Energy-Saving “Heat Sensor” Prototype Unveiled
Veda, from Dilkes Academy in South Ockendon submitted her engineering idea to Primary Engineer’s annual UK STEM competition which asks pupils aged 3 –19 the question “If you were an engineer, what would you do?”.
She was recognised as one of the Highly Commended in her year group at the East England award ceremony, one of 25 regional UK events, in 2024.
Her creation solves the problem of wasting energy consumed by AC or heating when doors or windows are left open. Sensors places on doors and windows will illuminate red or green, signifying if it’s open or closed and then a controller will take the needed action.
Each year Industry and University partners of Primary Engineer choose a pupil’s idea to build into a Prototype and to be revealed a year later at the regional awards ceremony.
Aveva selected Veda’s idea to bring to life during the 2024-2025 academic year. Allison Orton, R&D Manager said “The AVEVA ProtoTeam thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with Veda from Dilkes Academy. Together, we developed a smart home model that automatically controlled lights—simulating heaters and air conditioning—based on whether doors and windows in each room were open or closed. The system was designed to work with any plug-in device. To achieve this, we built a custom controller application that extended the capabilities of off-the-shelf equipment, enabling communication between sensors and plugs—something not possible with the existing apps. A highlight of the project was welcoming Veda and some friends to our office, where we showcased the working demo. Another proud moment was presenting the project at the awards event with Veda, who played an important role in the presentation.”
The finished prototype was officially unveiled on 26th June at the East England regional award ceremony hosted at Anglia Ruskin University. Veda’s family attended the event saying “We are incredibly proud of Veda’s remarkable achievement. Her keen problem-solving skills and innovative thinking have led to the Heat Sensor idea that was selected for prototyping. We are grateful for the opportunity provided by the AVEVA team to involve Veda in the Prototyping process, which has been a valuable learning experience for her. The collaborative approach taken by the AVEVA team has been truly inspiring for Veda, and her visit to the AVEVA Science Park with her friends was a memorable and enriching experience. Notably, the significant representation of women engineers at AVEVA has left a lasting impression on Veda, serving as a source of inspiration for her future endeavours.”
“If you were an Engineer, what would you do” is an annual, national competition free to enter for all 3-19 school pupils. Entries are open now for 2025-2026 and schools can register now at www.leadersaward.com
Primary Engineer Public Exhibitions and Award Ceremonies continue all over the UK through to July, with a total of 18 prototypes being unveiled. Read more about the prototypes: https://leadersaward.com/prototeams/