The James Dyson Award 2013 shortlist has been revealed.
Twenty inventions have been shortlisted for this years awards and the winner will receive a £30,000 prize.
Created in 2007 to inspire young people, The James Dyson Award is an industrial design/engineering competition and open to university students and graduates around the world.
The contenders include a titan arm, a life jacket, an automated suturing tool and cortex fracture support system.
Biowool which is a British entry has also made the shortlist, the design company extends the applicability and longevity of wool product before it eventually becomes friendly waste.
The winner will be announced on November 8th 2013.
The James Dyson Award 2013 Shortlist
Xarius (01 of22)
Xarius is a portable energy generator that allows to charge electrical appliances by the use of windpower in areas without electricity. Its lightweight and compact design makes the wind turbine to a perfect companion on backpacking trips with little luggage. It is composed of a foldable three-wing-system and an internal energy generator. The integrated rope makes it easy to adapt to any environment.Hooks are attached to both of its ends to tighten the rope and open the wings at the same time using the resulting tension. For convenient charging the battery is permanently installed, so that the electrical device can be charged inside the tent. The LED on the hook shows the current charge of battery. The pulsating orange indicates that the wind turbine has to recharge. Even at low wind speeds the blades begin to rotate autonomously.
Xarius (02 of22)
Xarius is a portable energy generator that allows to charge electrical appliances by the use of windpower in areas without electricity. Its lightweight and compact design makes the wind turbine to a perfect companion on backpacking trips with little luggage. It is composed of a foldable three-wing-system and an internal energy generator. The integrated rope makes it easy to adapt to any environment.Hooks are attached to both of its ends to tighten the rope and open the wings at the same time using the resulting tension. For convenient charging the battery is permanently installed, so that the electrical device can be charged inside the tent. The LED on the hook shows the current charge of battery. The pulsating orange indicates that the wind turbine has to recharge. Even at low wind speeds the blades begin to rotate autonomously.
AWARING(03 of22)
AWARING: FunctionI developed a device for assisting hearing impaired and hearing people in conversation. Hearing impaired people can understand speech by hearing aid and lip-reading. But in conversation with many participants, they cannot follow turn taking, miss the current speaker and get left behind. It is difficult for hearing people to know their volume of voice is enough for hearing impaired people.
Biowool(04 of22)
FunctionBiowool is an output from research and exploration focused on adding value to the coarse wool industry. High volumes of post industrial waste (7% of wool used) were identified as a landscape for potential innovation. Biowool extends the applicability and longevity of wool product before it eventually becomes friendly waste. Developed with a trial bio-resin and carded wool waste fibre from the carpet industry, Biowool has wide potential for engineering and design applications. As showcased in the Terracase luggage range, Biowool introduces new design standards in luggage manufacture introducing traceable, environmentally friendly and biodegradable design qualities to hard case luggage design – an industry first.
Biowool - (05 of22)
FunctionBiowool is an output from research and exploration focused on adding value to the coarse wool industry. High volumes of post industrial waste (7% of wool used) were identified as a landscape for potential innovation. Biowool extends the applicability and longevity of wool product before it eventually becomes friendly waste. Developed with a trial bio-resin and carded wool waste fibre from the carpet industry, Biowool has wide potential for engineering and design applications. As showcased in the Terracase luggage range, Biowool introduces new design standards in luggage manufacture introducing traceable, environmentally friendly and biodegradable design qualities to hard case luggage design – an industry first.
The Comb Dumper Truck(06 of22)
The COMB is a new dumper for the professional use in the construction building industry. The combination of an autonomous GPS control system and an innovative mould-changing technique allows a new work process, which substantially improves the dumper’s efficiency.
Cortex Fracture Support System(07 of22)
The Cortex is a 3D printed cast system for fracture support that brings the centuries old plaster cast into the 21st century. Traditional casts are heavy, clumsy, not waterproof, irritating, itchy and smell plus they cannot be recycled. The Cortex cast revolutionises the process by creating a strong, lightweight, ergonomic, waterproof, ventilated, fully supportive neo cortex that makes use of 3D printing technologies. After 3D scanning the limb, an anatomically correct and tight fitting cast is generated, with localised support in relation to the point of fracture and necessary stress locations. Printed out of a strong recyclable plastic, it results in the reduction of wasted material. With millions of plaster casts being made and thrown away each year, the ability to recycle the casts played an important role!
