Tag Archives: pod

These solar-powered sleeping pods were designed to provide homeless people shelter in winter!

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There are an estimated 860,000 homeless people in Germany and it is a well-known fact that the winter there is brutal! No one should be suffering out in the cold and to help the circumstances, a German-based team of designers and developers called Ulmer Nest have created sleeping pods that are windproof + waterproof. These pods are to be installed across the German city of Ulm to provide the homeless with emergency shelter at night. What started as a local project is now getting attention from all over the world so that it can be scaled and replicated.

The sleeping pods are called Ulmer Nest and provide a safe, warm place to sleep in winter. The interdisciplinary design team did intensive research to get accurate insight and sentiment analysis about the audience who will be using the pod. They found that many people can’t stay in dedicated homeless shelters for various reasons like them not wanting to be separated from their dog or the fear of crime and violence. Keeping this in mind they worked on the first two Ulmer Nest prototypes.

These capsules are crafted from timber and steel which are resilient and protect against harsh weather. Ulmer Nest pods are fitted with solar panels and a set of sensors that monitor temperature, humidity, smoke, and carbon dioxide levels. It also has a heat exchanger to supply fresh air and maintain circulation. Motion sensors also replace the need for cameras while protecting privacy but also making sure that social workers can be alerted in case the situation demands it because overnight stays are not allowed. Two people can sleep in the pod at a time and take cover from rain, frost, and humidity. It is also connected to a radio network so the person using the pod can get in touch with the team managing it if needed. Ulmer volunteers clean the pod each day to make sure hygiene is maintained and also why powder-coated metal was used in the design to make it easy-to-clean. These pods take safety seriously and are protected against fire, it includes an electronic verification system that enables the person to lock it from inside.

Ulm saw its very first sleeping pods in the winter of 2020. Given how that year changed things, the design has been upgraded and testing continues to make sure it is efficient and reliable. Ulmer Nest is the last resort option for those who cannot find shelter anywhere else.

Designers: Patrick Kaczmarek, Florian Geiselhart, Falko Pross, Manuel Schall, Dirk Bayer, and Kathrin Uhlig.

The New Car for London is an autonomous ride hailing pod that draws inspiration from it’s architecture!

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Ride-hailing autonomous vehicles are the trend for automotive manufacturers and design firms alike, given the future-forward dimension, they add to safely commuting in and around cities. Design company PriestmanGoode has also unveiled their vision of a ride-sharing self-driving vehicle specifically tailored for London and takes inspiration from the rich architectural landmarks of one of the world’s most sought out cities. More than just a vehicle to commute from point A to B that’s an hour’s distance apart, the concept turns attention to a wide variety of use case scenarios. The most intriguing scenario is as an alternate for administering basic medical aid to a person in need until the first responders arrive.

PriestmanGoode calls this ride-hailing concept the New Car for London. And as Paul Priestman, the Chairman of PriestmanGoode said in a press release – their experience in designing First Class aircraft interiors and the public transport sector has helped them create a practical blueprint of their vision for an autonomous vehicle that has future mobility at the core keeping in mind ease of maintenance. Adding the dimension of London influenced inspiration for the ride, Dan Window, the Creative Director at PriestmanGoode exclaimed that the New Car for London will coexist alongside the city’s present transportation icons – the double-decker bus and the black cab. The architectural influence is evident from the minimal geometric form of the 3.6 meters long spacious ride and its angular details. The glazing all around gives the passengers riding, feeling of airiness and a good view of the city.

The interiors are as important as the exterior and this one comes with a customizable motion actuated lamp controlled via an app to tailor the ambiance, wireless charging dock, app-controlled rotating table for the workable area, umbrella stand with integrated dryer, and more. For maximum flexibility in ride options, it’ll have two premium seats (having pull out leg rests) with enough space to keep luggage or even a bicycle. Keeping hygiene in mind, there is a hand sanitizer dispenser and integrated UV cleaning light to sanitize the interiors after every journey. For the emergency, New Car for London has an advanced first aid kit too.

