TECHTONIC TOOLKIT
A DIY-kit designed for primary school students that assembles into a messenger device that leverages long-range, low-power mesh networks to enable communication between parent and child in the aftermath of high-magnitude earthquakes.
Product Design ■ 08.2023 – 12.2023
Scientific and empirical evidence predicts that an earthquake centered on a major urban center (like Los Angeles or San Francisco) will disrupt telecommunications for hours, days, or weeks, amplifying disconnect and distress among the public.
BACKGROUND
Designed for 5th grade students in seismically-active regions, the process aligns with STEM education standards and capitalizes on the empowerment and ownership that accompanies the do-it-yourself process.
ASSEMBLY REQUIRED
Bluetooth pairing enables parents to send messages from a mobile device over the mesh network. Child Mode limits outgoing messages to preset responses, ensuring that these transmissions are the only data that leave the child device.
CHILD SAFE
The aluminum front and backplates protect internal components while serving as a heatsink, the plastic bumper can be 3D printed in under an hour, and clip or magnet backplate options ensure your device is easy to find when needed.
FORM + MATERIAL
The front-end simplicity is enabled by offloading more complex componentry to a stationary backend. Housing two Raspberry Pi computers, a scientific-grade seismograph, and a mesh network transmitter, the Stationary Unit monitors for seismic activity or power outages and activates a backbone network.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Meshtastic is the underlying toolkit powering communication between the individual mesh units.
Raspberry Shake powers the stationary units, enabling off-grid seismic monitoring.
RSUDP and a modified python script enable communication between the seismograph and the mesh radio networks with no reliance on traditional networks.