Students Design, Set Up Mobile Charging Station Inside the Library

The Electronics and Communications Engineering Association (ECEA), one of the student-run organizations on campus, has designed and executed a mobile phone charging station for AUC community members. Located on the plaza level of the AUC Library, the station is active, and the group is currently preparing to set up two more charging stations. 

Ahmed Ibrahim, electronics engineering major and ECEA president, explained the process behind this initiative. 

How did the idea come about?

It all started during my semester abroad at the University of Virginia in the United States in Fall 2013. Every time I wanted to charge my phone, I didn’t care if I had my own charger or not because there was a bunch of charging stations on campus. I decided from that time that I should pay back my AUC community and have a mobile charging station in the New Cairo campus. 

Why did you choose a mobile charging station in particular?

Mobiles are very crucial in anyone’s life now. During the day, you have to charge your cellphone once or twice, depending on your mobile type and usage. So we, as the Electronics and Communications Engineering Association, decided to help our fellow students charge their phones any time while sitting in the library. 

How long did it take you to design and execute the project? 

We have been working on this project since last semester. First, we designed the charging box and decided on the location. After that, we began to get the required permissions to place the station inside the library. At the same time, some members of the association were working on the built-in design itself. 

What are the main electronics engineering concepts you applied in the project?

Basic electronics concepts were used, but we focused mainly on the charging rate of any phone. We wanted the charging process to be fast and reliable.

What were some of the main obstacles you faced? 

The security of the mobiles was our main concern. But we thought that it should be the students’ responsibility. So, we decided to write on the box “Your Phone, Your Responsibility.” This means that students have to take care of their own mobiles. 

What are the most valuable lessons you learned as a group? 

Listening is the keyword in any teamwork, as it gives you the opportunity to explore different ideas. For example, the team members had different opinions about how the charging station should look like until we all decided on the design that will be practical for students.

What feedback have you been getting so far? 

Most of the feedback is positive, which encourages us to do other projects in the long term. However, the students need more charging stations on campus with a different variety of chargers. 

Are you planning on setting up a second mobile charging station? Where?

Yes, we are working now on two additional charging stations. The first one will be placed in the food court, and the other one will be in collaboration with the Office of Residential Life. It is going to be placed in the common area of the University Residences, so it will be a public service for dorm residents.

Photo caption: Students charging their mobile phones inside the library using the charging station designed by the Electronics and Communications Engineering Association