Rescue Tunnel
Air Rope is an inflatable rescue tunnel that can be deployed during flood situations. It is a safer option to the rope pulley system and is easier to use. Instead of braving the torrent and crossing the river to secure a pulley system, the inflatable air walk is used. Air is pumped into a doughnut-shaped […]
Microspine Rock-Climbing Robot from JPL
At ICRA 2012, JPL introduced its microspine gripper system, which uses hundreds of tiny little claws to grip rough surfaces. We saw some video of a robot hanging from one of these, but it was just being used as a passive anchor. At IROS this week, JPL researchers presented a new video showing an upgraded version […]
Habitat for Humanity Philippines
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, Christian organization that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action worldwide. Habitat for Humanity is going to respond to this disaster in a significant way. Our initial target is to distribute 50,000 units of Clean-up/Hygiene […]
RSA – Natural Disaster relief – 2005/06
Stuart Williamson Industrial Designer Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom Ensuring the immediate supply of food/medicines/water is a key priority in responding to disaster situations. Supplies have to be delivered quickly and efficiently and this can often be difficult due to remote locations/bad weather and limited transportation available. Maximizing the capability of these supplies is vital. Examine […]
Uganda is up to speed – electric
“The car is ready, the Kiira EV can pick speed very fast, the motor stands strong, the reverse is perfect, it properly climbed a 55 degrees incline, the performance is good” exclaimed Mr Paul Isaac Musasizi, the Project Manager of the Vehicle Design Mission at Makerere University, which has produced Uganda’s first electric car. The vehicle for […]
Watch sea-level rising
Sea-level rise is occurring much faster than scientists expected – exposing millions more people to a destructive combination of storm surges on top of sea-level rise, scientists said. Earlier this year they found sea-level rise had already doubled the annual risk of historic flooding across a widespread area of the United States. The implications are serious – […]
Solar buddy – mobile off-grid system on wheels
Green Sun Rising Inc. has developed and built a mobile solar off-grid system, the “solar buddy”. It can be wheeled around, can be directed to the sun for optimum harvest, and is a solar power generator. Perfectly quiet, its 240W DC module harvests solar energy and provides power for either direct use or battery charge. 1000 W AC 120V […]
An efficient and clean way to access water
For the many countries that are facing drought and dry conditions, access to clean and safe drinking water is a top priority. To answer this need, designers from the European team, CORDIS, have developed a desalinization process that utilizes solar power, is highly efficient and low cost. Current desalinization systems pressurize salt water to force […]
Play your way to clean electricity
Soccket brings electricity to developing nations. Soccket is a soccer ball that generates and stores energy while in play. This energy can be used as clean electricity, bringing light to many homes. Currently, many developing nations rely on kerosene lamps to supply light in the evening. These lamps are dangerous, they emit toxic fumes and […]
CDRN – an efficient way to give aid
The Corporate Disaster Resource Network is a supply chain management system that gives access to information, services and products that emergency humanitarian aid groups need. The mission of CDRN is, “Facilitating an efficient real time supply chain management system for effective deployment of resources – financial, material, volunteers and skilled professionals for preparedness, response and […]
