Sunseeker - seeking sunlight to charge
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
Category
Project Description
We create light with light. Our Sunseeker is a solar powered (street-)light installation which behaves just like you. Seeking for the sunniest spot it charges energy as much as possible. The light fixtures move over the line and around their axes & in the evening they move back to their fixed spot and interact with animals and people passing by. It provides a different connection to sustainability. Dynamic and poetic lighting designs that trigger amazement and imagination.
Project Region
EU Programme or fund
Description of the project
Summary
VANTOT presents a contemporary, sustainable and interactive answer to the static street lighting we are all familiar with. SUNSEEKER was designed, developed and realised for a brand-new park in the centre of Eindhoven, the Dutch city of light. The 500-metre-long chain of light modules serves as aesthetic signage during the day, as a guide at night, and forms a connecting route from A to B. In this way, the designers bring design and technology together in nature and give the sun the role of charger. It has enormous potential for Smart Cities in making cities all over the world smarter, more sustainable and liveable.
An experience by day By day, you can experience the spectacle of lanterns moving towards the sun. The underside of the ring of the lighting module lights up like a halo when you are lying or walking in the park. Neighbouring residents also have an exclusive view of a subtle play of light from above. So, there's always something going on during the day. In addition, the sunlight ensures that the lights can turn on in the evening. A guide at night The lamps can be programmed in such a way that the light can dim, change colour or become brighter when people pass by. The latter makes them feel safer in the dark at night. The gallery of light serves as signage, as a guide at night and it forms a connecting route from A to B. With this project, the designers make us think about sustainability in a different way by allowing us to experience an alternative – dynamic and poetic lighting designs that trigger amazement and imagination. That is the power of good design and experimentation, in which VANTOT's creativity and sense of aesthetics always go hand in hand with technology. Smart We show that you can make public spaces more attractive by making lighting more interactive in all sorts of ways. The potential extends further: It pays for itself. After all, solar cells produce energy, light is fed by light. You will no longer have to connect the light to a grid.
Key objectives for sustainability
Smart Sunseeker – Smart Cities With the software that we have developed, we program SUNSEEKER, lighting that has enormous potential to make cities smarter, more sustainable, safer and more liveable. We show that you can make public spaces more attractive by making lighting more interactive in all sorts of ways: it can change light intensity or colour, it can move, integrate sound and respond to people. The potential extends even further: SUNSEEKER pays for itself. After all, solar cells produce energy, light is fed by light. In future Smart Cities, you will no longer have to connect the lighting to the grid. That's smart, too. We have created a sustainable and interactive street lighting that functions as a work of art in public space. For this we developed a small-scale smart grid based on solar PV. The solar energy is converted into electricity (renewable energy) and this can be stored and given back. This project results in an energy-generating installation that is also possible provide electricity to adjacent buildings. In addition to that, this project presents a social challenge this also presents a major technical challenge. That is why there is a cross-sectoral collaboration with the top sector Energy, KIA "Energy transition and CO2 reduction", stimulating energy innovation and the transition path "Power and Light", theme "Energy & behavior"; how can we humans encouraging the economical use of energy and fuels and / or the search for cleaner ones initiatives and "Urban Energy", smart technology and innovative materials. There is also a good connection with Mu 5. circular economy with the innovation theme Circular systems, innovation theme 2. Systems circular subject climate and energy neutral and 4. Smart technology that contributes to robust, climate smart circular production (NWA routes 3. circular economy and 21. smart liveable cities) and this falls under the government-wide program: circular 2050 for optimal use and reuse of raw materials.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Between art and street lighting
We like to work in a progressive and idiosyncratic way within the world of lighting and believe in dynamic additions and interventions in public space. We use the power of design to create sustainable, smart, tactile and movable lighting that people like to surround themselves with and that has enormous potential for the future. In our designs, technology always goes hand in hand with creativity, quality and aesthetics. But not only that: we are responding to a demand that does not yet exist. With SUNSEEKER, the chain of umbrella-shaped lanterns, we provide a contemporary, sustainable and interactive answer to the static street lighting that we are familiar with. This results in an interesting field of tension: is it art? Is it street lighting? Or is it more like something in between?
Human street lighting
SUNSEEKER makes a city more attractive to both residents and people from outside of the city. We make them think about sustainability in a different way, even more so than before, by making street lighting visible in a non-functional way. People literally experience an alternative: the light chain is dynamic and interactive; the modules move with the sun and react to passing people. This creates amazement and allows people to identify with it. For us, technology is always cleverly and logically integrated into the aesthetic design. This enables us to give poetry and humanity to something technical and almost elusive.
SUNSEEKER contributes to the atmosphere, experience and liveability of the public space. At the same time, we are giving the sun the role of charger, making solar cell energy tangible and helping the energy transition – which must be a reality by 2050 – to move forward.
