The latest future concept from industrial designer Yanko Design is a wave powered warning system for ocean or river navigation. The designer envisions using these devices to warn boaters of shallow waters, icebergs or other hazards. The Wavelight concept coverts mechanical energy captured by ocean waves into electrical energy to illuminate a series of LED lamps. Each lamp is tethered to its neighbor with a weight anchored to the sea floor.

The lights are designed to attract attention for rescue operations or to warn passing ships to steer clear.

It is an interesting concept but it has some obvious real world short falls that will have to addressed before we are likey to see them in use. The wavelights must be anchored to the sea floor to keep them in place as do many wave energy device concepts.

The lighting system is based on LED’s which have a long service life and use minimal energy but are not known for a very strong or bright light.

Source: Yanke Design

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