18. Invention, Intellectual Property and Income

BMI Calculator Project

1. Project Overview: The Invention

The BMI Calculator is an interactive, automated device designed to measure a person's weight and height, compute their Body Mass Index (BMI), and display the result instantly. It is composed of:

• A load cell for measuring weight
• An ultrasonic sensor for height measurement
• A keypad and screen interface for user input and feedback
• Server connectivity to store data when the user enters an ID

By automating these basic health checks, the device simplifies and speeds up BMI monitoring in schools, clinics, and community health programs.

2. Motivation and Local Relevance

Why I Built This

I was inspired to develop this system to address a common gap in routine health checks, particularly in low-resource settings like Rwanda. Many communities lack affordable diagnostic tools for basic health data like BMI, which is a crucial indicator of nutritional status.

Connection to Rwanda's Needs

With national programs focused on fighting malnutrition and obesity, this tool could support health workers by:

• Reducing manual workload
• Ensuring consistency and accuracy
• Promoting tech integration in rural healthcare
• Enabling faster mass screenings in schools and health campaigns

This project demonstrates how locally developed, affordable tech can improve lives and support digital public health transformation.

3. Dissemination Strategy

To ensure this project reaches and benefits others, I plan to: Publish all documentation, CAD files, firmware, and system integration guides on my Fab Academy project page
Upload source files and code to GitLab under an open license
Share demo videos and technical breakdowns
Present the project in local maker spaces, FabLab Rwanda, or at innovation expos focusing on health tech or digital fabrication

4. Intellectual Property Plan

To encourage learning and responsible reuse, I chose Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-NC-SA)
This allows others to use, adapt, and build upon the project for non-commercial purposes, as long as they credit me and share their version under the same license.

License

BMI Calculator © 2025 by Olivier Nteziryayo is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

5. Income Potential and Business Opportunities

Short Term Ideas

• Sell BMI Calculator kits (assembled or DIY) to schools and health centers
• Offer installation and training services for clinics or community health workers
• Conduct workshops on DIY health-tech for makers and students

Long Term Ideas

• Add web-based dashboards or a mobile app for centralized data logging
• Build a solar-powered portable version for use in remote areas
• Partner with health startups or government programs to scale production

6. What I Learned (Reflections)

Throughout this project, I have:

• Mastered sensor integration, real-time data handling, and microcontroller programming
• Understood how to document, license, and share hardware and software for open collaboration
• Connected technical design with user experience and real-world application
• Gained confidence in project development, presentation, and planning for sustainability

7. Final Deliverables

Files

CAD Design: Solidworks

8. Conclusion

The BMI Calculator is not just a final project—it's a real step toward accessible, community-driven healthcare solutions using digital fabrication. I plan to continue refining it, build partnerships for real-world deployment, and promote its use as an example of local innovation with global relevance.