Camping just got a little more fun – Meet the water-powered USB charger

 

Thursday, May 21, 2015 - 8:00pm

Industrial Design student Jesse Cowan has solved a problem.

There’s been a boom in enabled gear for outdoor adventurers – Bluetooth fish-finders connected to your phone, Bluetooth speakers and tons of maps and mobile apps for hiking and camping. But, how do you charge your devices when you’re off the grid?

Jesse’s created Coast, a USB charger that you toss into the water and clip to your canoe or boat. As the charger floats and is pulled in the water, the spinning powers a kinetic turbine. The 7,000 mAh battery can charge your iPhone five times over.

“This is why I love design. It didn’t exist and now it does – I love being creative and making something real,” said Jesse. He loves outdoor adventure and noticed there wasn’t anything on the market that could power his gear with water. “It’s a step forward for people to produce our own energy. It’s industrial product design with a meaning.”

Jesse manufactured Coast himself including using a 3D printer to create the device’s shell. He grew up in Toronto, but initially studied anthropology and sociology at Concordia University in Montreal. After first year he transferred to OCAD University to study industrial design.

What’s next? Jesse’s met with some start-up incubators and considering his options. Coast won an Umbra Award for industrial design at Grad Ex and he’s entered the ACIDO Industrial Design Thesis Competition happening in June.

 

If you have your own wicked idea for a product or business, consider applying to OCAD U’s Imagination Catalyst start-up incubator. We’ll help you take your idea to market. The deadline to submit is May 27.

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Jesse Cowan
Coast
Coast
Thursday, May 21, 2015 - 8:00pm

Industrial Design student Jesse Cowan has solved a problem.

There’s been a boom in enabled gear for outdoor adventurers – Bluetooth fish-finders connected to your phone, Bluetooth speakers and tons of maps and mobile apps for hiking and camping. But, how do you charge your devices when you’re off the grid?

Jesse’s created Coast, a USB charger that you toss into the water and clip to your canoe or boat. As the charger floats and is pulled in the water, the spinning powers a kinetic turbine. The 7,000 mAh battery can charge your iPhone five times over.

“This is why I love design. It didn’t exist and now it does – I love being creative and making something real,” said Jesse. He loves outdoor adventure and noticed there wasn’t anything on the market that could power his gear with water. “It’s a step forward for people to produce our own energy. It’s industrial product design with a meaning.”

Jesse manufactured Coast himself including using a 3D printer to create the device’s shell. He grew up in Toronto, but initially studied anthropology and sociology at Concordia University in Montreal. After first year he transferred to OCAD University to study industrial design.

What’s next? Jesse’s met with some start-up incubators and considering his options. Coast won an Umbra Award for industrial design at Grad Ex and he’s entered the ACIDO Industrial Design Thesis Competition happening in June.

 

If you have your own wicked idea for a product or business, consider applying to OCAD U’s Imagination Catalyst start-up incubator. We’ll help you take your idea to market. The deadline to submit is May 27.