A basic implementation of a mesh network using low-power, low-cost micro:bit devices for disaster reporting. Created for Visa Graduate Hackathon, January 2019.

thekeshavgoel || HartBlanc || salmansamie

How the network works

The mesh is built up of BBC micro:bit devices, each allowing the user to send a message from a selection of emergency services required. Once the message is broadcast from the origin, it is picked up by surrounding devices and passed on until it reaches the internet-connected basestation. Once the basestation receives the message and POSTs it to AWS, it broadcasts an ACK which is propogated back through the network.

Why

• Communication in disaster situations is hard, and traditional GSM is extremely high-overhead and doesn't scale well with high load in close-proximity.
• Devices that offer GPS capability are expensive, and have lower market penetration in areas where they'd be most useful.
• Mobile phones have high power consumption, and are likely to be more fragile than a more primitive device with a battery life of months, not days.

GUI

To run the GUI, simply load the site at psedge.github.io/microalert, or open index.html locally.