The makers behind the Powering the Future winners!
We know that not everyone is able to attend the Powering the Future exhibition in person to see all the invention prototypes in all their glory!
With that in mind, we want to bring the ideas and the makers behind them straight to you. Each wonderful invention has not only a child inventor behind it but also a skilled and talented maker.
Let’s dive deep into each idea and the magnificent makers tasked with bringing them to life.
The Turtle Motorway
By Alice, age 9 from Hebburn, UK
“This invention supports turtles making the crossing from the nesting site to the ocean. The propellor, benefiting from the wind at the coast, charges the motorway which is covered to enable the turtles to pass through.”
Alice’s idea has been brought to life by designer Ellie Birkhead. Not only is Ellie a wonderful artist but she’s also a member of the Little Inventors core team! When asked to bring to life this amazing turtle saving invention, she certainly didn’t disappoint.
Never one to shy away from getting her hands dirty, preparing The Turtle Motorway's sandy beach setting was a key feature in showcasing how Alice’s invention would work. In Ellie's day to day practice, she works with all kinds of materials ranging from wood to clay. She also recycles materials, making use of waste and giving those materials a new lease of life.
By Jack, age 10 from South Shields, UK
“My invention is a solar panel heated homeless shelter. The shelter uses sun energy to create heat for homeless people to sleep in. The shelter has a drinking water fountain that is made from filtered rain water.”
This fantastic design needed to be placed in the right hands and there was none more capable than Ryder Architecture. Born and bred in Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1953, Ryder Architecture consists of teams with diverse and extensive expertise. These expertise were essential in creating this detailed 3D plan of Jack’s solar powered homeless shelter.
By Tommy, age 9 from Hebburn, UK
"It is for everybody to go on as a ride anytime, 20 people can get on it. It picks up litter everywhere and puts it in the back. It works using the wind, the wind pushes it along for 10 days straight. It moves when it is windy, the wind pushes it really hard and it also stores the energy so it can go even when the wind is low."
Steve from North Star Shipping worked with Chartwell Marine to bring to life Tommy's brilliant Litter Picker Boat! Steve is an ex-seafarer who now works ashore managing a fleet of ships working in offshore wind farms. North Star operates the largest UK-owned fleet engaged in the UK’s offshore industry in the North Sea. Captain Tommy’s boat mechanics and engineering is detailed in this thorough plan.
By Bo, age 10 from South Shields, UK
"This is for all those people who hate being cold. As you shiver the movement is harnessed in the wristbands which then generates a heater which will warm you up."
Seasoned maker for Little Inventors, Chloe Rodham, worked her magic and brought to life Bo’s fantastic heating device. Chloe is an animator and model-maker based in Northumberland. She combines digital animation techniques with more traditional methods like stop motion. This magical process has been carried out when working on Bo’s idea.
By Isaac, age 9 from South Shields, UK
"The propellers will spin in the wind as the car moves which will then provide electricity, which will power the radio and sat nav. This is also a safety feature because it can power the rear and front headlights. Also, the propellers are underneath the mirrors so it doesn't obstruct the driver's view."
Ford Aerospace are award-winning, global specialists in the high precision machining and pressing of parts and sub assemblies for the aerospace, industrial, and other high-technology sectors. Ford were the perfect people to engineer Isaac’s wind powered invention!
By Joey, age 10 from Boldon Colliery, UK
"The Toilet Turbine 2000 is for everyone. Everyone uses the toilet, so I made this. When you flush the toilet, it powers a turbine which can be used to power lots of homes."
Not many minds would be able to put together an idea like this with such patience and precision. Inventor and Retired Engineer John Parnum was tasked with bringing to life Joey’s idea. He creates machines using wood, aluminum, plastic, DC motors, batteries, servos, sensors & Arduinos.