Key objectives for inclusion
In addition, the follow-up project has a good connection with TKI "Creative in the field of design "(including green architecture) and Mu 7." Inclusive and innovative society "where people are enabled to have the knowledge to act innovatively and to innovate adopt (innovative) and what is accessible and available for everyone to participate in the society (inclusive). Solar cells are an eyesore for many people, and they are too complicated to get to grips with, let alone create a different vision. Now people use solar energy to recharge their cellphone, keep the electric garden lights on and in it most ambitious case to lower their meter reading. But a sincere one is missing integration within the way people think and act. The technique needs to be more interesting ways to be integrated, for example by placing the solar cell everywhere in the street processing, such as sidewalks streets and benches. This will completely change the view of energy. In key enabling technology "Design for Change" this project is a strategy to get people moving by influencing their behavior and creating awareness. One wants to do this by eg In the evening, let the light objects move with the people and thus a route through a park, for example to give. But there are many more possibilities, for example to trigger people for interaction by means of it change of light intensity or color. Consideration can also be given to integrating educational programs. M.b.t. awareness, the light objects installation will create wonder and conversation - we all talk about sustainability. But do we "feel" it too? Do we understand the need? The aim is to introduce all target groups to how to can use sustainable techniques in an innovative and distinctive way. Finally, this project also falls under the theme: "Human Touch"; give insight and trust awakening people; to what extent a technology to be implemented will be consistent with one society. The follow-up project wants to show how technology contributes
Results in relation to category
Solar panels are now found only on lawns and roofs, they want to break through this in the follow-up project by integrating solar panels in materials and designs.Companies that conduct technical research into solar cells ask themselves questions about greater efficiency, flexibility, transparency, production accelerations and cost-reducing solutions. Lies in front of us the challenge and our role in the appearance, implementation and integration of the solar cell. Hereby we ask questions like; How do we increase the impact by applying? How can we make a solar cell more visible, so that it tells its impact. Or vice versa, how can you we make a solar cell more invisible so that it blends in more easily with the interior and exterior? Is a solar cell only usable in the sun or can a solar cell also have a double function what do we do with the bottom, for example? How can we make a solar cell more human so that people relate to it more. With the project, we take the first steps to conduct this survey of the converting solar cell technology into an application. This project ties in well with the top sector Creative Industry, which has knowledge of design and social acceptance of a technological development are important to successful implementation. The follow-up project wants sustainable and interactive light artworks in we seamlessly integrate solar PV in the light artworks so that energy can be used as well can be stored and / or fed back to the energy grid integrated into it light artwork. Applications for this can be a light and energy installation route through parks, eg a street lighting line that functions as a viewing line in cities, amusement parks, works of art roundabouts etc. where, for example, people are led through a park along a winding line with light objects and in this way people are made aware of the movement and how solar energy works and that it can also be easily integrated into objects around you. Ensures sustainable choices.
How Citizens benefit
Where technology meets, a Smart Society is created. The project leaves the cross-pollination and gives a face to what it means to be and to be a smart city develop. This makes parks, public spaces, etc. accessible, both for residents as for visitors and expats. As a result of which the project also falls under the Top Sector HTSM, roadmap "Smart Industry".
The project started form a need of the neighbourhood. We've been constantly in close contact with the citizens and even created a temporary park with them around the installation. We receive a constant feedback about the lights and can adjust any time. The amazement of the success was also because of Corona. Public spaces have a complete new importance while everyone is working from their houses.
The lights add something to the public area, but we've also take the people living around the installation in account. In the night the ring around the light modules light up.
“We create the Eindhoven energy with a design mentality and design quality visible, tangible and tangible. Smart interventions, for a different experience. ” Martijn Paulen - director of the Dutch Design Foundation
The target group is diverse and consists of the entire diverse group of residents of the homes around it park (rent, purchase, social housing), visitors to the park (and passers-by), the nearby school, those interested in innovative sustainability solutions (education) and all Eindhoven residents / Brabanders and tourists. In addition, the project contributes to the city's identity and ambitions. So you could own the city can also see it as a target group. Where his or her two biggest become two qualities challenged to work together: Technology, the High Tech Campus, and Design. “The city center will get the quality, experience and appearance that suit the heart of Brainport Eindhoven. A cozy city center where Eindhoven residents feel at home and (international) guests like to come to. A green and healthy enviroment.
Innovative character
Brabant has a scoop with this street lighting that makes a combination between a Smart Cities Concept & the integration of flexible solar cells, both of which are used to generate energy cut costs and generate permanent energy. Solliance uses it for measurements that research according to the performance of the cells. Because it is a relatively slow movement, it is little energy costs, but as a result of which the solar cells are optimally suspended in the sun, this can be one lead optimal performance. In addition, it is one of the first tests with the construction of a DC grid in public spaces. During the day it is used to recharge and energy energy evening to dissipate the energy. We will use the same power grid for this. Solliance's philosophy is that when these solar cells are used more, it will ultimately contribute to the innovation on this particular product. This application is innovative in the convergence of ideas and will be used for Solliance research and education. These solar cells are not vulnerable and therefore interesting to apply, with which it serves as an example for other designers and artists to get started. In addition, the solar cell integrated.
