The rise of the COVID-19 pandemic has raised attention and concern to how germ-susceptible everyday surfaces are, considering they are in contact with several people.  Currently, most supermarkets address this concern by providing sanitation wipes. However, this is difficult to guarantee since there is a chance a customer hasn't wiped down the cart after use and a store might not have time to restock these wet wipes as soon as they run out. To determine how germ-prone shopping carts are, a study from the University of Arizona discovered that 72% of shopping carts tested positive for fecal bacteria, or E. Coli. This discovery is particularly concerning since the Minnesota Department of Health states that E. Coli and similar bacteria can remain on surfaces for up to two hours, allowing plenty of time for cross-contamination.   

Applied UV-C's Sealed Portals for Commercial Sterilization Machine (S.P.C.S.M) utilizes UV-c lights to sanitize shopping carts, which can inactivate around 99.87% and 99.95% of E. Coli bacteria with only 5.62 seconds of exposure. This machine will make it safe, fast, and efficient to ensure that shopping carts aren't transmitting viruses to customers, especially customers who are vulnerable to contracting disease.  

Our goal for the duration of this project was to construct the first iteration of the tilt-up door component seen in the video above. Our final design is meant to demonstrate the feasibility and functionality of this initial design provided by our sponsor. Our deliverables and manufacturing process will be discussed further on the site.