PORTABLE LIGHT PROJECT - Community Power Bag Prototype


COMMUNITY POWER BAG prototype Sheila Kennedy, Principal Investigator Saarinen Professor University of Michigan Frano Violich, Saarinen Professor, University of Michigan Keith VanDerSys, Lecturer, University of Michigan Charles Garcia, University of Michigan Jenna Quirk, University of Michigan Kelly Rohr, University of Michigan The COMMUNITY POWER BAG prototype generates solar electrical power for white solid state lighting for community groups of up to six persons in an expandable textile enclosure weighing 2.5 pounds. Approximately four hours of charge time provides two and half hours of digital light at 80 lumens from six individual textile lanterns. These sources may be combined to create 480 lumens of digital light for community gatherings and trades such as tortillerías, bakeries and repair workshops. In its energy harvesting position, the prototype unfolds from a portable shoulder bag to a solar charging canopy that absorbs sunlight. The user can choose to direct the solar electricity to a large capacity battery (car battery) or to power the smaller rechargeable batteries of six detachable digital light candles, integrated in textile lanterns arrayed about the perimeter of the bag. The portable digital candles can be used independently for small task lighting and are designed to fit into traditional Huichol textile bags and chest pendant pouches. When the digital candle runs out of power it is reattached to the Community Power Bag and recharged from the larger battery. With six digital candles available per Community Power Bag, one digital candle can be exchanged for another, providing light throughout the evening for up to 15 hours.
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COMMUNITY POWER BAG prototype

Sheila Kennedy, Principal Investigator
Saarinen Professor University of Michigan
Frano Violich, Saarinen Professor, University of Michigan
Keith VanDerSys, Lecturer, University of Michigan
Charles Garcia, University of Michigan
Jenna Quirk, University of Michigan
Kelly Rohr, University of Michigan

The COMMUNITY POWER BAG prototype generates solar electrical power for white solid state lighting for community groups of up to six persons in an expandable textile enclosure weighing 2.5 pounds. Approximately four hours of charge time provides two and half hours of digital light at 80 lumens from six individual textile lanterns. These sources may be combined to create 480 lumens of digital light for community gatherings and trades such as tortillerías, bakeries and repair workshops. In its energy harvesting position, the prototype unfolds from a portable shoulder bag to a solar charging canopy that absorbs sunlight. The user can choose to direct the solar electricity to a large capacity battery (car battery) or to power the smaller rechargeable batteries of six detachable digital light candles, integrated in textile lanterns arrayed about the perimeter of the bag. The portable digital candles can be used independently for small task lighting and are designed to fit into traditional Huichol textile bags and chest pendant pouches. When the digital candle runs out of power it is reattached to the Community Power Bag and recharged from the larger battery. With six digital candles available per Community Power Bag, one digital candle can be exchanged for another, providing light throughout the evening for up to 15 hours.