NEW YORK – A new invention is using soccer to bring electricity to the developing world. The SOCCKET ball is an energy-harvesting soccer ball that generates and stores enough electricity through play to power an LED lamp. The new development provides a green and renewable method of powering lights in developing areas across the globe.
The SOCCKET ball is powered by a mechanism that captures the kinetic energy of the soccer ball during play. Within the SOCCKET is a small pendulum which turns a generator connected to a rechargeable battery as the ball moves. The co-founder of the SOCCKET states that only 30 minutes of play with the ball can generate enough electricity to use an LED light for more than three hours.
The SOCCKET is made of special foam which does not need to be inflated and does not deflate. The ball weighs only one ounce more than a standard soccer ball, is water-resistant, and is made in the United States. The inventors of the SOCCKET, in addition to developing their lamp-powering soccer balls, have made additional prototypes that can connect to emergency cell phone chargers and include devices that display how much power is generated by the ball during play.
Supporters of SOCCKET’s development include Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Ashton Kutcher, and David Villa. In his recent visit to Africa, President Obama stated that the SOCCKET was “pretty cool” after kicking one around and demonstrating a header for reporters.
Prototypes of the SOCCKET have shown great success in Mexico, South Africa, and Brazil. The developers of the ball are currently working to streamline the SOCCKET’s manufacturing process in order to reduce production costs and reach more people with their invention.
– Jordan Kline
Sources: Kickstarter, CNN
Photo: Inhabitat