Application of Dynamos to Eliminate the Use of Disposable Batteries in Children’s Toys in

Canada

Deshpande, Shruti - ID 110124456

Gunti, Hemalatha - ID 110124806
Pastor Pastor, Froilan - ID 110124314
Prajapati, Maulik Baldevbhai - ID 110124439

Faculty of Engineering, University of Windsor

GENG8000 Section 4: Engineering Technical Communications
Prof. Jesse Ziter

July 11, 2023

Application of Dynamos to Eliminate the Use of Disposable Batteries in Children’s Toys in
Canada

Battery-powered ride-on toys for small kids pose environmental challenges due to unsustainable
production, battery disposal issues, and greenhouse gas emissions. The production of these toys
relies on non-renewable resources and energy-intensive manufacturing processes, contributing to
resource depletion and greenhouse gas emissions [1]. Improper battery disposal, such as
discarding them in landfills, results in soil contamination and risks to water sources.
Additionally, the production and disposal of batteries used in these toys contribute to greenhouse
gas emissions [2]. Addressing these concerns is essential to reduce the environmental impact of
battery-powered ride-on toys and promote more sustainable alternatives.
The proposed solution in this overview is called a toy-dynamo prototype. It consists of a small
electrical alternator coupled to a DC rectifier installed in the toy axle or wheel. This prototype is
based on the electro-mechanical principle of energy transformation [3]. For example, when the
user pushes the toy, the device generates direct current (DC) that powers the circuits controlling
the lights and speakers installed within the toy. Initially, the motion of the wheel activates the
toy-dynamo, causing the inner coils to rotate within a fixed electromagnetic field, producing an
alternating electric current (AC) [4]. Since the lights and speakers require DC power, a set of
rectifiers and Zener diodes are needed for this purpose. A modification to the axle and circuit
wiring is required to install the prototype inside the wheel.
The geographical scope of this analysis is limited to Canada since the US and Canada capture
most of the automated toy industry. Given the development and advances in technology, Canada
is one of the biggest manufacturers of toys. Canada's toy industry is projected to rise by 54% by
2030 [5]. There are more than 50% of the manufacturing plants established in Canada to produce
the required components to build dynamos, rectifiers, and Zener diodes. Canada's awareness and
availability of resources to implement proposed solutions are more compared to other East-
Asian continents which makes Canada a suitable geographical area to implement our proposed
product in aspects of business, nature, and technology [6].
With the implementation of the toy-dynamo, the production of the most popular batteries will
decline, and Lithium will be utilized less frequently overall. Consequently, the amount of metal
extracted for battery production will decrease. The metals can also be utilized for sustainable
development by future generations. In this way, the proposed solution apports toward the
achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.
Since the batteries in the toys have been totally removed, less battery waste needs to be disposed
of. To protect the marine ecosystem and soil fertility from dangerous compounds, pollution in the
land, air, and water is decreased. helping to achieve SDGs 12 and 13.
 References

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Environmental Research, vol. 161, pp. 609-614, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.11.055
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_Diesel_Engine
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_dynamo
[5] D. Tighe Mar 13, 2023, “Consumer goods and FMCG” https://www.statista.com/topics/302
6/toy-industry-in-canada/
[6] Braden P. L. Hutchinson, 2013, “Making (Anti)Modern Childhood: Producing and
Consuming Toys in Late Victorian Canada,” https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/scientia/2013-
v36-n1-scientia01468/1025790ar.pdf