7 minute read
Kai Goodall’s Pedal n Spin spinning for the future.
Kai Goodman winning at making a difference
MAKING A DIFFERENCE PROFILE Spinning For The PPEDAL N SPIN, lanet By Anthea Campbell
Advertisement
In this article we chat to UCT student Kai Goodall, global winner of RS Components People.Planet.Product student design challenge in partnership with The Washing Machine Project and Grass Roots. His winning and innovative design is a footcranked washing machine 'Pedal n Spin' that rotates easily by using a combination of the principle of a treadle system and pedal system.
EBL: TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOU?
KG: I am currently doing my master's in Electrical Engineering at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and for my undergrad I did a Bachelor of Science in Mechatronics Engineering.
My love for engineering started at a young age, I was excited and inspired by cutting-edge technology and inventions that were environmentally friendly whilst practically being able to improve the lives of people. Growing up I always loved building hands-on and sustainable projects to help my friends and family with their daily lives and I was constantly exposed to interactive technology.
EBL: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO ENTER THIS COMPETITION?
KG: As an engineer being socially responsible and using engineering design and innovation to help solve problems faced by society is very important to me. Therefore, my washing machine innovation fitted comfortability into my field of interest, which is to help solve problems faced by society through my sustainable engineering designs and innovations.
The objective of my washing machine innovation is to improve the quality of life and hygiene levels of low-income and displaced people who normally rely on hand-washing.
My UCT supervisor Dr. David Oyedokun told me about RS Components International People. Planet.Product Student Design Challenge in partnership with Grass Roots and The Washing Machine Project which involved improving the usability and sustainability of The Washing Machine Project's current hand cranked Divya washing machine. I accepted this challenge and came out tops with my Pedal n Spin foot cranked washing machine innovation.
Winning this competition was a great recognition of my innovation, which motivates me to innovate more into the future in the area of social and sustainable development to help with the global need for a better future for everyone.
EBL: DOES CLIMATE CHANGE PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN YOUR THINKING?
KG: Yes, my Pedal n Spin washing machine innovation does not use electricity and is therefore sustainable in nature. Furthermore it is manufactured by a sustainable woodworking company called Forest Creations in Cape Town that supports climate change awareness. My two self-driving solar cars focus on renewable solar energy technologies.
EBL: WHEN YOU CAME UP WITH THE DESIGN DID SIMILAR DRUM DESIGNS MOTIVATE AND INFLUENCE YOUR CONCEPT?
KG: Yes, my Pedal n Spin improves the sustainability, useability and posture of The Washing Machine Project's current hand cranked Divya washing machine, hence my Pedal n Spin washing machine improved on the existing design of the Divya that used the same drum.
EBL: PEDAL N SPIN IS SELF-EXPLANATORY, DID YOU RESEARCH THE NAME IN THE RURAL AREAS?
KG: I kept the name “Pedal n Spin washing machine” simple and self-explanatory in order to simply clarify its design, purpose and operation.
Kai’s grandmother at 85 is quite comfortable using the Pedal n Spin
EBL: ARE ANY OF THE MATERIALS YOU HAVE USED RECYCLED?
KG: All the wood used in the manufacturing of the Pedal n Spin is recycled (currently using wood recycled from the big UCT and Table Mountain fire which needed to be cut-down as most trees died and will become a safety hazard in storms with strong winds in the near future). The steel used is new but all steel off-cuts will be sent to the steel recycling depo.
EBL: THE PLASTIC DRUM IS BLUE, WILL IT BE AVAILABLE IN OTHER COLOURS?
KG: No it won't as the standard 52L drum only comes in blue. I am exploring the option of getting recycled drums from local fruit juice manufacturing companies that use these drums for storage.
EBL: THE DESIGN NEEDED TO FOCUS ON THREE DIFFERENT AREAS PEOPLE.PLANET. PRODUCT CAN YOU BREAK DOWN HOW YOU ACHIEVED THIS?
KG: The RS Components People.Planet.Product Student Design Challenge that I won involved three different design categories, I chose the product category which involved improving the design of the Divya hand cranked washing machine.
EBL: CAN PEDAL N SPIN BE USED BY OLD
AND YOUNG? (in many under privileged homes they are the ones doing the washing and home chores) KG: Yes, it was tested successfully with an array of different aged users starting with my 12 year old brother and ending with my 85 year old grandmother who were all able to use it with ease without any adjustments needed. Initial field testing in a local informal community proved that a mother nursing her young child was able to operate the washing machine in a relaxed manner.
EBL: COULD A DISABLED PERSON BE ABLE TO USE PEDAL N SPIN?
KG: Yes, I have been communicating with a disabled person about the possibility of the design and manufacture of a 30 litre smaller and lighter version of my current 52 litre Pedal n Spin washing machine design.
EBL: HOW DOES PEDAL N SPIN FILTER OUT GREYWATER OR MICRO-PLASTICS?
KG: My Pedal n Spin design focuses on the low-cost manufacture and ease of use of the washing machine and not on grey water and micro-plastic filtration due to the competition design brief.
EBL: CAN ANY CHAIR BE USED WHEN USING PEDAL N SPIN?
KG: Yes, any chair can be used.
EBL: HOW PORTABLE AND LIGHT IS PEDAL N SPIN?
KG: The Pedal n Spin is very portable and light weigh due to it being collapsible and its drum being easily removable for ease of transport. The steel and wood used in construction is also light weight.
EBL: DOES PEDAL N SPIN COME AS A COMPLETE UNIT OR DOES IT NEED TO BE ASSEMBLED?
KG: The Pedal n Spin washing machine innovation comes as a complete unit.
EBL: WHAT IS THE EXPECTED LIFE SPAN OF THE PEDAL N SPIN?
KG: Due to the Pedal n Spin's durable design and robust field testing I expect it to last a long time, hence being a sustainable product. The washing machine can also be easily repaired in any basic wood and steel workshop anywhere in the world.
EBL: COULD PEDAL N SPIN BE USED AS A COMPOSTER WHEN IT IS BECOMES OLD?
KG: Yes, however the Pedal n Spin should keep washing clothes even when it is old due
EBL: WHO IS HELPING YOU GET PEDAL N SPIN OFF THE GROUND WITH THE MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION SIDE OF THINGS?
KG: After winning the competition, I have joined forces with a local sustainable woodworking company called Forest Creations and I am currently producing 4 improved Pedal n Spin units with them for donation to a local Cape Town informal community for field testing and to learn from the community on how the device can be further improved.
These manufacturing costs of these 4 units will be covered by my prize money received for winning the competition. I will be making 50 units for large-scale field testing with a larger number of communities in Cape Town that still rely on handwashing.
I welcome any collaboration and support in getting these next 50 units made and donated.
EBL: WHEN DO YOU EXPECT PEDAL N SPIN TO BE AVAILABLE AND WHERE CAN ONE BUY IT? COST?
KG: After successful completion of the proposed large-scale field testing, this is the perfecting stage before mass production and distribution can begin, the product will become readily available to rural areas in need through donations from people and companies, as well as it will become available to people that want to be more off-grid, sustainable and increase fitness levels both in South Africa and beyond.
The accurate cost of the Pedal n Spin will become available after the next 4 units are manufactured.
For more information, support, collaboration or updates on my Pedal n Spin washing machine innovation including when it begins being available to the public for sale, please email me at kaigoodall@gmail.com or connect with me on LinkedIn Kai Goodall or follow me on Instagram @kaigoodall.
Read the full article https://ecobalancelifestyle.com/pedal-n-spin-spinning-for-the-planet/
