RS Components Launches Activist Engineering Program Urging DesignSpark Online Community to Engineer for a Better World

PB-51-RS-DesigSparkProgram-400.jpg

November 23, 2021

RS Components (RS), a trading brand of Electrocomponents plc, a global omni-channel provider of product and service solutions, has launched its DesignSpark #ActivistEngineering program, further strengthening the company’s commitment to engage and inspire design engineers across the globe to ‘make amazing happen for a better world’.

The DesignSpark #ActivistEngineering program gets underway with a pilot project addressing the challenges of rising air pollution, particularly pollution indoors caused by airborne particles, household odours and gases, carbon dioxide, among others. The ‘Air Quality’ project urges the more than one million registered members of the DesignSpark engineering community to help design, build and deploy a global network of portable indoor air quality monitors for the home, workplace, or other public indoor spaces and share the data collected back to the community.

To support the project, RS has unveiled a new cloud-enabled open-source prototyping platform that consists of open-source hardware and code developed in collaboration with DesignSpark partners. The DesignSpark Environmental Sensor Development Platform is based on a Raspberry Pi single-board computer with wireless connectivity to connect to the cloud. The kit comprises a set of Air Quality sensor modules that plug into a Raspberry Pi-compatible board with touchscreen. The platform and 3D printed enclosures are optimized for the Raspberry Pi model 3B+, though any model can be used. It is also compatible with peripheral modules (PMOD), allowing connection to an extensive range of PMOD add-on boards.

The Air Quality project will roll out over three phases for six months from November 2021, with a small group of first phase participants selected to Alpha test the sensor development platform. These users will create and share inspirational projects to the DesignSpark community, paving the way for phase two of the project which will be extended to all DesignSpark members with an opportunity to win one of 50 sensor kits. Commercial availability will follow in the final phase.

“Sustainability is critical to the future of our planet, which is why we are calling on engineers across the globe to use their skills and take action,” said Mike Bray, Group Lead – Innovation and DesignSpark at Electrocomponents. “Through programs like this, we hope engineers will join together in force to create sustainable designs that will make a positive difference to people and communities.”

The launch of the DesignSpark #ActivistEngineering program supports the broader goals of the Electrocomponents Group, which published its global 2030 ESG action plan on November 4, 2021.

Important_Links_Bar.jpg

https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/activist-engineering-engineering-a-better-world

 

Post Views: 263

Related Articles

PBUS-40-Omron-ThreeIs-400.jpg

How Omron’s “Three I’s of Automation” Create a Roadmap for the Factory of the Future

What will the factory of the future look like? This is the question that many professionals in the automation and manufacturing industries are seeking to answer. While most proposed descriptions are lofty yet lacking in concrete details, there are also many attempts to extrapolate from cutting-edge technologies that already exist. What needs to be done is to connect the grandiose vision with the minutiae, and its sweeping (and yet unrealized) capabilities with today’s real-world applications that sit right on the boundary between practical and experimental.

 

 

 

PBUS-39-Southwire-BMC2022-400.jpg

Southwire Recognized as a US Best Managed Company for the Third Year in a Row

Southwire is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2022 US Best Managed Company. Sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal, the program recognizes outstanding U.S. private companies and the achievements of their management teams. The 2022 designees are U.S. private companies that have demonstrated excellence in strategic planning and execution, a commitment to their people, strong financial performance and the ability to foster a dynamic, resilient culture.

 

 

 

PB 25 Rockwell newlogo 400

AI/ML Can Help Manufacturers Gain an Edge

Artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) are disrupting industrial manufacturing. In this article, we will focus on key trends that help leaders navigate their digital transformation (DX) initiatives with clear foresight. Ten years ago, model creation was the realm of data scientists, but that space has now been disrupted due to availability of easy-to-use tools that empower even the non-data scientist to leverage ML libraries and build models.

