Great Job, what an innovative way to charge outdoors

I love it when a project sneaks up on you and you realise, gosh, why has someone not done of this already.  Such a great idea and so helpful to so many situations.  

Great 'post', clear call with what you need assistance with. We are on it.

Thanks uprising! cant wait for the help

Hi Arijit,

I don't currently have any technical knowledge assistance for you on this occasion although, I'm able to provide thoughts on the overall concept.

Personally, I believe the idea is convenient and timely, especially with the growing demand of environmentally friendly design solutions. If applied to public spaces such as university campuses, parks and shopping centers, it could prove as a convenient way to charge electronic devices while promoting sustainability.

The major challenges I foresee relate to energy efficiency and real-world application. Given that the proposed solar panels are so small, efficient energy collection would be difficult, more so on cloudy days and in shaded areas. In addition, vandalism and theft of components in public areas could increase maintenance costs and attract a bad look.

If the design was more practical by including features such as a universal bench attachment or a LED charging indicator, I believe it would attract further interest. In addition, weather-resistant materials and battery replacement options could improve the life-expectancy of the item making it more appealing to consumers.

In conclusion, I think the charging solution has great potential, although additional design considerations should be incorporated that can improve sustainability.

Best Regards,
Aidan Q (CQU Engineering Student - Bundaberg)

I think this is a really cool idea and one that could make studying or working outdoors more convenient. Having a solar-powered bench with built-in charging ports is a great solution for students and remote workers who enjoy being outside.

That said, where I live, I could definitely see this kind of device being at risk of either getting stolen or damaged by delinquents. Unfortunately, public infrastructure with visible tech components often attracts the wrong kind of attention, either from people wanting to take it for parts or just vandalize it out of boredom. On top of that, I imagine the weather could be a real issue too. Electronics like USB ports and energy storage units can be sensitive to extreme heat, cold and/or rain, so outdoor exposure might lead to faster wear and tear unless properly weatherproofed and maintained. I would be curious to see how you would approach these challenges.

Some suggestions I have to potentially improve the design would be:

1. Use materials and casing that are lockable and resistant to prying or unscrewing, making is substantially harder to tamper with. You could make it that you need to get permission from the local council/owners of the box to gain access to a pin, key card or something along those lines.  
2. Maybe even put the charging unit inside the bench rather than having it hang off the side. You would also need extra protection for the solar panel. Something like glass or a flexible panel design to allow more efficient energy capture and better durability.
3. You would need to ensure all electronics are enclosed in a weather-sealed, IP-rated housing. Also, use coated or rustproof materials for the frame and wiring to handle rain and humidity, while also being physically damage resistant but not electrically conductive.
4. Incorporate an automatic shutoff system during heavy rain or unsafe conditions. Another option is to install them in those undercover benches with the table, as this would also suit laptops users better and keep everything out of the elements.

Overall, it's a great concept that just needs a bit of practical reinforcement to survive the realities of public and outdoor use.

Dylan S, student at CQU, ENEG12007

Hi arijittt,

Currently, I don't have much to contribute in terms of recommendations for optimal energy storage and seamless power delivery but I can provide my thoughts on your idea. Your idea for public seating incorporating a power bench is extremely innovative and clever and I think that this is a brilliant way to promote outdoor study, as you mentioned, as well as providing an option for those in public who may be in need of an outlet. Furthermore, your idea also promotes great sustainability by utilising solar power. Of course, power availability may be limited if it's not particularly sunny outside for prolonged periods but there's not much that can be done to prevent that. Since the system can be easily attachable to exisiting benches, this also could open the possibility for implementation in other public areas such as tables.

Just a few factors to consider:

- Make sure that the attachment is made from a material that can withstand harsh weather conditions, particularly high and low temperatures, and rain; ensure that the electronics are properly sealed inside too.

- Ideally the material should also be sourced sustainably; particularly consider recyclable materials.

