Solar-Paddle
Active movement on water: silent, emission-free, with electric reserve.
THE TASK
High water resistance limits muscle-powered craft. Electric drives have short range and charging infrastructure is absent. How can electric-assisted paddlecraft be designed to operate entirely off-grid with virtually no limits?
APPROACH
An electric- and solar-assisted kayak/canoe/SUP with seamlessly integrated PV charge modules makes outings more enjoyable and inclusive. PV charges during and after use, yielding a near-unlimited electric range.
CHALLENGES
- → With PV support: extremely tight energy budget, maximum efficiency is non-negotiable
- → Stability vs. speed: roll stability increases drag
- → Hands-free steering: hands hold the paddle, so how do you steer?
RESULT
A functional prototype with a 100 W flex module passed a real-world test of 7 days off-grid with two people and daily use. Manual motor control proved suboptimal; the current iteration uses tilt-sensor input and offline voice control.
TECHNICAL EXECUTION
- → Systems engineering (mechanics, electronics, PV, software)
- → Embedded systems (µC, sensors, ESC control)
- → HMI/UX design (interface, controller logic)
- → CAD/prototyping (motor mount, enclosure parts)
- → Design thinking, rapid prototyping
WHAT STANDS OUT
Tri-hybrid "e-bike on water": muscle power + e-assist + seamlessly integrated PV delivers unlimited off-grid range. Unique control via tilt and offline voice.