Design and Development of a Kinetic Power Pack; The Failure of Aid Projects

A human motion phone charger device was design and developed. The device was designed to be strapped around the upper arm. It contains a magnet-coil system that powers a lithium-ion battery, which can then be used to charge a phone. It is a more accessible and environmentally friendly way of charging a phone. Yet, to succeed, technology must work in both technical and social terms. A device or system must not only work in the lab; it must also work in the field. Furthermore, many aid projects that are intended to serve impoverished communities fail. The organizations that develop and introduce aid projects often do not sufficiently study the community or conduct sufficient follow up. So-called “dumping” of ineffective systems has promoted aid dependency and has weakened some communities’ local initiatives. Aid organizations must study the communities they hope to serve, collect feedback and plan for maintenance.

School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Technical Advisor: Michael Momot
STS Advisor: Peter Norton
Technical Team Members: Rojeen Kamali, Grant Kim, Alexander Nazon, Rachael Osborne