Automated LED Sanitizing Toilet for Public Bathrooms
For those who hope to use cleaner public bathrooms, I have created an automated LED sanitizing toilet powered by solar energy. Every time a person flushes one of these toilets, the seat automatically rotates 360 degrees and is sanitized by a UV LED sanitizer installed in front of the toilet tank. I chose this sanitizer for several reasons: moderate UV exposure is good for human health, UV rays are germicidal—capable of destroying the cell walls and DNA of bacteria— and UV LEDs are environmentally-friendly as they do not contain mercury, do not release ozone, and consume less energy than other UV bulbs. Because this sanitizer is solar-powered, its use reduces electricity bills; it also has a low maintenance cost. Although widespread adoption of these UV LED sanitizers is presently expensive, in a few years, when UV LEDs have become cheaper and more widely available, people will have easier access to my product.
2018-19 Conrad Challenge
With an aim to expand my understanding of product design and the business aspects of industrial products, I participated in the 2018-19 Conrad Challenge in the category "Energy and Environment" and was advanced to round 2. I wrote a business paper that specifies the economic, environmental, and technological aspects of UVC LED Sterilizing Toilet.