Over 1700 young inventors from 27 countries and regions entered the James Dyson Award this year, showcasing a breadth of ingenious inventions addressing problems such as microplastic pollution, IV infiltration and coral-reef degradation.
Panels of tech experts, entrepreneurs and leading engineers reviewed, discussed and debated all the James Dyson Award entries to select a national winner and two runners up in each participating region, totaling 81 national finalists. These finalists have now been announced.
“The quality of entries was extremely impressive in this year’s James Dyson Award, and we knew we had found a great design when we all said, ‘I can’t believe this has not been invented yet.’ Ultimately, we selected finalists based on innovation and simplicity, combined with the impact it could have for people and the lives it will save. This is the best purpose of engineering – when it tangibly makes a difference for everyday tasks.” – Felicity Furey, Business leader and national judge for Australia
Full list of Winners courtesy of The James Dyson Award
Of keen interest to EVObsession is
We are The Tyre Collective, and our patent pending technology captures tyre wear right at the wheel; safeguarding us from the second largest microplastic pollutant in our environment.
WHAT IT DOES
We serve fleet vehicle operators and manufacturers to achieve zero-emission goals. Our device uses electrostatics and airflow around the wheel to capture tyre particles; to be processed and reused in a variety of applications, creating a closed-loop system.
YOUR INSPIRATION
We all know tyres wear down, but never consider where it all goes. Microplastics are commonly associated with single-use plastics but we were shocked to discover that half a million tonnes of tyre wear is produced annually across Europe. It enters our waterways, the food we eat, and the air we breathe; accounting for up to 50% of PM2.5 & PM10 emissions from road transport. As we move towards electric vehicles, it is crucial to consider the implications of tyre wear, so we are not replacing one pollution source with another. Last July, the UK government issued a call to action and are looking for solutions; we set out to answer it.
HOW IT WORKS
We discovered that rubber particles coming off the tyre are positively charged due to friction. Using a single array of electrostatic plates, our design currently captures 60% of all airborne particulates on our test rig. It is low energy and can be powered directly from the car’s alternator. Our tested solution is the result of collaboration with experts in Aerodynamics and Material Science from Imperial College, facilitated by design. Positioned close to where the tyre meets the road, with sufficient ground clearance, the device takes advantage of various air flows around the spinning wheel. It is attached to the steering knuckle, free to move and turn with the suspension, and adaptable to different vehicles. Captured tyre particles are stored in a cartridge within the device and collected during servicing. Once refined, they are extracted and used in a variety of applications, including new tyres, 3D printing and dyes, creating a closed-loop system.
Images and Full Details here courtesy of UNITED KINGDOM – THE TYRE COLLECTIVE