A team of seven LIV pupils completed their submission for this year’s PA Raspberry Pi competition. The PA Consulting Raspberry Pi Competition is an annual event celebrating STEM education. Its purpose is to provide schoolchildren with the tools and opportunities they need to invent products that can benefit society. Using engineering and coding skills and a Raspberry Pi microcomputer, students put their ingenuity to the test by creating inspiring solutions to global challenges. This year’s theme is inventing products that help individuals improve their health and well-being.

The team created a device called Portable Air Monitor (PAMpal) that can detect unhealthy levels of dust or gas in the air using a combination of sensors connected to a Raspberry Pi microcomputer. They designed the device to help people with lung conditions, such as asthma or emphysema, who cannot stay in areas with low-quality air for an extended period. PAMpal’s LED indicators notify the user of poor air quality so that they can move to a cleaner environment. It is portable and easy to use at home, work, or anywhere else.

Although their project wasn’t chosen to progress to the finals the judges had this to say about PAMpal: Super innovative application of the Pi. Very relevant to real life scenario. Clear written description as to how the different parts worked together. We really enjoyed learning about your project and seeing what you’ve achieved: it’s a really polished solution well done! The video was excellent and the code is clean. Great product, well done!

Great work, Team PAMpal! Keep on innovating!

Dr MacTavish, Head of Physics

PAMPal was such an enjoyable project to do for the last term and a half. I learned more about coding, the environment, the vast world of physics connecting to creativity, and much more. The process required dedication and hard work, yet it was all worth it in the end for that feeling of being proud of our team’s achievement. We ended on a sweet note with some delicious Krispy Kremes! – Anniyah