ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Design and implementation of a variable frequency drive for electric vehicles

This project focuses on developing and realising Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) specifically for electric vehicles (EVs). This project aims to meet the rising demand for efficient, reliable, and economical solutions in the EV market. The suggested VFD system employs both traditional V/Hz control algorithms as well as state-of-the-art power electronics components like MOSFETs and IGBTs to improve the performance and efficiency of induction motors used in many EV designs. It includes conceptual design, detailed engineering, prototyping, and rigorous testing phases to ensure that this VFD meets all required specifications and standards. Notably, it has improved energy efficiency features and implemented similar fault detection systems at a cheaper cost. Therefore, this project successfully implements accurate and responsive VFD control of AC Induction motors and proves the VFD system's relevance as a motor controller in the EV industry. That said, this project's main aim is to make these technologies accessible and more efficient, especially in regions where they are not economically viable.

Source: Ashesi
Design And Implementation Of A Wind Turbine Emulator

The transition to renewable energy sources is essential for achieving global sustainability goals, yet the practical study and development of wind energy systems remain challenged by the cost, complexity, and unpredictability of full-scale turbine installations. This project presents the design, simulation, and hardware implementation of a laboratory-scale Wind Turbine Emulator that provides a flexible, low-cost platform for studying wind energy conversion dynamics. The emulator simulates wind conditions by regulating the speed of a DC motor using a custom-built closed-loop buck converter, with real-time control orchestrated by an ESP32 microcontroller. Two modes of operation manual potentiometer-based control and automated SD card-driven input allow dynamic wind profile replication. A Proportional-Integral (PI) control strategy ensures precise motor voltage regulation, enabling accurate emulation of real-world wind speed fluctuations. Extensive MATLAB Simulink simulations validated the control system prior to hardware deployment, demonstrating strong agreement between theoretical models and physical performance. Results indicate that the system reliably tracks varying wind profiles with minimal error, providing a robust educational and experimental tool for advancing the understanding of wind turbine control strategies. This work bridges the gap between complex field systems and accessible academic models, paving the way for enhanced research and training in renewable energy technologies.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of an anti-theft vehicle tracking system using LoRa technology

In recent times, vehicle tracking systems have been introduced to reduce the number of stolen items such as phones, cars, or other devices. As years go by, these tracking devices are improved with additions such as vehicle monitoring components to ensure the safety of drivers. Such components include temperature sensors, fuel sensors, motion sensors, and many others. This paper encompasses designing and implementing an anti -theft vehicle tracking system using Arduino nano 33 BLE sense, GPS, and LoRa technology. The main components of the device include an Arduino nano 33 BLE sense, a GPS module, a LoRa transceiver, and a gateway. The Arduino nano BLE sense is embedded with a proximity sensor; the temperature sensor detects temperatures in the vehicle for the owner to be alerted when the temperature in the car rises above normal. The reading from the proximity sensor also enables the device to alert the owner when motion is detected around the car. The Arduino is interfaced with the other main components and placed inside the vehicle to be tracked. When the car is accessed, the user gets a notification and can turn the car's fuel tank which is represented by a DC motor in this project.

Source: Ashesi
Design And Implementation Of An Automated And Solar Powered Crop Drying System For Small Scale Farmers In Ghana

This project presents the design, implementation, and testing of an automated solar-powered crop drying system developed to support small-scale farmers with an affordable, energy-efficient solution for post-harvest drying. The system integrates mechanical and electrical subsystems to enhance drying performance while ensuring sustainability. It features a modular drying chamber, and dual solar collectors optimized for maximum heat capture and uniform airflow. An ESP32 microcontroller manages system operations, utilizing DHT22 sensors for temperature and humidity monitoring, DC fans for airflow regulation, and dual LCD displays for real-time feedback. A fuzzy logic control algorithm dynamically adjusts fan speeds based on temperature error and humidity variations to maintain optimal drying conditions. User-friendly crop selection buttons allow easy adjustment for different crops. The system operates entirely on solar energy, supported by photovoltaic panels and battery storage to enable continuous operation during unfavorable weather. Testing with groundnut and maize demonstrated the system

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of an automated block-making machine

