For this project I’m mainly inspired by a sustainable architecture by ROEWUarchitecture firm. They use the wall from Department of Energy in Washington D.C as the model for their idea. They generates a dynamic net based on the local weather and atmospheric conditions to create the shape of the concrete wall, for the purpose to increase the speed of energy flow around the building. On the dynamic net, where they attach vertical photovoltaic panels that are able to adjust angles throughout the day in order to collect maximum energy.
As that being the inspiration for the physical form of the design, I created this solar tracking lamp that is able to power an arduino uno from the increased in energy collecting efficiency. The solar tracker built from four photoresistors. They are able to identify the direction of sun with the comparison among the data from each other. From the data from four photoresistors, the data send Servo.write command to the set of servos underneath. A sets of two servos, one for x, one for y. The divider and photoresistors are attached on top, the x and y servos allow the solar tracker to move in 180 degrees direction in both ways to follow the sun direction. Meanwhile, the other set of servos has the 6V solar panel attached on top, moving in the exact same direction as the original set. That allows the solar panel to follow the movement of the solar tracker, which does the purpose to follow the sun and collect maximum energy possible to power the arduino.
The ideal environment to test the device is outdoor. Since the ideal application for the other kinds of environment that is lacking of resources is still during my research process. In order to showcase my idea in class, I created the device into a lamp, where the light bulb simulates the movement of the sun, and to demonstrate how the device works without testing it outdoor.
I personally strongly believe in the idea of using design as a tool to solve issues and improve people’s life quality. Me as a designer has always been interested in the idea of designing for developing countries. Either creates designs that practically solve problems or increase the efficiency of using the same limited resources to achieve more. It is also the reason why I started thinking toward the direction for sustainable design. From the first semester into Design and Technology major, I see so much possibility from combining these two disciplines together, when compare to what they can achieve individually instead. I believe that using design as the method to introduce new ideas of how people should interact with their surrounding environment can lead to changes in larger scales starts from the insignificant contribution of individuals.
