Resources: 3D4D Challenge, techfortrade, |
techfortrade, a London-based charity, revealed the winners of its 3D4D Challenge for the best 3D printing technology that would improve the incomes and livelihoods of people in developing countries.
The 3D4D Challenge finalists included: Bethany Weeks and Luke Iseman, U. S., for an “off-grid” 3D printer that recycles plastic bags into tools for local farmers; Boris Kogan, Israel, for a small-scale, easy-tomanufacture and assemble robotic greenhouse that will help communities grow good food, even in the most-difficult environments; and Edmund Bell-King and Cornell Jackson, U. K., for solar lamps created from recycled plastic Coke bottles. The lights replace the costly and dangerous kerosene lanterns common in rural India.
Other winners included Tom Fripp and Steve Roberts, U. K., for 3D printing soft-tissue prostheses; JF Brandon, Canada, for a simple, 3D-printed solar tracker that can provide solar electricity to communities; Roy Ombatti, Kenya, for 3D-printed shoes made from recycled plastic that can be worn by individuals with deformed feet resulting from jigger-fly infestation; and Suchismita and Jayant Pai, India, for providing young entrepreneurs and students access to 3D printers and material based on discarded plastic bottles.
Winners each receive $1,000 and access to experts who will help them develop their projects for a follow-up competition to take place at this year’s 3D Printshow in London. The final winner will get $100,000 to further develop his or her project.