Apparently, this is not the first time PriestmanGoode has ventured on the idea of a ride-hailing concept as the modular vehicle designed for Dromos unveiled in 2020 is a good example of their practical futuristic vision. The autonomous vehicle usable both as a ride-sharing vehicle and cargo hauler is currently under development and the New Car for London is the logical progression in PriestmanGoode’s progression towards a future where autonomous ride-sharing will be the norm!

Designer: PriestmanGoode

The Nissan Caravan Office Pod is a portable workstation + camper to help retain your work-life balance

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One of the most surprising trends of 2020 has been the demand for campers and trailers in the market that vouch to enhance your adventure experience while providing you with a cozy space to sleep at night. Not only that, you can carry loads of gear and other luxuries like a full-blown kitchen to always feel at home while out in the majestic natural settings. So, what about professionals who are workaholics – craving a personal space while experiencing the most beautiful landscapes? After all working from one place all the time can be downright boring, isn’t it?

Nissan NV350 Caravan Office Pod Concept is your ticket to freedom when it comes to working productively after witnessing the most mesmerizing sunset from your favorite picturesque location on the outskirts of the city or maybe even on an adventure trip. The mobile office pod housed inside the back of the electric van is something you’ll be so desperate to jump right into. In ways, it can rival the most jaw-dropping work from home setups without a semblance of doubt. The smartphone-controlled office pulls out from the back of the van out in the open and is for sure a dope for people who love working amidst natural settings. It has one button touch retracting or expanding motion for the whole office pod, electrically actuated shades, and a glove box loaded with UV antibacterial lamp for hygiene. For working comfort, there’s a Herman Miller Cosm chair, a polycarbonate floor embedded with a display to set a naturally liberating screensaver, and an ambient light setting that can be toggled according to your liking. They say inspiration is the requisite for unleashing your creativity and we see no better way to get inspired and remain inspired by than to drive to your favorite location or camping grounds and make the most of our current work from home situation.

When you’ve worked enough for the day or simply want to take a short break between work, just climb on top of the luxurious roof balcony with a rooftop deck for relaxing in style. This area can be accessed from inside the vehicle for that much elusive personal freedom and solitude. This caravan has been released at the Virtual Auto Salon 2021 as a part of the new avenues for electric vehicles. The Office Pod Concept on the Nissan NV350 Caravan is one of them, and boy is it impressive. I’m already getting imaginative with the scenarios this caravan can bring to the fore. Working was never this much fun and exciting!

Designer: Nissan

This autonomous single-rider pod connects with like-minded strangers to encourage social interactions during commute

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In the modern-day world, we have got isolated from social interaction especially when we talk of solo drives to the nearest city or the usual commute in your vehicle. Just imagine how interesting it would be to have fellow riders on the highway bubble up in a social swarm of riders for interesting social interaction. A future where autonomous vehicles are designed in such a way that they can form a swarm-like formation to have interesting conversations while homing in on your destination without having to worry about a thing.

Chuan Jiang’s Concept Bubble takes us closer to that future, aiming to break the social barriers, and turn the increased number of vehicle-centered space on the streets into a human-centered space. This permits natural communications while also keeping in mind the transportation needs in today’s busy lifestyle. The concept makes even more sense since gradually automotive manufacturers are shifting focus towards mobility services. Chuan’s idea was fueled by the observation that if a medium is put between soap bubbles they merge together. Likewise, his bi-directional pod for solo mobility also merges with other like-minded people on the road.

Concept Bubble is designed to cocoon the rider in comfort with a laidback riding position, and the cushioned seat moves in 360 degrees orientation for flexibility in social interactions with other such riders. The internet-enabled autonomous pod is connected with all the other Bubble riders, and one can shout out for interaction on any subject for others to join in. It’s an interesting way to break the ice and start-off new acquaintances with strangers without even leaving the safety of your pod. If things get uncomfortable, you can simply move on without having to worry about a thing.

Designer: Chuan Jiang

UV-C enabled coat-hanger helps sanitize your coat and belongings as you enter your home

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The pandemic gave Sergio Spinel, an interior architect and furniture designer, a very unique opportunity to relook his craft as something that’s more than what most people perceive it as. Decor serves a very fixed set of purposes, combining form and function, but with COVID-19, Spinel realized his decor could promote safety too. Meet the POD, the coat-hanger reinvented.

