CycleRATE

Detriot, USA

Client: SmithGroup USA

Photos: Paul Taylor Films (Photography), USA

“A winning prototype displaying playful power generation for the Detroit City of Design Competition, was the product of collaborative efforts of architectural, urban, and lighting design studios. The international, multidisciplinary competition was developed for designers within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network to prototype innovative design solutions for Detroit neighbourhoods, addressing safety and walkability. Deriving its name from a combination of the verbs “cycle” and “accelerate,” Cyclerate uses hand-powered cranks and stationary bike generators to translate kinetic energy into electrical energy, which powers colourful LED lighting, Bluetooth speakers, and USB charging stations. As individuals pedal, low voltage lighting builds incrementally in the forefront of the installation, visually representative of the increasing voltage production. When a certain threshold of voltage is reached, the integrated Arduino control system cycles through a pre-programmed RGB light show that attracts and mesmerises the crowd. The simplicity of the control system further presents a new educational opportunity for refinement of the lighting programming by local students or community members in future iterations.”

The great thing about this project is that is was completely designed and built without ElectricPedals involved in the installation. Thus reducing the Carbon Footprint that would have occurred by flying the the USA and back. 

More information: https://darcawards.com/portfolio/84697-2/