Generating Sustainable Energy for Farmers
Green Sole
Runner-up in Design Hackathon 2024
Role
Lead UI/UX Designer
Duration
48 hours
Skills
User Research
Prototype Exploration
3D Modelling
Interaction Design
In India, farmers walk an astonishing 14,000 steps daily, but this effort often goes unrecognized. With each step, they face the challenge of increasing soil productivity while seeking sustainable energy solutions.The intent was to design boots that generate electricity and aerate the soil with each step!Triangular metallic blades in the sole aerate the soil with each step, enhancing crop yield. Embedded piezoelectric sensors convert footfalls into electrical energy, storing about 14 Watt hours daily. This energy powers irrigation, lighting, or acts as backup, transforming every step into a step forward for sustainable farming.
Why Green Sole?
RESEARCH
20%
Contribution of agriculture to India's GDP
52%
Employment of Indian workforce in agricullture
70%
Rural households depending primarily on agriculture
82%
Small and marginal farmers in India
INTENT
Designing boots that generate electricity and aerate the soil with each step!
Wearing the boots in the morning before going to the fields
Triangular spikes in the boots help in aerating and loosening the soil
Piezoelectric sensors in the soles convert the mechanical energy of each step into electrical energy
Each step taken and energy generated is displayed to motivate users
The hidden battery storing the generated energy is removed at the end of the day
The battery is used to power irrigation and lighting in the farm fields
Designing the Boots
IDEATION
The idea was to convert the mechanical energy of each footstep into electric energy using piezoelectric sensors in the boots.
Triangular blades in the sole (shaped like ploughs) could help in the aeration of soil.
PROTOTYPING
How does it work?
Phase 1: Making the piezoelectric layer
Soldering
In the prototype, holes were cut into the sole and piezoelectric sensors were inserted. These were connected in parallel by soldering and attached to an LED. Foam cushioning was given for each sensor.
Phase 2: Designing and 3D printing the sole
3D Printing
The sole was 3D printed with triangular blades at the bottom to aerate and loosen the soil. Foam cushioning was added on top of the sole to absorb the pressure of each step.
Phase 3: Adjusting the prototype and testing
Testing
The piezoelectric layer was added on top of the 3D printed sole. When pressure was applied on the prototype, the LED lit up indicating that energy was getting generated.
LED emits light when pressure is applied on the piezoelectric sensors confirming that the mechanical energy of each footstep is getting converted to electrical energy
Bringing everything together
The Bridge between the invisible effort and visible impact
From Steps to Impact
When you first dive into the platform, you’re greeted with a daily activity snapshot that displays how far you walked, how many steps you took, and how much electricity your movement generated today. A live counter translates steps into watts, making energy production tangible and easy to understand.
The impact is displayed as energy generated, distance covered, amount of water saved through drip irrigation and the quantity of soil aerated, making the effect of each step visible.
Visualizing Energy Over Time
Beyond daily activity, the app tracks energy generation over time, presenting trends across days, weeks, and months. Simple, accessible visualizations show how much electricity has been produced and where it can be used, whether for irrigation, lighting, or backup power. By tying energy metrics directly to real farm applications, the app connects abstract units like watt-hours to tangible outcomes.
Mapping the Land You Walk
Switching to the map view, the app visualizes your movement across the land. GPS-tracked paths trace where you’ve walked throughout the day, slowly building a layered map of your fields. Over time, these paths become a visual archive of labor, revealing patterns of work, seasonal rhythms, and the scale of effort invested in tending the land.
Know Your Boots
To support durability and self-repair, the app includes a clear component view of the boots. A simple breakdown of each component shows how the boots work, how to care for them, and what to check when something isn’t working as expected. Step-by-step guidance makes it easy to fix common issues and keep the boots running reliably in the field.
Through Community
To foster motivation and community, the app introduces a leaderboard and milestones system. Farmers can track personal achievements, unlock milestones for consistent effort, and view high scores based on steps taken, energy generated, or land covered. With the option to compare progress with neighboring farmers, the system encourages friendly competition while reinforcing a sense of shared purpose and collective contribution.