Calling the POD a coat-hanger seems a little reductionist, now that I think of it. The device gives you a place to hang your coats, hats, place your shoes, store/charge your phone, keep your keys, and even provide a dedicated hook for your face-mask. Designed to be the last piece of furniture you interact with on your way out, and the first when you return from the outdoors, the POD stores your belongings, while also sanitizing them with PCO and UVC technology. The vertical wood-veneer pillar comes with a sliding door that opens when you approach it (thanks to a motion sensor at its base), revealing the organizing space within. Hooks give you a place to hang your coat, hats, and even your masks, while a tray at waist-level provides the perfect place to keep your wallet/purse, keys, and even wirelessly charge your smartphone.

The POD uses a variety of technologies to upgrade the furniture experience into something that explores the word ‘functional’ more literally. The sliding door ensures you never really have to touch the POD, and a partnership with California-based IRTRONIX gives POD state-of-the-art sanitizing tech. Once the door of the POD closes, a combination of photocatalytic air filtration along with UV-C rays helps kill microorganisms that may be lingering on the surface of your clothes and EDC, while even eliminating odor-molecules too, making your coat, hat, shoes, and masks fresh again, while ensuring your wallet, keys, and purse are germ-free, and your phone is sanitized and charged. A typical POD cycle will run 2 hours unless you interrupt the cycle.

Available in 3 sizes, the POD approaches furniture with a very different design brief. Its wooden pillar-esque form feels visually commanding, while also complementing the space, and the POD even works as an ambient floor-lamp when it isn’t actively disinfecting your belongings. However, this novel approach and avant-garde tech comes at a price. The POD Mini retails for $810 a piece, while Magnus, the largest variant, can cost as much as $1595. Some may say it’s perhaps too expensive for the average home, but I can totally see the POD finding its place in hotel rooms and the like!

Designer: Sergio Spinel

Renault’s switchable cabin pod comes with 2 design interiors to perfect the work-life balance

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Urban spaces are getting constricted by the day, and the situation isn’t going to improve in the near future by the look of things. There are countless design iterations that aim to get over this predicament when it comes to mobility in the overcrowded streets. One thing that could however change is the way we balance our work and leisure life. Can’t it be more seamless, set up in a personal space that makes traversing from one place to the other complete fun?

Designer Jun Young Kim’s Renault E.O (Everybody Own Your Space) is a hyper pod of the future – which is more like a second home – giving one the flexibility to be ultra-productive in a distraction-free ambient environment or simply relax with family and friends enjoying the visual elements that traverse you to a place of calm and serenity. The smart glass encapsulating the upper section of the pod can be set to any natural environment mimicking the scene to isolate yourself from the chaos of the outside world. It has two separate modes – Working Day and Resting Day which have interiors tailored for the specific profile. The former is more airy and casual while the latter has a professional set up with things like a movable display and focus aiding distraction-free setup.

The whole idea of this concept design by Jun is to give the user the utmost freedom while in commute to wind-up in a relaxed space or be ready for a quick meeting with an important client. What’s more, the two cabin modes can be ordered as and when required or even exchanged from the service provider. These cabins fit as easily as a Lego piece in the movable pod, so you could be in the beast mode for the complete week and then exchange it up for the weekends to get some quaint time. If you can own both the cabins, what better than that!

Designer: Jun Young Kim

Watch Einride’s autonomous truck take on the ‘Top Gear’ track

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Einride recently revealed its revamped autonomous delivery truck, which is more aerodynamic than the previous version. To give a glimpse of the Pod in action, the Einride team put the AV through its paces on the Top Gear track in Surrey, England.It’s...

The Nissan Dodgy looks like a pod-vehicle designed for terraformed Mars

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Henry Ford famously said about his car “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” The car itself was a big shift from horse-pulled chariots that existed before, and it took a shift in thinking to achieve the cars we have today. Look at the Nissan Dodgy concept and it looks like the next paradigm shift in transportation.

