Mesh-89 device lets Palestinian drivers navigate West Bank checkpoints

Joud Abuhomos, a graduate of Central Saint Martins, has created Mesh-89, a communication tool designed for Palestinian bus drivers that provides updates on the status of the 89 permanent Israeli-operated checkpoints in the West Bank. Utilizing LoRa radio waves, the device functions independently of cellular networks, ensuring alerts can be received even when mobile signals are disrupted. A small display indicates checkpoint status with colors: red (restricted), yellow (delayed), or green (accessible). Users select a checkpoint with a knob and report its condition by clicking once, twice, or thrice. The device's star-shaped casing is 3D-printed from PLA plastic, adorned with glitter and varnish for cultural camouflage. Abuhomos, who lived in Ramallah until 2024, pointed out that only three checkpoints are listed on Google Maps. Currently, the device remains a proposal and has not been tested in real-world conditions; drivers depend on WhatsApp for information. Interviews with taxi drivers, including Ghassan Saed, revealed significant delays of hours. The device incorporates ESP32 microcontrollers and Wio-SXI262 LoRa modules to establish a mesh network, with plans for sender verification in the future.