By Peter Grisby, Source: Inhabitat
ApparatusX
State College, PA — Students at Penn State are turning a trailer into an off-grid disaster relief shelter that will be well-suited for both first-response, as well as long-term aid. The trailer, called Apparatus X, will have a “green wall” for food, a rainwater collection/filtration system, and an array of solar panels. It will be completely expandable, able to convert an empty lot into a construction site. It will also include a design studio and tool storage. Currently, the team is raising the finances required to build the project. Apparatus X is already sponsored by IBM and Boeing, but the main source of funds will be a campaign on Indiegogo, which launched on April 2nd. Although the team is currently working on the prototype, they’re envisioning an entire fleet of Apparatus X vehicles in the near future. Ultimately, the team hopes to redefine disaster relief in a way that is sustainable, mobile, and effective.