 

 

 

Precisely Synchronized Surface Treatment Process Increases Fatigue Life of Metal Parts

Precisely Synchronized Surface Treatment Process Increases Fatigue Life of Metal Parts

Whether manufacturing packaging machines or components for airliners, companies must be able to guarantee all metal parts will remain durable and dependable throughout the product’s lifecycle. Recognizing this challenge, LSP Technologies pioneered an effective method to increase the strength of metal parts: surface treatment with pulsed laser beams.

 

 

 

How to Build Security Boundaries to Enhance Industrial Cybersecurity

How to Build Security Boundaries to Enhance Industrial Cybersecurity

The rise of interconnected Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) systems is often attributed to how business models have evolved to enhance operational efficiency. For example, SCADA networks deployed along oil pipelines now collect oil output data that is essential to billing and pricing systems. This increase in data collection allows companies to predict with higher levels of accuracy not only oil production and output, but also expected revenue.

 

 

 

PB 25 Rockwell newlogo 400

Fiix: 10 Benefits of a CMMS

Fiix’s computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) helps maintenance and operations teams schedule, organize and track equipment maintenance digitally, connect to business systems and make data-driven decisions while leveraging the power of AI. There are over 3000 maintenance teams in 90+ countries using Fiix to improve efficiency, asset health and even sustainability.

 

 

 

Network Infrastructure Featured Product Spotlight

PBUS 14 Panduit logo 400

This webinar presented by Beth Lessard and Keith Cordero will be highlighting three Panduit solutions that will optimize network equipment and cabling to ensure that your spaces are efficiently and properly managed to support ever-evolving business needs of today and beyond. Products that will be featured include PanZone TrueEdge Wall Mount Enclsoure, Cable Managers, and Adjustable Depth 4-Post Rack.

REGISTER HERE

Editor’s Pick: Featured Product News

Siemens: SIMOVAC Non-Arc-Resistant and SIMOVAC-AR Arc-Resistant Motor Controllers

The Siemens SIMOVAC medium-voltage non-arc-resistant and SIMOVAC-AR arc-resistant controllers have a modular design incorporating up to two 12SVC400 (400 A) controllers, housed in a freestanding sheet steel enclosure. Each controller is UL 347 class E2, equipped with three current-limiting fuses, a non-load-break isolating switch, and a fixed-mounted vacuum contactor (plug-in type optional for 12SVC400). The enclosure is designed for front access, allowing the equipment to be located with the rear of the equipment close to a non-combustible wall.

Read More

Sponsored Content
Electrify Your Enterprise

Power is vital to production, and well-designed control cabinets are key. Allied Electronics & Automation offers a comprehensive collection of control cabinet solutions including PLCs, HMIs, contactors, miniature circuit breakers, terminal block connectors, DIN-rail power supplies, pushbutton switches, motor starters, overloads, power relays, industrial Ethernet switches and AC drives engineered to keep your operations running safely, reliably and efficiently.

Learn more HERE.

Products for Panel Builders

  • nVent HOFFMAN: WeatherFlo HD One-Door Frame Type 3R

    nVent HOFFMAN: WeatherFlo HD One-Door Frame Type 3R

    nVent HOFFMAN excels at modifying and customizing products to your specifications. Modification options for WeatherFlo HD include: size changes, custom paint, and holes and cut-outs. Contact your local HOFFMAN sales office or distributor for complete information. WeatherFlo HD Enclosures are designed to protect and cool 100-500 HP variable frequency drives. These enclosures provide an integrated… Read More…

  • Stahlin: PolySlim Low-Profile Electrical Enclosures – Cutting-Edge Sizes in Polycarbonate for OEMs and Installers

    Stahlin: PolySlim Low-Profile Electrical Enclosures – Cutting-Edge Sizes in Polycarbonate for OEMs and Installers

    Explore the latest PolySlim low-profile electrical enclosures, offering groundbreaking sizes in polycarbonate material. Tailored for OEMs and Installers in the electrical control and wireless communications sectors, these enclosures redefine space efficiency. Perfect for confined areas, exterior building placements, and safeguarding valuable equipment in public spaces, PolySlim enclosures excel with their durability, lightweight design, and visual… Read More…