OMG, did I just write a pun? I think I’m going to vomit.
Have you ever come across a product that just makes sense? And by “makes sense” I mean, it leaves you pounding your palm into your forehead wondering why someone didn’t invent this a long time ago? Well the GravityLight is one such product. The second I saw it I suffered a “well duh” moment. LED lights use very little power, and while the light they produce isn’t exactly a nice calming yellow, it’s still good enough to see by. And when you don’t have anything but candles, and you’ve got no electricity, this is one hell of a solution.
As always, the problems with creating products for use in developing countries is as follows:
- Cost
- Durability
- Lack of skilled people to repair the product
- Lack of components to repair the product
- Lack of power
This product covers ALL of those. It’s cheap, tough, built of durable components, doesn’t need a battery, and produces its own power. The power is provided by gravity. A small rotor spins inside as it slowly drops. The bag underneath the light holds sand or rocks. The gears produce enough current to power the LED. Put it at the top of its bracket and let it fall. It will light an area for a half-hour before it reaches the bottom. When it goes out, just lift it up and start over. WTF could be simpler than that? A candle? Sure, but this thing won’t light your house on fire or get hot wax all over. It won’t burn out – LEDs get dimmer with age, but are usually good for twenty years. You won’t have to buy anything else – ever. It’s fricken brilliant.
The target cost for the GravityLight is less than five bucks. Very cool. I hope this thing makes it to market.
Filed under: Future, Technology Tagged: | GravityLight, Light for Developing Countries
Oh I like this..
It’s pretty cool isn’t it?
Very cool. There is a similar idea for a clock. I say similar only insofar as it uses natural forces for power. The clock is so sensitive that the slightest change in temperature (one degree) creates enough energy to power it for a full day. The only problem is that they range in price from $5k to $205k. Here’s one on sale for $161,000.
http://www.swissluxury.com/jaeger-le-coultre-watches-atmos-marqueterie.htm?gclid=CLva7oe0zbQCFexlOgodIUIApg#5980
Neat. A little too spendy for me though. I’ll stick with my potato clock.
Brilliant! I thought at first this was the same principle as the soccer ball that stores energy for light (http://news.mongabay.com/2012/0716-freydlin-soccer.html) but since this gravity light powers an LED, it’s different. Right? Or not? This certainly beats the soccer ball, which obviously will wear out sooner or later.
That soccer ball is REALLY cool!
I like the soccer ball. I’m just a little concerned it might hurt to kick it though. But I suppose that’s been tested. I saw a ball somewhere like that that makes ice cream too.
LEDs don’t attract mosquitos…learn something new
I guess we won’t be seeing any LED bug zappers.
That is bullshit. According to Phillips company a led 9 w lamp produce similar amount of light of a regular 50 W lamp. So, 9 W during 30 minutes will consume 16200 J. To obtain this amount of energy dropping rocks, it would be necessary to drop 826 kg for 2 meters.
So, 1821 pounds needs to fall 2 meters? That’s way too heavy to be lifting every 30 minutes. I suppose you could employ an elephant to do it, but not every family has access to one. Damn. Back to the hand crank!