Solar Powered Street Sign Illuminator

Team Members: Michael Winings, Brandon Allen, Paul Shandi, Carlos Forero, Antonio

Quinonesa

Rapid Prototyping Final Project

Problem

• Difficulty viewing residential street signs at night

• Most residential street signs are too high for car headlights to illuminate

• Could cause traffic problems when cars move slowly while attempting to read signs

Solution

• Develop a bolt on light that was easy to retrofit on existing street signs

• Solar Powered

• Self-Contained (On & Off, Charging)

• Stays lit for approximately 10 hours

Patent Search

• No current solution for retrofitting residential street signs

• Closest product is internally illuminated intersection signs

Market

• Home Owners Associations

• Cities

• New Development

Developing

• Must be a “Green-Technology”

• Energy Efficient and practical

• Mounts on top of existing street signs

• Lights must illuminate both signs

• Stable and reliable power source

• Long lasting LED Lights

• Developed for Safety and Convenience

First Design

• First design was one piece

• Large

• Hard to ship

• Inefficient lighting of second sign

Second Design

• All lights mounted off a core piece

• Still One large piece

• Box too small for battery

Final Design

• Slightly larger arms with lens “stop”

• Larger battery box to house electronics

• Flat Lid for battery box / Solar Panel

• Universal sign mount

Build Materials

• Sony SLA Machine

• SLA Material used for prototypes

• Size (Large build platform)

• Durability

Testing

Component Life

• Battery should last for approximately 5 Years

• Lights Should last 100,000 hours

• Overall reliable product

Build Cost

- Estimated total cost $101, Expected Sale Price $200

-Part price estimates are based on 20,000 parts

Packaging

• Medium size USPS Flat rate box

• Foam insert that holds parts securely during the shipping process

• Once package arrives there is minimal assembly required

Shipping

• Light assemblies will be sent using the USPS flat rate boxes

• Shipping domestically will be a flat rate of $10.35 USD

• Could also be shipped in pallets for approximately $150

Future Modifications and Adaptations

• Use “one-way” clips to secure arms to electronics box to keep theft to a minimum.

• Only two arms vs. four to allow for streets with only one sign

• Use a smaller more efficient battery

• Solar panel that follows the sunlight and gathers maximum energy

• Include Cell Phone Signal repeaters

Questions?