There were several challenges faced: It is challenging to build an appliance that can withstand a wide range of voltage fluctuations from as low at 90v to as high as 320v. Since the device would be installed in remote locations, its resilience was of paramount importance. The device would have to deal with poor network coverage and have the ability to store and re-transmit data if networks were not available, which is often the case in rural India. The device could store up to 30 days of data.

A stripper well or marginal well is an oil or gas well that is nearing the end of its economically useful life. In the U.S., oil wells are generally classified as stripper wells when they produce 10 to 15 barrels per day or less for any 12-month period. These wells account for approximately 18% of the U.S. production. The key ask was to design a solution that would connect these wells often located in remote locations and collect information about their performance and operating conditions.