Our mission is to co-design technology to address community-identified needs, amplifying the voices of community members most impacted by systemic local shortcomings. As a multidisciplinary student-run design team, we focus on sustainable, socially engaged designs created through strong community partnerships, empowering the people we work with.
This year, Metro’s new partnership is with Willow Run Acres, a nonprofit organization and urban farm located in Ypsilanti, MI. Their mission is to combat food insecurity and diet-related diseases by providing fresh, nutritious food and holistic education programs. They fight food injustice and financial insecurity through hands-on education about American agriculture. This academic year (2024-25), we have two projects with Willow Run Acres: a solar project and a smart water irrigation project.
Solar Project:
This year, we will install a weather station to monitor weather conditions and promote education on weather, agriculture, and farming. Additionally, our goal this semester is to provide WRA with a renewable energy source on site - specifically, solar power which will power various systems on the farm. We will thoroughly research the best size/type of solar panels, figure out the best placement on the farm, and work on installing and integrating them. Our overall goal in our partnership is to foster community engagement and spread enthusiasm regarding farming and agriculture.
Smart Water Irrigation Project:
Willow Run Acres has two large pieces of land which are currently being watered by hand. This year we will begin to work on our smart water irrigation system for both the Apple Ridge Community Gardens in Ypsilanti and Clay Hill Community Farm and Garden in Superior Township. By monitoring the soil and weather conditions, and researching each plant's watering needs, we can design a control system that optimizes the watering process. This semester we will establish a design for an initial prototype irrigation system, documenting the process along the way to ensure reproducibility as well as for general educational purposes. Our overall goal is to improve crop watering efficiency on the farm, minimizing water usage while maximizing crop output.
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