This project addresses the problem of a significant shortage of housing in urban areas of Ghana, with only 35% of the demand for housing being met. One of the essential elements in construction is brick or concrete block, but the traditional manual method of producing blocks limits quantity and quality. The aim of this project is to design and construct an automated low-cost block making machine to meet the demands of small-scale and local block making industries in Ghana. The machine would provide cheaper and readily accessible building blocks, lowering the cost of construction. CAD software (Solidworks) was used for performing static, fatigue, and vibrational analysis for the key components in the machine. SkyCIV software was used for plotting free body diagrams, shear force diagrams, and bending moments diagrams. CES software was used for material selection for the system. EasyEDA and Lucidchart were used for the circuit design and the flow diagrams respectively. The weight measurements indicated that the average block weight is 4.36 kg, which indicates uniformity of the total block samples produced. The water absorption rate for the block produced was 2.27%, indicating the block meets the required standard of not having a water absorption rate of more than 10% as specified by the Ghana Standard Authority. The cost of the machine was calculated to be GHC 6599.50, which is far cheaper than some existing machines available in the market, which range between GH12000.00 to 16,500.00. The system demonstrated a high production rate with our machine, producing 618 blocks in 8 working hours with a manual means of conveying, compared to the 240 blocks that can be produced in the same period with a hand-tamping block making machine. In all, the results of this project show that the automated low-cost block making machine can produce uniform and well-compacted blocks with high compressive strength, meeting the required standards of water absorption rate and weight.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of face recognition-based door access control system

With recent dramatic development in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), smart access control has become crucial part of our modern everyday lives. This paper presents a door security system designed to prevent trespassing in a highly secure areas like home environment. The implemented system is cheaper and more reliable for intruder detection and door security. The door access is solely based on face recognition to ensure that only authorized individuals go through the door. The principle on which face recognition works is that the sysadmin defines an individual or a group of individuals who are allowed to enter the area, a room or a building, through a door, a gate, or any physical barrier. Thus, the access is limited to these individuals. Faces of authorized individuals are captured, stored, and trained by the system, and a real-time face is captured and matched against the ones of authorized individuals to identify the individual gaining access through the door after which the access is granted if that individual is authorized and denied otherwise. Haar-based cascade classifier was used for face detection while Local Binary Pattern Histograms (LBPH) algorithm was used for face recognition. 150 faces of individual were captured and trained after which real-time faces were tested on the system to determine the accuracy. The implemented recognition system achieved a recognition or accuracy rate of 88.6%. Notification has been achieved, using Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), by sending emails to the sysadmin in case of any successful or unsuccessful attempt to gain access through the door. Python’s Open Source Computer Vision (OpenCV) library was used for face recognition. The implemented system is cheap, user-friendly, and reliable.

Source: Ashesi
Design and Implementation of Portable Security Device With GPS Tracking and Alarm System Using Lora Technology

Physical assault is a social ill that remains a serious problem and continues to attract attention due to its severity. Every day related cases continue to be reported. Due to this lack of security, several devices have been developed to help request help in case one is in danger. This project focuses on the use of smart embedded systems and the internet of things to provide an efficient and effective device that will aid in reducing related statistics. The device will contain an alarm system and a GPS module with wireless communication. The alarm will help request near help, whereas the wireless communication and GPS will help request far help. The alarm system will work independently to allow the user to choose the safest means to request help.

Source: Ashesi
Design and manufacture of a mechanized kente weaving machine

This project focuses on the design and manufacture of a mechanised kente weaving loom. It aims to address the inefficiencies exhibited by the traditional Kente weaving loom, such as its demand for time. The proposed solution to this is a machine that mechanizes the entire weaving process and eliminates the need for the weaver to actively weave the fabric by hand. By introducing a motor, weaving can take place at different speeds and would result in more consistent results with less downtown caused by human need. This project, however, has it focus on the production of Kente stoles since they have gained popularity around the globe. The machine has the dimensions L24cm x W35cm x H23cm and is portable to accommodate weavers on the go. Some tests were conducted to test the viability of this product. Three out of the five mechanisms required to make the loom fully mechanized were tested, and the results showed that the design did have the ability to address the underlying problems. However, the project was not completed due to time and resource constraints.

Source: Ashesi
Design of a digitalized water meter system-hardware, embedded system & meter management software

Ghana's current water meter systems are not integrated to an intelligent system. To determine the quantity of water consumed, a person from the Ghana Water Company must go to the location of the water meter system to read the meter. The proposed solution is to provide a retrofitting device that converts the digitalizes the present water meter system. The retrofitting unit should reduce the causes of NRW by properly monitoring water use and providing and communicating the amount of water used to customers and the Ghana Water Company. An embedded system, and a meter management system software are the two key components of this project. The embedded system is an IoT-based system that uses the atmega328p and a hall effect sensor to calculate water usage and transmit water consumption data via the Lora Reyax module. The data is subsequently processed by the meter management software, which includes the admin portal and the user-facing mobile app.

