In a valiant effort to rethink the ubiquitous refrigerator — which has seen few design changes since the invention of freon refrigerators in the 1930′s — Russian designer Yuriy Dmitriev has unveiled a fresh-looking, gel-filled appliance of the future. His Bio Robot Refrigerator utilizes a special gel-like substance that suspends and cools food once inserted. Dmitriev’s design is one of 25 finalists in the Electrolux Design Lab competition, which challenged entrants with the task of redesigning modern appliances for the future.
The Bio Robot Refrigerator mounts on a wall — Dmitriev points out it can be mounted horizontally, vertically or even on the ceiling. The fridge does not have a motor or other traditional technology like most refrigerators, — the gel does all the work — so, 90% of the appliance is actual usable space. To use the fridge you basically shove food into it’s biopolymer gel — which has no odor and is not sticky — and it is suspended and cooled until you need it again.
Dmitriev notes that the cooling agents are the “bio robots” inherent in the gel that use luminescence — light generated in cold temperatures — to preserve food. Although this sounds super techy and fun, Dmitriev doesn’t really explain how it’s going to work, so we’re a little skeptical of the Bio Robot Refrigerator becoming a reality someday. Viability aside, the fridge is definitely a huge step forward in terms of rethinking the design of one of our most-used appliances. Probably the best thing about this concept machine is that it uses zero energy for cooling — it just needs energy for it’s little control pad. Compared to the typical modern fridge, which uses about 8% of a household’s energy, this nifty-looking gadget of the future could cut our energy use significantly.
+ Electrolux Design Lab finalists
Via DVICE
I seriously want one…. NOW. why can’t we just make this now?
¿? A gel that constantly freezes through radiating light??
Doesnt seem probable at all,as radiation is a form of heat transfer,and heat ALWAYS goes from the hotter to the cooler…
Which reminds me…nice way of making ice:
Put a closed,thermally protected “bin” with a “window” facing the starry night. If only radiation goes through this window it will exchange heat with the atmosphere and cool to subzero temperatures!
Thats the way I heard they used to do it back then…never tried it though ,but it makes sense,unlike this thermodynamicall rebel of a gel
i bet this guy is on mushrooms.
This is really exciting. Even if it never makes it to market, it shows that people are putting their time & effort into finding new conscious solutions for all of the outdated technologies that strangle our planet. Great article.
Best,
Ryan Taft
http://www.zecozi.com
You can cool with radiation provided the wavelength matches what you are trying to cool. Alburton.
It may use negative luminescence which is a phenomena happening in some kind of semiconductors: http://www.springerlink.com/content/540453h5h5x08706/
http://mirdog.spb.ru/Negative_luminescence.htm
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7473896.html
Is the technology so mature that it could already reach the house appliance market? I am not so sure, but it’s a great idea if the gel is safe enough.
CAN’T wait to my Hand in that lol =)
dat is awesome!!!(:(: hay does anyone know da price! cuz i m 1 rich fucker!!!!
that was sooooooooo cool!!! i wonder what that gel-y stuff feels like! can you put cake in there?
The gel fridge idea is cool. But how would you keep it from getting dirty with hand and food particles? I bet after a month that green goo would be almost black.
Great, but still a design. I’ve seen so many great designs that we never can buy.
If the jell moves what prevents it from falling out?
I don’t like the space wasting design either, or trust that it can keep FDA approved temperatures.
Seems like a gimmick for the elite rich.
Cool concept. I’m just wondering how you’ll clean it from: Smell and traces of fish, blood, rotten produce, sour milk, moldy cheese, et al.?
Weird science on steroids. No practicality involved. Only getting the prize was kept in mind through the design process.
I really need this!! please get this out soon!