Volta
Volta, 2015, Woodworking, Digital Fabrication, Electronics, 3 x 2 x 2 ft.
Volta is a modernized take on the traditional rocking chair that harvests energy and information from its users. The chair is completely self-sustaining as it utilizes the energy generated through the motion of rocking to power the chair’s electronics. Furthermore, through the use of a mobile app and a Bluetooth Low Energy Microprocessor, Volta interacts with whomever is sitting in it and communicates information about his or her energy production. The electronics are housed in a handcrafted base constructed from a blend of walnut and cherry lumber.
Volta was made as a group project in a class called Interactive Seating Design, a pilot Jacob's Institute for Design Innovation course at UC Berkeley.
Julia Solano, B.S. Mechanical Engineering (2016)
Nick Firmani, B.A., Applied Mathematics (2016)
Matthew Cheung, B.S., Mechanical Engineering (2018)