Real-world design as a one-semester undergraduate project: example of a robust and low-cost solar lantern

The purpose of this project was to develop a rugged and efficient solar lantern. The lantern was designed to meet the requirements of persons who reside in areas in which access to the electrical grid is limited and whose resources do not permit import of electrical generation capabilities. A representative of a missionary organization operating in Africa developed the original set of specifications for the solar lantern. It will be used by the local school children for doing homework in the evening. These specifications prioritized reliability, ease of operation, rugged construction, portability, and low cost. The resulting design was realized in a single prototype. The design and construction of the prototype was completed as a student/faculty project in the Junior Engineering Clinic course at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. It was funded and directed by ETM Solar Works, a New York-based corporation.