e-Health Sensor Platform(08 of22)
e-Healt Sensor Platform enables users Arduino and Raspberry Pi implement medical and biomedical applications where you want to monitor the human body. 9 sensors can be used: pulse, blood oxygen (SpO2), air flow, body temperature, electrocardiogram (ECG), blood glucose, galvanic skin response (GSR). blood pressure and patient positioning. This information can be used to monitor in real time the condition of a patient or to obtain sensory data in order to subsequently analyze and perform a medical diagnosis. The biometric information obtained can be sent wirelessly: Wi-Fi, 3G, GPRS, Bluetooth, ZigBee. Data can be sent to the cloud in order to store or display it in real time by sending data directly to a laptop or Smartphone. Applications for the iPhone and Android have been designed in order to easily see the information.
gluCo(09 of22)
Glucose is a product for diabetics. It allows you to forget the most disease. We have three products: - Support - Watch - The pen Information support all the features of the person. The watch equipped with a laser sensor test automatically with the information support the blood sugar. It avoids many bites. Compared to the result shows the signal level and automatically prepares the insulin in the pen. If the diabetic must prick, he took the pen and made the injection. More adjustments to make to the insulin units. Gluco allows: - Forget the health - Automatically Regulating insulin injection pen - Take measures without sting - Simplify use - Storage - Prevent the parents in case of problems for children - Avoid getting bitten by removing the pen needle - Economics of Waste (insulin pen cartridge) - Recyclable
Handie(10 of22)
''Myoelectric Prosthetic Hand'' is an artificial hand that recovers lost functions of amputees. It utilizes electrical signal measured on skin surface of their remaining muscles. A variety of myoelectric prosthetic hands has been developed around the world, however, none of them are offered at an affordable price costing more than $400. We solve this problem in following ways: 1. Using smartphone. Conventional hands required an exclusive device for computation. We replace this with a smartphone which users have. 2. Using 3D printer. One of the main reason that makes components expensive is strict requirement on robustness. In sacrifice of robustness, we offer repairable hand. All components are printable by a 3D printer, enabling users to modify and reproduce them easily. 3. Under-actuated mechanism for finger flexion. To reduce the number of motors, we developed a three-joints finger actuated by one motor that passively changes its trajectory depending on the shape of an object.
Hydros (11 of22)
Hydros is a three piece personal flotation device that mitigates the effects of cold water shock, sea spray, hypothermia, and secondary drowning. This is completed through a process of layering levels of clothing, exploiting the effects of hypothermia to an advantage, restricting heat loss through convection, conduction and evaporation. Utilising the wetsuit effect, and ensuring a clear airway.
LENIFY(12 of22)
A collapsible stretcher that can eliminate the chance to occur secondary injury from lifting up the patients.
Mamori(13 of22)
The function of my product is to help medical staff identify a potential concussion in contact sports, before second impact syndrome is experienced. Second impact syndrome is experienced when a player is concussed yet continues to play, if a second impact occurs the affects are accumulative, this can be fatal and have serious repercussions on a players mental health. My product is essentially a gum-shield with integrated sensors, an accelerometer, gyroscope and a magnetometer, this combination of sensors are currently used on aircraft and are known as inertial measurement units. They can measure acceleration, force and 3D orientation. Once the player wearing the gum-shield experiences an impact the data will be sent wirelessly to a computer and can inform the medical staff if a player is in danger of being concussed, medical staff can then choose to examine said player and diagnose them.
Store Oltu vegetables out of the fridge(14 of22)
Oltu is like an organism that uses the heat produced by your back to help cool the totem of vegetables with evaporative cooling technique. The total fusion between containers and refrigerator creates a new cooling system more sustainable. This form of storage of vegetables makes every requirement of the plant genus are met. The refrigerator produces heat which is distributed up through openings in the cap and affects the three containers which are the heart of the piece, these are always wet thanks to the water tank which are connected to pipes on the principle of capillary action. In this way the cold that occurs is always constant and the user only has to worry about filling the tank from time to time. Above cotta containers are distributed vegetables that require temperature and are hydrated to moisture produced by the evaporation of the lower container.
Renewable Wave Power(15 of22)
The west coast of Scotland is home to some of the most powerful and consistent wave generating potential in the world. Despite 11,800km of coastline and the possibility to produce between 40-70KWh per meter, we do not currently use even 1% of this free, powerful resource. With the increased demand for energy over the next 50 years, Renewable Wave Power (RWP) is attempting to resurrect the situation with a new and efficient power take-off structure. RWP is a semi-submersible multi axis wave energy converter, specifically designed to run in the Orkneys, Scotland. The design has the unique ability to absorb forces from the peaks and troughs of the North Atlantic waves in any given direction. The multi axis structure's test results highlighted the increased potential and efficiency to convert external movements into hydraulic pressure, compared to conventional linear devices.