Source: Ashesi
Design of a Low-cost Automation System for a Block Making Machine

The paper discusses a successful design of an Atmega328p based programmable logic controller (PLC). It describes how to use the PLC to fully automate a semi-automated block-making machine to provide a cheap and efficient alternative for Small Scale Enterprises in the block-making industry in Ghana. It also describes how to interface with a VFD which can be employed to good advantage for energy conservation.

Source: Ashesi
Design of a low-cost compact subsonic wind tunnel for African universities

Wind tunnels are essential tools of experimentation, especially in tertiary institutions where they contribute to fluid dynamic instruction and research. However, wind tunnels remain too expensive for academic institutions, especially in low-to-middle-income countries, and they can have large working space requirements exceeding these institutions' capacities.. This paper presents an effective design of a 1-m long open loop subsonic wind tunnel to combat these challenges. It is designed with an emphasis on a flow visualization use case. With a test section of 14 x 14 cm, this tunnel achieves a desired maximum velocity of 8 m/s, with a good flow uniformity across the test section. The design has been validated both empirically and computationally, allowing users to begin the commencement of construction for use in academic settings all across the continent.

Source: Ashesi
Design Of A Low-Cost Interactive Braille Learning Device For Young Children With Visual Impairments In Ghana

Education is a fundamental right, yet many children in Ghana, especially those with visual impairments, face significant barriers to literacy. Reading and writing are essential for accessing information and knowledge, empowering individuals to succeed and actively participate in society. For visually impaired children, however, these opportunities are often limited due to a lack of accessible braille learning materials and resources. According to the Ghana Statistical Service, only 6.5% of school-aged individuals with visual impairments have attended second-cycle education, while over 40% have never received any formal education. While braille remains the primary medium for literacy among the visually impaired, the tools required for learning braille, such as Perkins braille machines are expensive, costing over $1,000 (approximately GHS 15,560) and often limited in many schools. This disparity puts blind students at a significant disadvantage compared to their sighted peers. This capstone project aims to address these challenges through the design of a low-cost, interactive braille learning device for young visually impaired children in Ghana. The device will feature tactile braille cells, audio feedback, and a simple, child-friendly interface. The methodology combines human-centered design with very affordable prototyping techniques to ensure affordability, accessibility and relevance. The system will support users in learning the English alphabet and constructing two-and three-letter words through a multi-sensory approach. By providing a more accessible, low-cost and engaging approach to braille literacy, this project seeks to enhance the educational experience of visually impaired children, promote inclusive learning and empower all learners, regardless of disability, to reach their full potential.

Source: Ashesi
Design of a low-cost robotic manipulator for food handling

Industry 4.0 improved production processes for many manufacturing processes however, this change was not as pronounced in many service industries including the food service industry. Considering the high cost of implementing technologies such as robotics, edge computing and machine learning there are not many options for establishments such as restaurants and fast-food places to also implement various parts of Industry 4.0 into their services. With the growing consumer demand especially regarding dietary differences, it has become more important for food service establishments to make their processes smarter to keep up with the demand. In this project, a low-cost, computer vision-controlled robotic manipulator is implemented to assemble a custom plate of food without human assistance. This was achieved by collecting and annotating 1000 images as well as training an object detection model with no less than 90% average precision for each of the possible classes as well as an average recall of 94.45% where there were no more than 10 objects in the image frame. A 3D printed robotic manipulator was then assembled with servo motors, a Raspberry Pi, and a low-cost web camera and the model, together with python scripts were then used to make real-time detections while picking and dropping the food items from one plate to another within the manipulator's workspace.

Source: Ashesi
Design of a low-cost streetlight monitoring system using LoRa

Streetlights are public goods that beautify cities, ensure safety for road users and security for city neighborhoods. A delay in streetlight maintenance jeopardizes the safety and security of many. Also, when streetlights stay on throughout the day, it wastes power and energy and increases cost. This project presents the design of a low-cost streetlight monitoring system based on LoRa technology. In the design, a Dragino LoraWAN 868MHz (LoRa/GSM) gateway module was used alongside one LoRa shied (transceiver) and an Arduino Uno. The transceiver, Arduino, sensors, and relay formed a LoRa node which was mounted on a streetlight. There is a web application at a remote-control unit with an interface that monitors every node (streetlight) connected to the system. Data about each node was sent to the gateway which uploaded it to the LoRa App server. The LoRa App server decoded the data and made it available through the RESTful API. The data on the LoRa server was accessed via the API using an HTTP integration and was displayed on the web application at the remote monitoring centre. The test LoRa node was able to send accurate information about the state of the streetlight to the LoRa server, and it was accurately displayed at the monitoring unit web interface or dashboard. The node was also able to switch on/off or dim the streetlight at the right times. Key Words: Streetlight monitoring, LoRa, MQTT, remote-control, gateway, IoT

