Soccket: Amazing Energy-Generating Soccer Ball Launches on Kickstarter!

Posted By Lidija Grozdanic On March 2, 2013 @ 9:15 am In Green Products,green technology,humanitarian design,Kinetic Energy,News,Renewable Energy,social design | 1 Comment

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The kinetic energy-generating Soccket soccer ball ^[6] produces power from play - and it's set to bring energy to off-grid locations around the world! After a year of building prototypes and conducting pilot programs ^[7], Uncharted Play ^[8] just launched the energy-harnessing soccer ball ^[9] with a fresh new design and a Kickstarter campaign ^[6]. Developed by a group of Harvard alumni, the Soccket ball ^[9] can generate three hours of electrical power from just 30 minutes of soccer play, and it offers an eco-friendly alternative to unsafe and unreliable energy sources often used in poor communities around the world.

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Designed and assembled in the U.S., Soccket uses Uncharted Play’s patent-pending mechanism that captures and stores the kinetic power ^[11] generated through kicking the ball. The small pendulum inside the ball harnesses energy of the movement by turning a generator connected to a rechargeable battery. It is an off-grid power source made from specially designed water-resistant ^[12] EVA foam that is both soft and deflation-proof. The energy captured in only 30 minutes of playing soccer can be used to power a small LED lamp ^[13] for three hours.

The Soccket was piloted in various low-income areas of North America and South America, bringing energy to those who need it the most. So far the production has been limited to a few hundred Sokkect balls per week, but the team recently launched a Kickstarter campaign in order to scale-up and purchase necessary equipment for the manufacturing processes and will be accepting pledges until 28 March.

+ Uncharted Play Kickstarter ^[6]

Via Uncrate ^[14]

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URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/soccket-uncharted-play-unveils-an-energy-generating-soccer-ball/

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[3] Email: mailto:?subject=http://inhabitat.com/soccket-uncharted-play-unveils-an-energy-generating-soccer-ball/

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[5]  : http://inhabitat.com/soccket-uncharted-play-unveils-an-energy-generating-soccer-ball/f6ab089826f5704cb970f8995b5fe33d_large/?extend=1

[6] Soccket soccer ball: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unchartedplay/soccket-the-energy-harnessing-soccer-ball

[7] pilot programs: http://inhabitat.com/audi-launches-a3-e-tron-electric-vehicle-pilot-program/

[8] Uncharted Play: http://unchartedplay.com/about-up/

[9] energy-harnessing soccer ball: http://inhabitat.com/energy-generating-soccer-ball-brings-clean-power-to-off-grid-areas/

[10] Image: http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2013/03/36edd4d01c2ff08ebd1142b7733d47c9_large.jpg

[11] kinetic power: http://inhabitat.com/charge-your-cellphone-just-by-moving-with-m2e-kinetic-power/

[12] water-resistant: http://inhabitat.com/scientist-develops-water-resistant-solar-panel-coatings-inspired-by-iridescent-butterfly-wings/

[13] power a small LED lamp: http://inhabitat.com/holiday-gift-guide-stocking-stuffers-under-50/solar-power-led-light-mini-led-solar-powered-light-micro-solar-flashlight-micro-solar-led-light-compact-impace/

[14] Uncrate: http://uncrate.com/stuff/soccket-energy-harnessing-soccer-ball/

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