James Dyson Award winner and runners-up 2011 - Airdrop overcomes drought inspired by a beetle

Engineering, not magic: the 2011 winner of the James Dyson Award extracts water from thin air. Airdrop is a low cost, self powered, and easy to install solution to the problems of growing crops in arid regions.

Inspired by Australia's worst drought in a century, Edward Linacre from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, turned to nature to find ways of capturing moisture from air. Edward studied the Namib beetle, an ingenious species which lives in one of the driest places on earth. With half an inch of rain per year, the beetle can only survive by consuming the dew it collects on the hydrophilic skin of its back in the early mornings.

Airdrop borrows this concept, working on the principle that even the driest air contains water molecules which can be extracted by lowering the air's temperature to the point of condensation. It pumps air through a network of underground pipes, to cool it to the point at which the water condenses. Delivering water directly to the roots of plants.

Edward's research suggests that 11.5 millilitres of water can be harvested from every cubic meter of air in the driest of deserts. Further iterations of his design will increase the yield of Airdrop. A further £10,000 has also be awarded to Edward's university department to support other young engineers keen to follow in his footsteps.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• James Dyson Award
• design engineering
• product
• design
• industrial design
• design & technology
• Dyson
• Dyson Award
• student design award
• Airdrop
• Air drop

[mikecat23]

there is a better one but can't post the link it's in NibiruMagick2012 youtube home page under new wind power turbine can triple... well worth a look. The guy himself is another story.

[mikecat23]

Look up.. Nuovi impianti eolici FloDesign Wind Turbine ..under youtube

[mikecat23]

have to say his vacuum cleaner idea was brill. He for the great man that he is missed a great idea with his (or was it) fan. Look at the new wind power generators.They can generate at least twice the power of the old propelled ones by putting an similar type ring around them. He missed the true winner with the bladeless fan

[mikecat23]

Oh I just noticed it was in the 1800's

[mikecat23]

This video has to be the most upsetting ones I have seen on youtube. A bullshit idea winning an award by this guy whom I think is great.

[mikecat23]

I think it's a nothing invention and I'm one that believes in science big time. The system has to pump the water through the system. What is the cost to run this. Even if using solar how much will it cost? Food has to be way cheaper . Grow it where it grows naturally and in that part of the world live off it. This notion about us needing every type of food around is mad.

[mikecat23]

I'd like to see more about this . I think by the size of it it would amount to nothing . What is the cost of an up scaled version?

[SuperLordJesusChrist]

Excellent! :)

[chuck7667]

awesome way to go.

[boxpilot]

i'm sure ALL the entries weren't very worthwhile