Computers Confuse Me Blog

The “Aquaduct: Mobile Filtration Vehicle” is was designed for YouTube’s $5,000 “Innovate or Die Pedal-Powered Machine Contest“.

The Innovate or Die Pedal-Powered Machine Contest is designed to inspire innovation and environmental change by highlighting the benefits of cycling in an unprecedented way. The challenge is to invent and build machines that transform zero-emission human energy into new and useful purposes, one pedal stroke at a time.

The Aquaduct (a pedal-powered water transportation and filtration vehicle) is a tricycle built with two water storage containers (large and small) and a filter. As the cycler pedals home from a water source, the peddling pulls water from the large storage container through a filter and into the smaller, 2 gallon, sealed storage container. This smaller container can then be removed and carried into a house for cooking and drinking. When more water is needed the belt tension on the tricycle can easily be released and the bike peddled in place to filter more water. Check out the video to see the Aquaduct in action. Also be sure to check out some of the other entries, there are 102 of them.

This invention is perfect for poorer areas where people have to travel long distances to get their water. I’d assume the cost can be kept relatively low making this an attractive solution. I hope to see the Aquaduct available for people to purchase and donate, similar to the “One Laptop Per Child” program.

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