SEOUL DESIGN AWARD

Torpedo is a resilient, maintenance-free lifeline designed for sustainable humanitarian aid as climate disasters intensify, power grids fail, and supply chains are disrupted. Traditional emergency lights often fail when stored batteries self-discharge, and solar lamps are useless without sunlight, creating expiration anxiety. Torpedo solves this using innovative Magnesium-Air technology that remains completely inert for over 10 years in storage. It consumes no energy ordinarily and activates instantly upon contact with water when needed. It can use fresh, saline, or even contaminated water as the activation electrolyte, effectively responding to disaster situations like floods by turning floodwater into an energy source. Even when the surrounding environment is polluted and traditional energy supply is cut off, it secures light using water easily obtainable at the site. A single replaceable cartridge delivers 80 lumens of light for approximately 150 hours, with a range of up to 34 meters.

The product's form and usage methods were also designed considering emergency situations. Featuring a drop-shaped, ergonomic body with a pivot mechanism, it can convert from a directional torch held in hand to an ambient lamp standing on the floor. By applying a modular structure where the cartridge can be replaced without separate tools, it ensures rapid deployment and continuous reusability in disaster fields. Combining portability and installation into a single light, it increases the utility of limited relief supplies.

Environmental impacts were also considered down to the product's materials and post-use phase. The main body is constructed from recycled PET and coated recycled aluminum, and the Magnesium-Air cartridge leaves non-toxic residues such as magnesium hydroxide and magnesium oxide after use. It reduces the long-term storage and disposal problems of batteries used in conventional emergency lights and extends product lifespan by allowing users to keep the body while replacing only the cartridge. It is a design that simultaneously considers the immediate need for disaster relief and the responsibility of resource circulation and environment.

Torpedo is meaningful for enhancing lighting accessibility, particularly in disaster areas where power and supply chains are unstable. Without relying on power grids or charging facilities, it can be stockpiled for long periods to be utilized as emergency supplies by disaster relief agencies or local communities, securing necessary light even during sudden blackouts or isolation. By lowering dependency on technology and infrastructure while allowing anyone to use it easily, it demonstrates the role of product design for humanitarian relief. Furthermore, based on non-toxic components, recycled materials, and replaceable cartridges, it is designed to be suitable for mass production and long-term stockpiling. Production feasibility has also been secured through industrial partnerships, making it applicable not just to specific regions but to various areas worldwide facing power disruptions from climate disasters like floods and typhoons. Combining an emergency light that can be used immediately when needed after long storage with a circular product structure, Torpedo presents new possibilities for sustainable disaster response products.