Just days after hurricane Katrina had forced thousands of people out of their homes, Michael McDaniel, at the time a principal designer at Frog, invented the Exo. The Exo is a portable, easy to ship and easy to assemble shelter that houses up to four people. Last month, Reaction Inc., the company that McDaniel set up to make the Exo, raised 3,5 million dollar of a planned 11 million dollar financing.
The Exo is designed for a quick delivery of comfortable and safe shelter solutions after disasters like Katrina. With 32,5 million people displaced after disasters worldwide every year, the need for such shelters is undeniable.
The Exo shells stack like coffee cups – that actually were the initial inspiration for the design. This means that they are easily stored and transported. One shell can be moved by four men and is quickly assembled onto a base. Beds are included in the shell and just fold down from the wall.
An Exo shell is equipped with power outlets, LED lightning, climate control and technology that provides an electronic lock. Power has still to come from the power grid or generators, but the design looks apt for incorporating solar panels in the future.
The video is from a previous crowd funding action