TEAM SENTINELS
For their invention, Mr. Mister, Team Sentinels—Jaynerson Joelee, Anselm Wong Jing Ern, and Allyson Yot Linton—were named the Shell NXplorers grand champions.
The Mr. Mister device, named after a well-known 80s rock band, is actually a multipurpose mist sprayer machine that is compatible with different fan models and is portable.
This creative solution makes use of modern temperature and humidity control sensors, which allow it to recognise and react to changes in the surrounding environment and temperature swings.
Team Sentinels claimed that “despite its small scale, our innovation addresses a specific problem.”
“We had a conversation regarding ways to combat Malaysia’s extreme heat wave, which gave rise to the idea for our innovation. We were talking about possible fixes when we noticed a diffuser across the table from us was making mist.
“Our primary goal is to improve people’s comfort and well-being in hot weather, and we think our invention can benefit the community by offering a practical way to cool indoor areas.”
They also state that users will have precise control over the cooling thresholds set by the mist sprayer thanks to the device’s connection to a mobile application. Users can easily customise and modify the misting levels via the app to meet their unique needs.
Team Sentinels revealed that they were first taken aback by their victory in the regional challenge because, on the day of the competition, the Mr. Mister device experienced unforeseen problems.
They stated, “We had difficulties controlling the ultrasonic piezo buzzer in the lead-up to the competition because of excessive current.”
We came up with a solution after much deliberation and research, but the piezo buzzers and their driver did not work correctly when the device was assembled at the competition site.
“We lacked the necessary tools to immediately fix the device. We persevered in spite of the inconvenience, and when we showed the judges a video of the functioning model, they were sympathetic to our plight.
They added that participating in the competition helped them improve their problem-solving, project management, and creative thinking abilities. It also gave them practical experience in STEM fields by allowing them to design and build their own device.
“We want to use 3D printing in the future to make a personalised water bottle for Mr. Mister, which will make refilling easier. In addition, Team Sentinels stated, “We intend to incorporate AI with 3D mapping so that the device can determine the most optimal and practical location for it to be placed in a room.”
