As many of you will know we have been working with Newcastle University’s Mechanical Engineers (under graduates) on a top secret gas control device.

We are delighted to announce that we have made huge progress in understanding the challenges that face us and in understanding the latest technology at our disposal.

Although this is a mechanical engineering project our students have had to get right up to speed on technologies such as microprocessor programming and control, induction heating and iOS programming.

The students worked hard to understand the “size of the prize” i.e. the potential sales market in the UK, designed and built a fully functioning test rig and wrote complex programs using the Open Source language C++ and the Arduino microcomputer. Their work was then all collated in final report which was presented to the head of the Mechanical Engineering Department.

An Arduino microcomputer and android phone set up to communicate to each other

The Head of Engineering at Newcastle University has now decided that one of the final year students should take on the project with Macoun as his final project for his degree. In the next stage of the project we face the challenges of miniaturising the technology, refining the iPad/iPod/Android app and taking it to initial market testing and then beyond. Our initial findings are that the gas control device will save the average home owner between £200-£600 per year depending on their gas usage. With a likely cost of less than £300 we expect a payback in less than 2 years.

Watch this space…………….