Wearable battery-pack contest unzips winners (photos)
Winners of Ardica's Power To The People competition were announced Saturday. The contest challenged entrants to create ways to put a wearable battery pack to use.
Power pack contest
More than 100 applicants submitted ideas in the competition. The judges had chosen nine finalists--four of whom received awards Saturday--for their ideas for the Moshi Power System, a wearable lithium-ion battery pack that provides hours of energy for heat, power, and charging.
Ardica gave each of the nine finalists $500 in seed money to develop their ideas into working prototypes.
Four awards
Grand prize went to a sleeping bag heater that can also charge camping gear.
Second place was given a coal mine respirator.
Third place went to a backpack for professional photographers.
A special recognition award was given to a ski patrol vest.
Sleeping bag
Moshi
Aeolus
A coal mine respirator was the second place winner as well as the winner of the People's Choice award via Twitter. It uses the Moshi Battery Pack to power a filter that provides a steady supply of healthy, breathable air to miners.
The respirator can support breathing during maximum labor output for hours.
"I think the Twitter voters were highly impressed with the versatile application of the Moshi power system and the great societal contribution of the mining respirator," said Rich Walwood, Ardica's contest manager.
Respirator
Photogenesis
Ski patrol vest
Hap Klopp
The winning entry uses Moshi's portable power system to provide heat on demand and simultaneously power camping gear.
The Moshi battery pack itself has won awards, including "Best of the Year 2009 Award" from both Popular Science and Outdoor Life magazines.
"We know we have a great product. Our contest allowed designers from around the world to come up with innovative uses of the Moshi, and we were thrilled with the results. Some of these designs could definitely go to market," Klopp said.