Unfortunately, my team didn’t make it to the next stages of the AAKRUTI INNOVATION COMPETITION 2025. Our concept wasn’t shortlisted — and yes, that hit us hard. However, sometimes a project is bigger than its outcome. Sometimes, the late nights, the research, the engineering principles, and the passion poured into a design make it worth sharing with the world anyway.

EcoVenTra is one of those projects.


🌍 The Problem That Started Everything
We began with a simple question:
Why are so many people in Ghana hesitant to use trains?

The deeper we looked, the clearer the answer became.
Hot, cramped carriages. Poor ventilation. Old interiors.
And then the painful reminder of what could go wrong — like the 2025 China incident, where passengers were trapped in extreme heat after an air-conditioning failure.

We knew this wasn’t just about comfort.
It was about safety, dignity, and reliability.

That became our mission.


💡 Our Vision: EcoVenTra
From that point, EcoVenTra wasn’t just a design.
It became an engineering journey — one built on innovation, teamwork, analysis, and sleepless nights.

We wanted to rethink what a modern Ghanaian train could be.



🛠️ Our Key Innovations
1️. Pneumatically Controlled Emergency Windows

Our primary solution addressed the core safety issue: ventilation failure.
We designed a pneumatically actuated emergency window system that the driver can open instantly during emergencies.
This prevents dangerous overheating while keeping passengers safe at high speeds.

This became the soul of EcoVenTra — engineering with people at the center.

2️. Aerodynamic Body Inspired by High-Speed Trains

We redesigned the train’s exterior, inspired by bullet trains and TGVs.
Using CFD simulations, we validated airflow, reduced drag, and shaped a smooth, stable, energy-efficient body.
This wasn’t just a train — it was an engineered motion.

3️. Ergonomic & Sustainable Seating

Inside, we used Ghana’s comfort standards to design fully ergonomic seating:

• adjustable armrests
• foldable mini-tables
• individual smart screens
• recyclable ABS seat frames

We performed finite element analysis to confirm strength and durability.
Comfort and sustainability became a perfect pair.

4️. Vibration-Damping Silomer Flooring

We borrowed inspiration from aviation.
A Silomer-pattern shock-absorbing floor was added to reduce vibration and enhance comfort, especially during long-distance travel.

Even the feet of passengers deserved engineering attention.

5️. Monocomb Structural Layer

Between the exterior shell and the internal frame, we introduced our custom monocomb structure — a lightweight honeycomb-inspired reinforcement layer.
It improved stiffness, reduced noise, and maintained the aerodynamic curvature without adding weight.

A quiet, stable ride begins with smart internal structure.

6️. Inclusive Design for All

We integrated tactile floor pathways to guide visually impaired passengers to designated accessibility seats.
EcoVenTra wasn’t just efficient — it was welcoming.

7️. A Smarter Electrical System

We designed a complete electrical layout using SolidWorks and 3DEXPERIENCE:

• powered by a third rail system
• supported by onboard solar panels for auxiliary operations
• designed for reliability and efficiency

Every wire, every line diagram, every connection was carefully thought through.




🧪 Engineering the Vision

We validated EcoVenTra through:

• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
• Mechanical Scenario Creation tools on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform
• Detailed 3D modeling of both interior and exterior systems

This wasn’t guesswork.
This was engineering.



❤️ Even If We Didn’t Advance, This Project Still Stands

EcoVenTra may not have been shortlisted…
but the learning, the innovation, and the teamwork were priceless.

It taught us how to design with purpose.
How to engineer for people.
How to use creativity to solve real problems.
And how to keep going, even when the results don’t fall our way.

Our concept may not have moved to the next round,
but it moved us — as engineers and as a team.

And for that reason alone,
EcoVenTra is a story worth telling.

Thanks a lot to @SA and the AAKRUTI team for their support throughout this competition. 
Shout out to my team members
@Peniel Ankomah

@PN 
@G 

Team Selfie with product simulation
 

Pitch Video
 

Journey Video
 

Product Simulation