Team:Qdai/Implementation
Proposed Implementation
Current Problem and Motivation
We have developed a prototype device type of carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide is the result of incomplete combustion, and there is not a day that goes by in modern society that does not involve the burning of petroleum fuels. Platinum is used as a catalyst in most carbon monoxide detectors.
Carbon monoxide detectors are based on the flow of electrons, as shown in the equation below.(1)
Platinum is one of the most precious metals and is expensive due to its low reserves. It is also used as a catalyst in many other fields. It is also used as a catalyst in many other fields, especially in fuel cells, so its use is expected to be very high in the future. In addition, there is instability in the price.(2),(3)
Therefore, we used Human Practice to discover the specific problems of the current situation, and came up with a proposed implementation that meets the needs of consumers.
Who are the end users?
Although the end users of our devices are targeted at people working in animal husbandry, mining, and tunnels, all people, regardless of industry, are users of our products. This is because the devices we produce detect poisonous gases that may be generated in the course of our daily lives.
Market research
Human practice conducted research at Figaro Giken, Micro Biofactory, Cowshed, and National Institute of Information and Communications Technology. We also interviewed Professors Igarashi and Hanai of Kyushu University. The following is a collection of necessary points from HumanPractice as a proposal. For more information, please refer to HumanPractice.
Figaro Engineering
・Figaro Engineering's carbon monoxide detectors for home use in North America account for most of their sales.
・Heating systems in North America are unique. In North America, the heating system is unique in that the air is heated by a fireplace and sent to each room via pipes. This means that the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is high because each room is not heated. For this reason, carbon monoxide detectors are mandatory in some areas.(4)
・There is a certain demand for carbon monoxide detectors because sensors have a useful life and should be replaced in a few years.
The platinum used in the current carbon monoxide detectors is not recovered, but is disposable.
・Standards and legal requirements to be met to market the sensor
Micro Bio factory
・It is difficult to sell products using live genetic modification in Japan.
・It is important to utilize the advantages of synthetic biology.
Cowshed
・Cowsheds are not enclosed spaces, so there is little CO
・Ammonia may be generated from feces, etc.
・There is a demand for ammonia sensors to reduce stress in cattle.
・Cattle barns are dimly lit and visible depending on the brightness of the light.
National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
・Difficulty in storing cell lines in a stable manner
・Difficulties in methods for measuring reaction speed and fluorescence intensity
・Measurement method using a smartphone
Meeting with Prof. Hanai
・The feasibility of genetic circuits
・The luciferase luminescence intensity may be difficult to see.（5）
Entrepreneurship
Creators Acceleration 2021
We are participating in a program of the Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to learn about entrepreneurship and its subsequent management.
In the program, we are giving presentations to venture capitalists and getting feedback. I am also learning about intellectual property rights when realizing products and ideas in Japan, and am learning from actual experts how to compete with other companies after starting a business. During this program, we also conducted market research. In this market research, we conducted research in places where our products could actually be used.
Specifically, a tunnel construction company and a company that produces crops in greenhouses. Both were burning fossil fuels in enclosed spaces, which we thought could be generating carbon monoxide.
The results showed that in addition to carbon monoxide, oxygen concentration, combustible gas (methane), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide are also detected in the field, and there is a demand for detection for these gases.
Meeting with Professor Igarashi
We had a meeting with Professor Igarashi, who is teaching entrepreneurship at Kyushu University.
During the meeting, we learned what we should pay attention to when applying for a patent when starting a business, and the difficulties of selling synthetic organisms in Japan. In particular, the difficulty is high because the device we are proposing uses live E. coli bacteria. Furthermore, it made me think about the necessity of making it glow when considering it as a business.
We also discussed several business models after starting the business.
・What will be the shape of the device?
・What kind of guarantee will be provided as a sensor?
・Sales strategy in the form of lease, etc.
Conclusion
As described above, through HumanPractice and Entrepreneurship, we have identified the current issues and challenges of our product.
The following four issues were identified.
1. Current carbon monoxide detectors use up platinum, which is not sustainable.
2. laws and regulations for marketing live E. coli as a product
3. Light-based detection can cause HumanError in bright places.
4. There is demand for poisonous gases other than CO
Future Prospects
Of the four issues listed above, the first one, platinum, can be solved by our product. On the other hand, the remaining three issues cannot be solved by the current project. Therefore, solving these problems will lead to the future of our project. Therefore, in the future, we aim to develop a device that allows us to see poisonous gases not by light but by color change. We envision the device to be like a litmus paper. In this project, I was thinking of entering into another area of art using light and E. coli. As an extension of this art, we will be able to propose an art using color and E. coli.
A future flowchart would be shown below.
Reference
(1) How a gas alarm work https://oes.ne.jp/data/gas%20leak%20detector.html(2)MITSUBISHIMATERIALSGOLDPARK https://gold.mmc.co.jp/market/platinum-price/#platinum_5year
(3)Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Agency for Natural Resources and Energy Platinum usage statistics https://www.enecho.meti.go.jp/statistics/coal_and_minerals/cm005/results.html
(4)NSCL Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements, Laws and Regulation (2018) https://www.ncsl.org/research/environment-and-natural-resources/carbon-monoxide-detectors-state-statutes.aspx