A soccer ball that captures the energy generated during game play

Detailed Description:
The sOccket is a soccer ball that captures the energy during game play to charge LEDs and batteries. After playing with the ball, the child can return home and use the ball to connect an LED lamp to read, study, or illuminate the home.

Know drawbacks of design:
At the moment only Low-energy products work the best.

Website:
http://soccket.com/

Designed in:
2008

Status of realization:
Prototype

Keywords:
communication, energy, environment, games, globalization, health, mobility, public space, social, sports, technology

Form
sOccket is a soccer ball that looks like any other soccer ball. Though thus ball has an imbedded DC jack and weighs only 5 ounces more than a FIFA-regulated ball. A future model should capture enough energy to charge a cellphone. It uses an inductive coil mechanism to generate the energy. Early prototypes of the ball use an inductive coil mechanism similar to the technology found in shake-to-charge flashlights. The movement of the ball forces a magnet through a metal coil that “induces” voltage in the coil to generate electricity. For each 15 minutes of play, the ball can store enough energy to illuminate a small LED light for three hours, according to initial trials.

Impact
In many developing countries, heavy reliance on kerosene lamps has led to myriad health problems. The World Bank, for example, estimates that breathing the fumes created from burning kerosene indoors equals the harmful effects of smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. Burning kerosene for lighting also generates some 190 million metric tons a year of carbon dioxide emissions, according to recent estimates — the equivalent emissions of about 38 million automobiles. Through the popularity of soccer around the globe the sOccket can help reduce the use of kerosene by generating power.

Context
Having all spent time in Africa we wanted to translate the positive energy of soccer and children we had seen on fields and playgrounds in Africa to their lives off the field and into their homes. We are trying to make a bigger statement about energy needs. Even if our project just starts people thinking about different ways to bring energy access to places like Africa, that’s really important.

Other relevant information
The initial inspiration came from dance floors that can capture energy from the dancers’ movements.

Is the design protected by patent or ip registration?
not known

How has the development of the design been financed hereunto?
Not known

Is there a plan for future investments?
Not known

Is there in-house competencies to secure market roll out of the design, with regards to investment, distribution, sales, etc.?
Not known

Designed by:
Jessica Matthews, Student at Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Student, United States of America, USA
Jessica Lin, Student at Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Student, United States of America, USA
Hemali Thakkar, Student at Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Student, United States of America, USA
Julia Silverman, Student at Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Student, United States of America, USA

Manufactured/Produced/Commisioned by:
XYZ
http://www.dddxyz.com/