IEEE MOVE Comes To India To Help Disaster Workers

Forbes

3 days ago

Left to right: Kathleen Kramer, Mary Ellen Randell and me
In June I wrote an article about visiting the IEEE MOVE volunteers in Puerto Rico. I was able join IEEE President Kathleen Kramer and IEEE President Elect Mary Ellen Randell in Bangalore, India for the launch of the first Indian MOVE truck.
IEEE with the IEEE MOVE Outreach India program, launched its first Mobile Outreach Vehicle (MOVE) to be deployed outside the United States. The MOVE India Vehicle was unveiled on July 21 at the IEEE India Office, World Trade Center, Bengaluru.
The vehicle is designed to bring educational resources to communities in India and, in the future, provide communication and technology support to relief workers during emergencies in Karnataka. The Indian web site says that, when not deployed for disaster relief efforts, the IEEE MOVE vehicle will be taken to schools, events, and other venues to educate the public—showcasing leading technologies and raising awareness about the positive impact these technologies have on society.
Even before the India MOVE truck was commissioned this week the Indian volunteers had done MOVE themed STEM outreach with the local community. The MOVE truck is shown below.
IEEE Indian MOVE Truck
Built on a rugged Force Traveller chassis and engineered to navigate India's diverse terrains, the IEEE MOVE India Vehicle's modular design, power system, and advanced emergency communication suite provide the technology and communication tools relief workers need in the event of a disaster. The vehicle also provides a catalyst for STEM education and sustainability awareness.
The MOVE India Vehicle has a grid and solar-powered energy setup with a hybrid inverter and lithium-ion battery bank, delivering up to 30 hours of energy. The onboard communications include a Wi-Fi 6e antenna suite, 4G connectivity, and HAM radio systems to provide seamless, high-bandwidth communication during emergencies.
Inside, the vehicle carries interactive STEM kits aimed at educating students and communities on climate change, disaster preparedness, and sustainable technologies. The STEM program is expected to reach over 100 schools annually, beginning with operations in Karnataka, and will expand further to other states across India.
IEEE MOVE stands for Mobile Outreach VEhicle, is a program focused on providing disaster relief and STEM education. It utilizes a specially designed vehicle to deliver emergency communication, power, and computing services to areas affected by natural disasters. Additionally, the vehicle and its resources are used for educational outreach, showcasing technology and its positive impact on society.
There are three MOVE trucks in the USA with the first one commissioned in 2016. In the US the MOVE trucks have been deployed to assist the Red Cross 40 times for various types of natural disasters. It has participated in STEM outreach events many more times. The trucks have been based in the Southeastern US as well as in California.
In addition to the three US MOVE trucks and the new one in India, Puerto Rico has a group of IEEE volunteers who have modular boxes of gear to help with communications and power needs for disaster workers that they can put into a vehicle and deploy on the island when needed.
The IEEE MOVE disaster relief and STEM program expanded into INDIA with the launch of the first MOVE India truck.