Source: Ashesi
Design of a microfluidic chip to complete a genetic multimodal whole-cell biosensor

The whole-cell biosensing mechanism is a promising avenue for detecting a wide range of molecules with high sensitivity and specificity. Compared to classical spectrophotometric, voltammetric and chromatographic techniques, biosensors are generally less costly and less laborious. That notwithstanding, there is more room for improvement for the biosensors. With the aid of microfluics, biosensors can be made more robust. Recent advances in microfluidic technology have led to the development of various devices for whole-cell biosensing. However, there are still gaps when it comes to maintaining cell viability, scaling up the technology for practical water quality monitoring applications, and maintaining cell viability. Thus, in this project, a microfluidic is designed to complete a whole-cell biosensor with a focus on maintaining cell viability: ensuring that fluid shear stress levels in the microfluidic channels do not exceed the optimal value for cell survival. The design is analysed with CFD Software called ANSYS and experimentation is done to test its performance. The outcomes of this project demonstrate that excessive shear stress and prolonged exposure to fluid flow will negatively impact the performance of whole-cell biosensors in microfluidic devices.

Source: Ashesi
Design of a non-contact tonometer for diagnosing and monitoring glaucoma

Glaucoma is a major contributor to irreversible blindness worldwide, but detecting and treating it can be challenging compared to other eye conditions like cataracts and trachoma. Regular eye check-ups are critical but inconvenient for busy individuals, travellers, and underserved communities. Additionally, distance barriers may require relocated patients to receive a new diagnosis and treatment plan, which may interfere with their treatment regimen. In Ghana, the country with one of the highest numbers of glaucoma cases in Africa and the world, many people are unaware of the disease and do not seek regular check-ups. Managing glaucoma requires reducing intraocular pressure (IOP), and tracking IOP levels is essential in determining the appropriate treatment and medication effectiveness. To help address these issues, a reliable, non-contact tonometer was built in this project to aid in the early detection of glaucoma. The device is accompanied by a cross-platform mobile app that enables individuals to track their IOP levels while facilitating communication with specialists for prescriptions and treatments. With this solution, individuals can conveniently monitor their eye health, receive prompt medical attention, and ultimately reduce the incidence of blindness due to glaucoma.

Source: Ashesi
Design of a Pedal Powdered Machine to Enhance Shear Nut Processing

Shea nut is a very important commodity across many parts of the African Continent. The Shea tree has numerous socio-cultural and economic benefits to people living in its geographic area and to the nation at large. Despite the fact that the shea nut industry has contributed significantly to the economic growth of the nation, the method (manual/traditional) by which shea products are processed is tedious and time-consuming which need to be addressed. The current work focused on designing a pedal powered machine that would enhance shea nut roasting. Conceptualization was achieved with free hand sketches and 3d models using SolidWorks. Methodology involves numerical calculation, static analysis, fatigue analysis, vibrational simulation, in SolidWorks. The results showed that the stress on the shaft lies at the edges of the fins, and the factor of safety obtained after design lied between 1.9 to 5.5. Also, the result showed the minimum natural frequency of the cylinder to be ranging from 2947.5 Rad/sec and the maximum being 13449 rad/sec. The result implies that the shaft design was safe as far as the factor of safety is concerned and excessive vibrations beyond the minimum frequencies might lead to structural and functional issues.

Source: Ashesi
Design of a Pedal Powered Machine to Enhance Shear Nut Processing

Shea nut is a very important commodity across many parts of the African Continent. The Shea tree has numerous socio-cultural and economic benefits to people living in its geographic area and to the nation at large. Despite the fact that the shea nut industry has contributed significantly to the economic growth of the nation, the method (manual/traditional) by which shea products are processed is tedious and time-consuming which need to be addressed. The current work focused on designing a pedal powered machine that would enhance shea nut roasting. Conceptualization was achieved with free hand sketches and 3d models using SolidWorks. Methodology involves numerical calculation, static analysis, fatigue analysis, vibrational simulation, in SolidWorks. The results showed that the stress on the shaft lies at the edges of the fins, and the factor of safety obtained after design lied between 1.9 to 5.5. Also, the result showed the minimum natural frequency of the cylinder to be ranging from 2947.5 Rad/sec and the maximum being 13449 rad/sec. The result implies that the shaft design was safe as far as the factor of safety is concerned and excessive vibrations beyond the minimum frequencies might lead to structural and functional issues.

Source: Ashesi