RSU and RTU Students Jointly Develop Innovation to Improve Air Quality

Joining forces, students from Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) and Riga Technical University (RTU) are developing a prototype of an air purifier and disinfection robot to autonomously improve indoor air quality.

The prototype is being developed as part of the RTU programme Vertically Integrated Project (VIP). This is the first time a team with students from both universities has been created as part of the project, allowing RSU students to participate in the activity. The team is led by RSU Leading Researcher Žanna Martinsone and RTU Professor Anatolijs Borodiņecs and is looking for a solution to the indoor air purification challenge.

‘The Smart Air Tracker team’s main goal is to create a prototype for an air purifier and disinfection robot in order to autonomously improve indoor air quality.

The team has already conducted initial research on the literature, filtration materials, air disinfection methods and similar prototypes and a sketch of the Smart Air Tracker is being made. Developing the prototype requires specific research, like identifying filter materials, battery size, fan power etc.,’ says Martinsone.

‘We have already found technical solution for the part of the robot that processes the air. It is based on several low-power fans, which allows us to reduce noise levels and ensure an even air supply depending on the load of the room,’ adds Prof. Borodiņecs.

The aim of the VIP is to enable students from different programmes and study levels to collaborate in a long-term research project, while strengthening and expanding the scientific activity of the teaching staff. The student teams are interdisciplinary and vertically integrated, meaning that students come from different levels of study, both from the RTU Engineering High School and from bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes at RTU. 77 students are participating in the project this semester. The teams collect and process data, develop prototypes, and their work is supervised by leading researchers from RTU. Students and researchers jointly develop prototypes and look for solutions in very different fields, for example in bioenergy, wastewater treatment, low-energy buildings, space, sensor technology, digital twins and robotics.

RSU vertically integrated projects are implemented as a part of ESF co-financed project Improvement of Governance Processes and Modernisation of Contents of Study Programmes at Rīga Stradiņš University (No. 8.2.3.0/18/A/011).