concept | Evolving Consumer

Pedi Not Pedal Power

We write about “pedal power” a lot – as in bicycle transportation and ways that pedaling can create some energy. However, some mechanical engineering students at Rice University are looking to create PediPower, which can turn the motion from walking into a system to juice up portable electronics.

The students behind the project, who go by the name “Agitation Squad,” created a shoe-mounted generator mounted at the heel. Except for running the heel is typically the first part of the foot to make contact with the ground, and here the team mounted a device that is connected to a gearbox, and with every step a little energy is gathered as the gearbox turns a motor and sends electricity to a battery pack.

While still in prototype the goal of the Agitation Squad is for another team to pick up the project and see where they can take it. Perhaps in the future a walk to the store could provide some power to juice up the phone or portable music player. Video after the jump

Switch It Up

Do you have a road bike and on those rare occasions look to ride a time trial or triathlon? You could have two bikes but for those on a budget, or for apartment dwellers with limited space, this isn’t always an option. Switch Aero is looking to Kickstarter to take their project off the ground and provide a system that offers a quick transition from road bike to aero bike.

Unlike other systems that merely add simple aerobars, this one offers fully adjustable areobars that you’d expect to find on a true aero bike. In addition this system utilizes a special seat post that allows for quick change positioning of the seat as well. It could turn virtually any road bike into a transformable bike that is ready to go aero. Video after the jump

Sweat Proof

We see many products that are waterproof but bioengineers at the University of California, Davis are developed a new fabric that can form excess sweat into droplets that drain away. In other words this could lead to fabric that is actually “sweat proof.” The new textile microfluidic platform utilizes hydrophilic (water-attracting) threads stitched into a highly water-repellent fabric, which can literally suck droplets of water from one side of the fabric, propel those droplets along the threads and expel them from the other side. This in turn could leave the fabric dry against the skin. Video after the jump

First Person Shooter

We do love our first person shooter video games, but these don’t really provide much of a workout. While we’ve worked up a sweat from playing these it isn’t the kind of “good sweat” that you get from actually running around. Tek Recon could be the new ultimate first person shooter.

It isn’t as messy as paintball and doesn’t really require a special place to play like laser tag. This game has players use special “blasters” that shoot soft projectiles up to 75 feet, while these can be integrated with an iOS or Android device that provides a heads up display, radar tracking and even in-game chat. The result is an action game that is very much like a video game but one that requires real world activity.

The developers are now engaged in a Kickstarter campaign. We think of this as their way of doing a little recon for Tek Recon. Video after the jump

BrakeIT

What is better than a bike light to be seen? How about multiple bike lights that react to motion? LucidBRAKE is a stop sign-shaped brake light that mounts practically anywhere and is waterproof and lightweight. It features a three axis accelerometer that is able to detect braking forces relative to gravity and lights up much like a brake light on a car.

It offers two different braking speeds but also can be set to random blinking mode to help ensure it is seen at night or adverse weather conditions. LucidBRAKE is now looking to Kickstarter to get this thing rolling. Video after the jump

More Monkey Business

We first heard about the MonkeyLectric system that lights up bicycle wheels last fall, and now the company has looked to Kickstarter to kick start its efforts to bring more colorful designs to a road near you. The company is looking to create web-based software that will allow riders to create images and animations that can be seen in the wheels.

The Monkey Light Pro system is designed to be waterproof, durable and designed for use on city streets. The technology, which is being designed and manufactured in California, reportedly adds just 500 grams to the bike and can run for three to eight hours at full brightness – based on what graphics are shown.

Does anyone need this? No, but it does sound like an interesting way to get your message out there. Video after the jump

Charge Ahead With 3D Printing

We’ve seen some big things with 3D printing, and surprisingly it has come not in composite materials or even plastics and resins, but in titanium. This shouldn’t be that surprising as titanium is actually refined from tiny grains rather than huge chunks.

However it works, Charge Bikes has now started testing 3D printed titanium sections of its frames. The company has reportedly collaborated with the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS). Working at the Innovation Works, the corporate research center for EADS group, Charge is charging forward to produce the world’s first 3D printed titanium frame utilizing manufacturing components designed for the aerospace industry.

While the full Charge Bikes Freezer cyclocross bike wasn’t actually printed out in 3D, the bike is the first to have any part produced this way. Video after the jump

Cycling Emblem

Who wants a “boring” bicycle? Not Craig Pelletier who has launched a Kickstarter project with a collective of bicycle and computer enthusiasts. They believe that every level of cyclists should be able to design their own bikes.

They’re working to create the Emblem Bike Company, which will provide a streamlined, easy to use website that provides “no-brainer explanations on every decision you make to help you decide on parts you want.” Emblem isn’t exactly offering custom bikes but rather is offering highly customized bikes, beginning with a selection of frames. The idea is something unique that should satisfy the customer. Video after the jump

Transformable Pack

If you are a child of the 1970s, 80s or 90s there was probably some afternoon cartoon or TV show that featured a giant robot that came together from a number of other vehicles. The heroes always waited until the end to create this mega robot, which remains unclear to the adult viewer.

Perhaps the folks behind RukSak Bags grew up watching such quality programming, as they’re looking to roll out a bag that is modular, flexible and can break down in several bags for various needs. John Hubbel and his wife came up with the concept after he returned from a tour in the Middle East as part of an anti-terrorism team.

He found that one bag didn’t fit all purposes and having a bag that could be flexible made ensuring he had just the right gear for the job. The result is that wearers can add or remove items as necessary – from a simple lumbar bag to a full rig for a multi-day trip in the wilds. Hubbel is now looking to raise funding via Kickstarter to bring the RukSak to market – probably an easier task than fighting some super robot from another planet. Video after the jump

Recoil With It

The Plume is something that you can roll with, not only because it goes on a bike but because this recoiling bicycle mudguard can roll up when not needed. It can extend into a sleek mudguard or recoil back into a tight circle under the seat with just a gentle push of the finger – and yet is made of street-tough materials including stainless steel and a flexible polymer. Its designers are now looking to Kickstarter to get the Plume out and rolling and recoiling. Video after the jump

Velodroom Stop Light

We’ve been seeing a number of concepts that change the way those blinky lights for cyclists work. The latest twist comes from Velodroom, which offers a light that has no on/off switch but like the LucidBRAKE utilizes a built-in accelerometer to detect movement and braking. When slowing down the light offers a bright warning to those behind, just like a car’s brakelight.

This system also features a built-in light sensor that can adjust the brightness to the surroundings and can help save the battery. Video after the jump

Light Bar

A built-in bike light seems like a good idea, and while we seen systems that integrate the lights into the stem, the Helios Bars are more than just a built-in light. These do provide proximity lighting that allows the bike to automatically turn on or off when the rider is near, and provide turn singles to help drivers know what you’re about to do. But the Helios Bars also provide GPS tracking via SMS from anywhere in the United States, where users can receive coordinates of the bike via Google Maps.

These bars also offer a visual speedometer, and can provide turn-by-turn navigation when synced with a mobile phone via Bluetooth 4.0. There is even ambient lighting options to set the mood while riding. Video after the jump

By Land or Sea

We all know the story of Paul Revere but what would the patriot have done if the British had the Waveskate? This is a hybrid surfboard/skateboard that works on both the waves and the pavement. Developed in San Diego – where there is the right weather for skating and surfing – the board can quickly transform from road ready deck to water worthy board.

Waveskate inventor and former pro skater Yancey Meyer is now taking his concept to Kickstarter to raise funding to make it a reality. Video after the jump