- Ensure the attachment is built and properly installed in a way that it can't be broken into or pried open easily, but can still be accessed for maintenance. Perhaps, it could be detachable in a way that the bench doesn't have to be unavailable to use during maintenance

- Make sure to follow the relevant standards of your country/region, particularly those relating to electrical installations and solar panels.

Overall, your idea is fantastic and I can see this being considered for implementation across the world. Keep up the great work!

Kind regards,

Nicholas L, ENEG12007 student at CQU

Hi Arijitt

Congratulations for coming up with such a brilliant idea. I can relate with the idea as there are times am unable to study from the park due to unavailability of electronic devices charging facilities.

I am sorry am unable to assist you with how to connect the solar panel to battery or the charging port as it is out of my area of specialty. However, I will suggest a few things that you can consider and possibly incorporate in your design

I suggest repositioning the solar panels that they can serve a dual function: providing a shade to bench occupants as well as supply voltage for charging the battery. You would likely agree with me that the benches become quite uncomfortable to seat on in summer when the heat is intense and sunlight reflecting off the papers makes studying difficult. A shade would make benches more comfortable.

Consider getting rid of the central charging unit as it susceptible to theft and vandalism. My recommendation is that you design a lockable storage for the battery and reposition the charging outputs to maybe 3 points that each occupant can plug in the phone or laptop and use it at the same time without moving to one side of the bench.

Congratulation once more for the brilliant idea.

Chikumbi Mwenda

CQU undergraduate Engineering student (ENEG12007)

Hi Arijittt,

What a great idea! I think this would encourage students to study outside and consequently improve their mental health, being in nature while maintaining a great sense of productivity. Have you considered creating a table with two of these benches on either side, acting as an outdoor productivity hub? You could also add shade coverage to not only protect people from the sun but also reduce the wear and tear of the charging system itself. If shade were to be implemented, solar power could potentially be installed on top of it. Although this may increase the pricing of the project. 

- Macey (CQU, ENEG12007: Creative Engineering class)

Hi arijittt,

This is a good idea! I always preferred studying outdoors when possible and losing charge is irksome - the computer always runs out when you're really on a roll.

I think there's a few points to consider:

- as others have said, I think it would be better operationally if this were more of a picnic-table-with-roof design. This would allow more solar panels to be installed to capture as much solar energy as possible to charge the battery. This feeds into:

- it might not be feasible to have general purpose AC power outlets in the units. There is nothing preventing someone from plugging a hairdryer or heater into them and immediately overloading the inverter or draining the battery. So maybe:

- only provide USB outlets. This could be a pain, although many laptops charge through USB-C these days, so could still be feasible for laptop charging. Additionally:

- if only USB outlets are provided, there is no 240V source in the units, which is definitely preferable from a safety perspective - particularly in a public place potentially at risk of vandalism

For more inspiration I might suggest looking at those modern bus stops with solar panels on the roof to power LED lighting, they will contain the solutions to many of your questions I think.

Anyway best of luck!

Henry B (CQU Student ENEG12007)

Hello,

This is a highly relevant and socially impactful project that responds directly to the growing demand for sustainability in public infrastructure. Your idea for the solar-powered charging bench is not only creative but very scalable, particularly in University campuses and transport hubs.

A couple of things to provide feedback on:

- How do you plan to keep the charging station attachment protected from the weather and/or external factors such as crime (someone stealing the charging station). If a charging station suddenly stops working, how would the relevant parties be notified to solve the issue and get it running as quickly as possible.

- How would this system integrate into existing infrastructure without needing major structural changes. Maybe consider a modular clamp-on or slip-fit design to make your unit compatible with different bench styles.

- How could this be marketed to local councils. If this is not providing any direct benefit to local councils other than user happiness, how is this product expected to be marketed. Would it cost money to charge your devices at the station? If not, how would this product be financially feasible.

Overall it is a very creative product with huge upside potential, and I am excited to hopefully see something similar to this in the future.

- Cody Hamilton from ENEG12007 Creative Engineering CQU University.