LIFE OFF-GRID
Independently Powered Products
The 2024 Brief
Green energy is typically understood to be generated by large solar or wind farms that feed the national grid to power our homes and businesses. However, advances in technology mean this can be achieved on a much smaller scale and provided by a single product.
You are challenged to create a product that uses its own energy source for an application which is independent of a conventional power supply. Your product should be self-sufficient, meaning it can operate off-grid, and could utilise energy harvesting technologies such as solar, wind, tidal, thermal, kinetic, bio and mechanical.
Your design could be a significant improvement of an existing product that relies on conventional power sources to function, or a completely new product. The source of power should be validated and appropriate to the product and its environment. You are NOT required to detail the mechanism of your chosen electrical system, but the concept should be feasible in principle based upon your research.
The product should be aimed at the domestic or sports & leisure markets and made mainly of an appropriate polymer with strong consideration for sustainability and manufacturing feasibility.
Please undertake a thorough search of existing products and patents to ensure the uniqueness of your idea.
ITEMS TO SUBMIT: 4X A3 sheets detailing your challenge, concept, target market, design assembly, manufacturing, costs, sustainability. Check below to find submission method.
RULES: NO group entries allowed. Only open to undergraduate students from UK and Ireland.
RESOURCES:
Examples of existing independently powered products:
https://www.primalsurvivor.net/off-grid-gadgets/
https://ecofriend.org/human-powered-gadgets-that-show-innovation-still-rules/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw
Search plastics: https://www.bpf.co.uk/plastipedia/default.aspx
Search patents: https://worldwide.espacenet.com/
Brief
Timeline
14 March 2024 Submission deadline
28 March 2024 Preliminary judging
TBD May 2024 Sumitomo Demag course
9 May 2024 Final Judging
20 June 2024 Award ceremony
Prizes
1st £1,000
2nd £750
3rd £500
Highly Commended £250
All six finalists receive a cash prize, a placement with a DIP sponsor or an industrial course, and a year’s affiliate membership of IOM3.
How to Submit
1. Create a single pdf file with max A3 pages at 120 dpi resolution
2. Do NOT include name or university on your A3 slides
3. Name your file: DIP_ University_Surname, i.e. DIP_TDUB_Taylor
4. Email your files if smaller than 25MB it to: dip.award@gmail.com. If files are larger than 25MB, use WeTransfer to send it to us (not to exceed 6MB)
5. Wait for a confirmation from us that we got your entry. If you don't receive one, follow up with us.
Judges' Criteria
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Adherence to brief: proof that the design has addressed what is required and the circular economy has been addressed and understood.
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Originality: innovation in function, form or use of materials, or a radical solution to an existing problems been demonstrated. Investigation of IP and patents has been undertaken.
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Manufacture: indication that issues of cost-effective and sustainable production have been considered, from tooling and manufacture to marketing and disposal; an imaginative, intelligent and appropriate use of polymers, indicating that research has been carried out into materials and processing
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Sustainability: evidence that an understanding of the principles of sustainability has been applied to the design.
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Presentation: a clear representation of the design and method of construction, and an indication of all the materials used. The first sheet should clearly explain, in five bullet points, why your design answers the brief. Maximum 10 points