Overview
SolarCycle is a solar-powered charger designed for outdoor enthusiasts, enabling you to charge all your portable electronics on the go while harnessing the full potential of the sun. The system features a foldable, modular, and weatherproof solar charger that wirelessly connects to an app, guiding you on optimal panel positioning and charging schedules. This ensures your devices stay powered, helping you seamlessly navigate and achieve your goals on any outdoor adventure.
Concept Development
This design concept was inspired by personal experiences and shaped by valuable insights from active backpacking communities in Germany, the USA, and Taiwan, where the project was developed.
Designing the Hardware
The hardware design draws inspiration from the essential principles of bikepacking gear, which must be compact, lightweight, and highly adaptable. It embodies modularity and flexibility, with fully replaceable components that ensure durability and easy maintenance. The foldable design seamlessly accommodates the diverse and ever-changing configurations of bikepacking setups.
Hardware Interface Design
The primary practical constraint for the hardware was the need to maintain low power consumption. To address this, we incorporated a minimal display that provides only the essential information: current power output (volts and amps), date, and time. This ensures users have critical data available even if the companion app on their phone is off or the phone itself is dead.
Mobile App Design
The SolarCycle mobile app is a central component of the product, empowering users with the following features:
-Seamless integration with the Komoot app, enabling access to geo-data and optimizing routes to achieve just the right amount of sun exposure.
-Customizable charging goals tailored to the devices you plan to use throughout the day, such as your mobile phone, speaker, or navigator.
-Real-time hardware monitoring, providing updates on system status and maintenance needs to ensure optimal performance.
