lower than the national average of 40 per cent. Professor Seeram Ramakrishna (NUS Mechanical Engineering), who chairs the Circular Economy Taskforce at the National University