Revolights(16 of22)
Unlike traditional bike lights, which project light in only one direction, Revolights cast 360 degrees of illumination, making it much easier for others to sight the rider. This improves safety tremendously, as most nighttime bike-car collisions are due to inadequate side visibility. The patented Revolights bike lighting system consists of two narrow rings of LEDs that mount directly to each wheel using a series of clips and ring spacers. Lithium-ion batteries, bracket-mounted to the front and rear hub, supply power to the LEDs. The batteries are slim and lightweight, and can be charged via USB. A small, fork-mounted magnet and an integrated accelerometer provide speed and orientation data to the rings. This allows the LEDs to illuminate only when oriented at the front or rear of the bicycle.
Roam - Lightweight Respiratory Unit(17 of22)
Roam is a humanized oxygen cylinder designed for ease and travel mobility. Created for young children, Roam includes an innovative nasal mask that gently rests on the users face as he/she breathes in oxygen. Utilising the latest in material and digital technology, Roam oxygen refillable cylinder contains a liquid oxygen encased in a linerless epoxy carbon fibre vessel. This linerless cylinder provides between a 45% weight reductions compared to conventional tanks. Using average room temperate, Roam is able to slowly expose its coil to convert liquid to gaseous oxygen. As this conversion happens the gaseous oxygen is further humified through the heat plate that the coils sit on. An electronic valve is placed to monitor and control this flow of liquid to breathable gaseous oxygen. This reduces the need for constant maintenance.
Sono(18 of22)
"sono" turns your window into an advanced noise cancelling system that allows you to eliminate and/оr control the sounds that pass through. With its concentric broadband antenna rings, it harvests the energy of electromagnetic noise from Wi-Fi, and similar signals and this way also reduces the level of e-smog pollution in your environment.
Stack(19 of22)
My diploma project is a compact inkjet printer, which is placed on top of a paper pile. When printing, “Stack” slowly moves downwards and swallows the pile until no paper is left. The paper disappears under the printer and exits on top, where it creates a new pile. Thanks to this new way of printing it is possible to remove the paper tray, the bulkiest element in common printers. This concept allows a very light appearance and avoids frequent reloading.
Titan Arm: A Powered, Upper Body Exoskeleton(20 of22)
Titan is an upper-body exoskeleton that augments human strength and provides rich data feedback for users and doctors. The suit was developed for use in occupational lifting and healthcare. Occupational lifters such as warehouse workers face increased risk of arm and back injuries because they repeatedly lift heavy items every day. To prevent this, Titan augments the user’s arm strength by 18 kg to reduce fatigue, and braces the back to prevent poor lifting posture. Healthcare applications include physical therapy and mobility assistance. Titan can be used to help stroke and injury victims rebuild muscle and relearn fine motor control. It also provides detailed quantitative feedback to doctors which can be used to motivate their patients by tracking improvement over time. Finally, Titan can help people who suffer from permanent injuries or disabilities to live fully-empowered lives. Using an exoskeleton, both patients and the elderly will be able to regain their independence.
TeamO Back Pull Life Jacket and Harness(21 of22)
The TeamO Back Pull lifejacket harness is designed to overcome an existing design flaw which causes many fatalities. When a person goes overboard off a ship wearing a lifejacket, attached to the vessel by a life line tether, the position of the tether on the front of the chest results in the victim being dragged through the water face down. The victim is unable to lift their head clear of the water, or move their arms in a normal manner. Life expectancy is very short. The TeamO functions like a normal lifejacket, however when a sailor goes overboard wearing a TeamO a hidden strop deploys to rotate the wearer on to their back.The victim is towed backwards with their mouth and airways clear and unobstructed.The jacket creates a ‘bow wave’ effect with the head protected from oncoming waves and they are able to use their arms normally. The strop is designed as a lifting point, making it easier to retrieve the victim using a line, reducing the risk of further injury to victim or rescuers
Robotic Surgery: Automated Suturing Tool(22 of22)
Our project consists of a robotic laparoscopic suturing tool. Laparoscopic surgery is a field of minimally invasive surgery focused on the abdominal region, and suturing is the act of stitching a wound. The project was supported by the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children. Automating the routine process of laparoscopic suturing will save valuable time in the operating room, saving money for hospitals, and freeing up operating rooms for other patients. The applicants were responsible for the mechanical, electrical, and low-level control designs of the device. The tool robotically passes a fine suturing needle through tissue to perform a suture. This is achieved by gripping the needle in one jaw, closing the jaws, thereby piercing the tissue with the needle, and then toggling which jaw holds the needle, similar to the action of a sewing machine. The final tool was mounted on a standard 6-axis industrial robot, completing a robotic suite capable of performing the automated suturing process.