MIT soft rocker - solar powered sun lounger
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MIT soft rocker - solar powered sun lounger


soft rocker - solar powered recharging station
all images by philip ropert, courtesy of MIT


'soft rocker' is a solar powered outdoor rocking lounger whereby you can relax and recharge your electronics.
developed by architecture students at MIT, lead by professor sheila kennedy, the furniture piece uses the
human power of balance to create an interactive 1.5 axis, 35 watt solar tracking system.
the lounger utilizes a 12-ampere hour battery storing the solar energy harvested during sunlight hours
so you to charge your gadgets even after sunset.

a number of 'soft rockers' are currently installed within MIT's killian court for use until the end of this weekend.



up close of the 'soft rocker'



the loungers make for a good place to socialize and engage in group work



the solar powered charging station



the battery also allows you to turn on a strip of light tape that runs along the interior of the lounger




via dvice

andrea db
05.06.11  
15
ugly
sceptic   05.06.11
Why aren't the specific students and faculty credited?
garthbook   05.06.11
why MIT ' designs are so ugly to look at?
we can't even see what's behing it, the cover is repulsive.
sceptic2   05.06.11
oh yeah, casemodstyle....ugly
lalala   05.06.11
love it love i love it love it luvvvv it lu lu lu lu love it oooh mmm
d   05.06.11
really really cool idea I just wished they hadn't used the detaining under the main lounge structure. It takes away from the modern simplicity of the piece
PM   05.06.11
very ugly!
spiderman   05.06.11
waste of materials, who needs that structure to charge his/her electronic device!? this is not clever!
a.a   05.07.11
I think this is a great idea, especially for a college campus. I also think it's pretty neat. Not ugly.
:)   05.08.11
I think I like the current design and I believe it's a good idea, but it still has a very 'prototype' feel to it. The overall design could use a bit more work, I don't know if wood is the right medium, or maybe it is but the design needs to change.

Overall I like it though.
Babet   05.08.11
Epic
PussyCat   05.09.11
I like the overall form.
toeyteyid   05.09.11
This is a super-ugly creation, but it got a lot of attention in the news and on the net due to its MIT origin. Nonetheless anything that heightens the awareness of what solar power can do is a good thing.
Delia Ann Kennedy   05.09.11
I want one for my backyard

Where can I get one
Scott   05.10.11
It's brilliant, not ugly.

Think pragmatically, not aesthetically.
Jeffery   05.11.11
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