We Love Lucy, the Robotic Sunlight Reflector
Place the orb in a spot (inside or outside) where it can catch some rays, then point it in the direction you want to illuminate. You can also set the desired point via your smartphone. Through an algorithm based on a photosensor, Lucy automatically follows the movement of the sun and delivers up to 7,000 lumens of natural light. Thus one could save energy by keeping lamps turned off.
Lucy was invented by Diva Tommei, the CEO of Solenica, when she attended Cambridge University to work on her PhD in Bioinformatics. The lack of sunlight there made her develop Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression related to changes in seasons.
Aside from bringing a healthy does of sunlight into your home, Lucy is an object of minimalist beauty and, so says Solenica, “a single installation of the device can reduce a user’s carbon footprint by up to one ton per year.” Being powered by photovoltaic (solar) cells, it requires no electricity and is an attractive, self-contained sphere without ugly cables or wires that would distract from its globe-like Italian design.
Solenica works on devising smart lighting solutions. Their mission is the “empowerment of happiness and health through design and technology.” They were chosen to join the first Qualcomm Robotics Accelerator, along with nine other startups, to receive assistance in growing their robotics. Lucy ($199) is available for pre-order.