The Nissan Dodgy by Burov Design resembles a car no doubt, in that it has space for a driver and runs on four wheels, but it visually looks nothing like the cars we see on the roads. For starters, it’s dominated by an unusual affinity for spherical forms. The car itself is spherical in shape, and even has spherical wheels that rotate in all directions, giving the car freedom to move in any direction without rotating. (Remember the Audi RSQ from the film I, Robot?)

The car’s spherical cabin provides ample space for one person, with a panoramic windscreen that stretches all the way to the top, and large glass panels on the doors that give the Dodgy’s driver increased visibility in almost all directions (perhaps because the car can move in multiple directions too). The dashboard features a standard steering wheel system, although a slight glimpse of it shows multiple icons on the wheel, suggesting that the steering is actually a circular display.

So where would one drive the Nissan Dodgy? Well, that isn’t entirely apparent right now, considering the car is just conceptual… but I do see it being the norm in a distant future where motors, batteries, and components can fit right into the underbelly of a vehicle, resulting in a smaller vehicle that’s less car-shaped and more pod-shaped. The overall circular design? That seems like an aesthetic flair… but something does make me think the pod would look better in a futuristic setup. Perhaps on a red planet?

Designer: Burov Design

Mercedes Benz-inspired futuristic delivery robot brings essential supplies home

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The world is grappling with COVID-19 ever since this year’s onset, making social-distancing the current norm. The situation isn’t going to improve any time soon, leaving us all digging for alternative ways to reduce human contact. Nobody knows what the future holds for all of us – perhaps the apt time to ponder over mindful product designs that shape the way we live in our society.

This concept design by artist Jakob Payk wants to solve the predicament of deliveries – sans any human contact – in a very safe manner. Jakob has levied the Mercedes Benz brand tag to create the EQ Delivery Pod which is a compact robotic four-wheeled pod for safely transporting parcels from one place to the other. This last-mile delivery robot is more or so like the Amazon Scout delivery robot – just that it is much futuristic in its looks. The designer envisions this delivery pod to operate in the urban dwellings – moving important things like groceries, supplies and critical medication to the masses.

EQ Delivery Pod is totally contact-free as it is app operated, and can only be opened by scanning the QR Code by the intended user. Moving swiftly on the sidewalks, the battery-operated self-driving robot is penned-down with a very balanced thoughtfulness. Truly, it gives a sneak-peak into the future of urban spaces, where social-distancing will be the accepted, new normal.

Designer: Jakob Payk

This meditation pod for workplaces reduces anxiety and helps you focus, improving productivity!

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Looking like a portal from the future, or perhaps, some other inhabitable planet – this meditation pod is a godsent installation for current stressful times. Designed in a way to lend you the much needed “me time” the pod is the brain-child of OpenSeed. They believe that the “human race will access higher states of awareness, not through external technological developments, but by taking the journey within.” And their meditation pods are conceptualized with that core intention.

In the chaotic city life, where one doesn’t get a chance to revitalize, OpenSeed has a cool reason to recharge your mind, body, and soul even in crowded spaces. Ideally made for workplaces, luxury hotels, airport lounges, and public settings – this meditation pod is an amalgam of visual, audio, and sensory input for the user to calm down and take the journey inwards. The womb-shaped design aims to quiet the mind chatter and elevate performance for increased productivity. To achieve this, OpenSeed has got a tested and ideal mix of therapeutic ambient sounds matched with the lighting and essential oils to transition the senses to a happy state.

To get the maximum benefits, one can use the pod solo by sitting in a cross-legged position or even three people can simultaneously use it for group therapy. One can opt for the audio via headphones or choose to experience calmness with the immersive concealed speakers. If you’re already worried about exhaustion, the insulated pod has a temperature-controlled environment courtesy four fans. OpenSeed has been mindful enough to fit it with sanitizing UV lights because of the changing times and the urge for personal hygiene more than ever.

The pod structure is made out of plywood and the interiors have felt which provide able noise isolation. There is a touchscreen tablet for selecting the guided meditations and sound therapies to immerse you in the experience completely. According to OpenSeed, the standing pod will carry a price tag of $25,000 for the standard version and another $2,000 for the premium variant which comes with an advanced sound package.

Designer: OpenSeed