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frog Future or Fiction: Revolver Turbine Prototype

By Core Jr - February 13, 2012

in Tech | Sustainable Design

A few months ago, we invited Core77 readers to weigh-in on frog's internal design competition, frog Future or Fiction. In the inaugural edition of Future or Fiction, the design firm called on their pool of 1600 people spread across 10 studios and 15 locations around the globe to find innovative ways and unexpected solutions for rethinking how wind power could be harnessed through leveraging existing infrastructure or incorporating it into new infrastructure. The Core77 reader favorite, a portable wind turbine, was created for outdoor activity and can be easily transported and used to power electronics in remote locations.

Now after having a designer and engineer take a closer look at the idea, frog shares their rough prototype for the Revolver—a small, portable, consumer-grade wind turbine for charging mobile devices and other personal electronics when you're off the grid.

Transported in a discreet tube, Revolver is easily set up. It can generate up to 35 watts of power from just a pleasant breeze—enough to keep a laptop charged, light up a lantern, or recharge a phone, camera, and other mobile devices—simultaneously.

Watch the prototype in action after the jump and see more information about the Revolver setup and construction. Any feedback? Would you use the Revolver on a remote expedition?

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Philip Joyce

13 years ago

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Make it stackable with a central shaft interlink and guywire connection links for a permanent installation. Also, include an option for longer legs attachments for stability.
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Chris P

13 years ago

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An Ascent solar panel currently in production generates a real 45 watts and only weighs 3 lbs. Cost $279 and it rolls up.

This wind turbine has no engineering data to support the design. Testing should should have been done BEFORE it was made to look pretty. Otherwise this is just a waste of people's time and gives YET ANOTHER bad rap to wind turbines.
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Diana Jimenez

13 years ago

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I love the design, it is beautiful. My comment relates to weight. If I take it hiking, even 1 or 2 extra ounces can add a lot (given everything one has to backpack in), so it should be as light as possible.
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Felix

13 years ago

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Oh wow, I guess the real problem or questions to be asked is the power output and the structural stability of the device.

I can image it being smaller than shown in the video and still have a relatively high output depending on the electronics within it.
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alberth

13 years ago

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I've got some experience with small windturbines. The model shown in the video is unlikely to produce more than 1-2 watts. By contrast, it was sunny in those locations. A 3 square foot solar panel would easily do 5-10 watts. Much cheaper. Much more portable. Just better.
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Duane

13 years ago

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There are slots for pegs guys, and if you made the base too big it would increase the size of the product. I agree that magnesium seems excessive for the application...if it needs to be pegged into the ground, why not just aluminium, or GF Polypropelene? Recharging station, cool, how about spark ignition for a campfire, actually become a torch, retractable spike (or screw) for securing the product integrated at the centre of the base...handy ice pick!?! :)
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Nick

13 years ago

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Considering the high center of gravity, I think the base is insufficiently wide. How about a version that can be hammered/screwed into the ground..since this is for camping? Also, why magnesium? Not exactly the cheapest material...

It's a very elegant and sleek design though.
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Shaun

13 years ago

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http://archived.bestawards.co.nz/2007/_thebest/0007.html#
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greg blonder

13 years ago

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Possibly useful, and certainly a clean implementation. But I wonder about two things- at 10 mph a 1 square meter ideal turbine generates 35 W, but these spiral Darrieus mode turbines tend to only achieve a third of this amount. True, power output depends on the wind velocity cubed, but it would be nice to have actual numbers here. Also, the base has to be much larger or it will tip over in even modest winds.
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Silvio

13 years ago

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hell, i'd use it every day in my office....
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