Team6: Benji Drewry
Dan Harris
Loren Koch
Sheevangi Pathak
Harris Company is known for their transportable
communicative devices. The problem at hand is the
device’s battery life. Harris Company is concerned
with finding alternative ways of charging their
products because their consumers range from the
police force, firemen, and doctors and they need the
products to be reliable. There has been research on
alternative sources of energy over the years and
charging is a form of energy.
Requirements
• Weight: light-weight, easy to
transport
• Size: can be made in various sizes,
sizes should be user friendly
• Cost: affordable to purchasingcompanies budget for electronics
• Ease of Use
• Ruggedness
• Users of the Product
• Suitability to different
environments
• Easy to manufacture
• Aesthetically pleasing
• User friendly
• Ergonomics
• Alternative Power Source:
• Solar power
• Wall Charger
• Car Charger
• Hydra-power
• Safety
• Warnings if placed in
inappropriate setting
• Environmental effects of
producing and disposing
• Economic Viability
• Increase output of product
using least amount of
resources and using resources
efficiently
• Environmental Impact
• Minimal to no impact on
environment
Solutions
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MagSafe charging concept
Solar power pads
Kinetic energy
Power matts
nPower PEG
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$199.95
2.5 watts
Product Weight: 14 ounces
Can charge up to 3,000 handle devices from tablets to phones
Hybrid charger
Can stay charged for 100 day after being charged
In case of emergency, shake vigorously for 10 minutes and will have enough
energy to allow a person to make a short phone call from a dead phone
Charges one item at a time
It’s water resistant and keeps out all contaminants (but keep USB clean)
Operates under -30 to 60 degrees Celsius and -22 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit
Comes with USB to mini USB, USB to iGo, & interchangable iGo adapter tips
Product made by Tremont Electric company which strives to achieve
sustainability through reduction of material usage by stripping away
unnecessary materials that did not assist final product and materials are
found locally, reducing carbon emissions in material transportation.
Transportable Solar Panels
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$199.99
13.5 watts
Product Weight: 1.6 lbs
Pack charges within 5-10 hours
Charges cellphones and MP3 players,
cannot charge any other devices
• Portable Solar Panels with USB
Connector (ex. Brunton Explorer
Portable Solar Panel Foldable)
• Case
• Cars with Solar Panel Roofs (EMTs
and Cop Cars)
Powermat (Charge Pad)
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$49.99-$99.99
18 watts
Product Weight: 0.4 lbs
Can charge up to two devices at a time (product made in different
sizes to charge different number of devices)
Charging apparatus – does not actually come up with power, simply
distributes it.
Stops charging once the devices are full of power
Universal Power Supply (100-240VAC) lbs.
Charging indicators that “bleep” when it starts and ends charging
Aluminum base construction and high polish surfaces
Wireless charging surface
Using power matts but having it attached to solar panels or other
devices
MagSafe
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$79
60-85 Watts
DC connector
Cable will disconnect if it experiences
due strain to prevent wear and tear
Magnetic L-shaped design
Mac Laptops use this technique of
charging where the charge connector
magnetically attaches to the laptop
(introduced by Apple Inc.).
It is also known as the programmable
magnetic connectors
The magnet can be used to replace
cords that will connect the device to
the charger , the magnet will also used
to keep the device located on the
charger when there is not a flat surface
to place it on.
Research Analysis and Final Solution
Process Flow Chart for Final Solution
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http://www.dowcorning.com/content/publishedlit/06-10028-01.pdf
http://www.opticsplanet.com/brunton-explorer-foldable-solar-panel.html
http://www.squidoo.com/portable-solar-panels-review
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagSafe
http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/01/26/apple_exploring_magsafe_data_headphon
e_connections_for_iphone_ipad_.html
http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69569/2/PHPAEN-3-11-4239-1.pdf
http://prola.aps.org/abstract/PR/v135/i2A/pA381_1
http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/
www.duracellpowermat.com/powermat/two-devices.html
http://www.alternative-energy-resources.net/
http://saveenergy.about.com/od/alternativeenergysources/a/altenergysource.htm
http://www.netpilot.ca/aes/
http://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/people/a_energy.html
http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4911443_crank-flashlight-work.html
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/solar-cell.htm