Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam Henry M. Gunn High School – 2014 Open Minds

The Henry M. Gunn High School InvenTeam has invented an affordable and sustainable solar-powered egg incubator to combat malnutrition and enable economic opportunities in developing countries. The system consists of a cost-efficient, reliable solar water heater and an intelligent, low-power microcontroller that regulates temperature, egg turning, and a hatching detection system. The design costs approximately $300, maintains a temperature of 99 ± 0.5 °F for 24 hours a day, and can incubate 12 eggs at a time. The solar egg incubator will be donated to off-the-grid communities and will introduce clean technology to students in classrooms.