Dyson Prize: what is it?
The James Dyson Award is an international award for engineering
One of the features of the competition is that itBoth finished prototypes and “draft” projects can take part. The main thing is that they solve an important problem and have practical application. In addition, they must be cost-effective and designed with sustainability in mind.
All winners will receive a James Award DiplomaDyson. National winners of the competition are entitled to a prize of £ 2,000 (202,000 rubles), international finalists - £ 5,000 (505,000 rubles). The international winner or team will receive an award of £ 30,000 (3 million rubles), as well as £ 5,000 (505 thousand rubles) for a department at the university.
Who is Dyson?
Sir James Dyson - famous Englishinventor and industrial designer, founder and chairman of Dyson. He's been called a modern-day Edison for his ingenuity. In 1992, Dyson founded his own consumer electronics company and over the next 30 years developed cordless and cylinder vacuum cleaners, hand dryers and bladeless fans. It is best known for its bagless cyclonic vacuum cleaner. In March, Dyson developed a new ventilator specifically for COVID-19 patients in just 10 days.
We will tell you which projects made it to the final.
LUNA Modular AFO
What is this? LUNA Modular AFO is an orthotic systemankle joint (AFO) for children with hereditary spastic paraplegia, designed for modular adaptation to users who are in a phase of active growth.
What for?
Hereditary spastic paraplegia isa progressive disease that affects the patient's gait. Therefore, they often require assistive devices such as an ankle foot orthosis (AFO). It fits over the shin and foot to support the user. However, pediatric patients often outgrow them quickly, resulting in cuts, bruises and blisters.
The unique design of the LUNA Modular AFO allows the device to adapt with a tool-free modular system.
How it works?
LUNA AFO consists of two systems; customizablethe user-produced LUNA Surface component, and the mass-produced LUNA Module component. The LUNA module acts as the base to which the LUNA surfaces are attached. This extends the use of the orthosis by several years rather than the 6-8 months of traditional AFOs.
LUNA Surfaces are parts printed on3D printers that are customized for each unique user. The parts use 3D printing and scanning technology to digitize the manufacturing process, which includes sophisticated molding and casting techniques. Digitizing this process reduces the amount of tacit skill required from manufacturers and results in more consistent orthotic accuracy. Surfaces are printed from nylon 11, a semi-flexible bioplastic.
WATERPOD
What is it?WaterPod is an environmentally friendly desalination pod that naturally turns seawater into potable water.
What for?
The cruel irony is thatPart of the planet's surface is covered with water, but only a small part of it is suitable for drinking. WaterPod — is a desalination system designed to provide drinking water to sea nomad communities in Malaysia. The plant runs on solar distillation to convert seawater into drinking water. Using natural resources, WaterPod is designed to be placed in the sea so sea nomads have easy access to drinking water.
How it works?
WaterPod floating capsules usewick cords that absorb seawater and deliver it to a layer of black fabric inside a clear plastic dome. When the sun heats it up, the water evaporates and condenses on the plastic, from where it flows back into the collection tray. Users can pump out fresh water for drinking.
The WaterPods themselves will be made from recycled plastic waste from the ocean, and their stylish and practical design means they can fit into the life of the marine communities they are created for.
GUIDED HANDS ™
What is it?Guided Hands™ is an international award-winning assistive device that improves the quality of life for people with limited hand dexterity during daily activities.
What for?
For many people who suffer fromCerebral palsy and other conditions that limit hand movement make creative expression (such as drawing and writing) difficult or impossible. And this is the problem that Canadian scientist Lianna Genovese solved using a new mechanical assistive device called Guided Hands.
How it works?
The device uses a sliding systemshafts, somewhat reminiscent of a 3D printer. The user takes the tip attached to a retractable arm that can be moved vertically and horizontally and rotated on the wrist.
The idea is that it uses commonthe user's motor skills in the shoulder to compensate for the loss of fine motor skills in the hand. By attaching a pen, pencil, brush, stylus, or similar tools, users can draw, color, write, or use touchscreen devices.
Braille e-book
What is it? Braille e‑book - Portable, stand-aloneBraille e-book for people with disabilities. This is the project of the national winners of the competition in Russia - Vadim Stozhik and Alexey Rezepov.
What for?
Visually impaired people cannot affordyourself to read any literature in any medium. The new project should solve this problem. The e-book Braille downloads the electronic format of the paper edition, is transformed and projected onto the tactile surface of the e-book.
How it works?
The device looks like a thick tablet withtactile panel. The text is downloaded to the device and translated into Braille. Each point in the font has its own position. The system projects each in Braille onto a tactile panel. The text is rewound using the button.
"Sensoria"
What is it?"Sensoria" - adaptive clothing with built-in tactile decor designed to reduce stress in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Another development of Russian scientists; she did not qualify for the final.
What for?
Anna Lychagina together with the Siberian Centerdesign conducted a study that showed that this is not the case, in particular, young people with autism have a need for certain clothes and accessories. As it turns out, loose-fitting clothing and tactile accessories have a calming effect on them and may be just about the only way to reduce stress in public.
How does it work?
Anna Lychagina has created a sweatshirt with widewith sleeves, loose cuffs and a deep hood. For sensory unloading, tactile elements can be sewn on or attached with Velcro, which can be easily replaced if necessary. The project was the first step towards creating adaptive clothing for youth and children with WHO and disabilities.
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