Jun 21, 2026
Prototype #3 actually glowed.
We swapped the LED for a real indicator material today and it pulsed teal when the soil dried out. First time the bag of ideas in my head behaved the same way in real life.
Prototype
Ball Hawg
A solar and battery powered self-service kiosk that lets park visitors rent sports equipment when they need it and return it when they're done.
Development progress45%
PlanningIdeaValidationPrototypeTestingManufacturingMarketingDistributionRetail Launch
About the invention
Ball Hawg™ is a solar and battery powered self-service kiosk that allows park visitors to rent sports equipment when they need it and return it when they are finished. The concept was inspired by a common problem: children and families often forget sports equipment at home or leave it behind at the park, where it may be lost, stolen, or removed by park staff. Ball Hawg provides a secure, convenient, and affordable solution that makes sports equipment available on demand while helping parks keep recreational areas organized and accessible. FEATURES • Touchscreen interface, QR code access, cashless payments, mobile app • Electronic locking compartments with RFID tracking and return verification • Solar and battery powered with weather-resistant steel enclosure • Remote inventory, rental tracking, maintenance alerts, revenue reporting PROTOTYPE 5 ft tall, two-column storage, solar roof, touchscreen, capacity for 4–6 balls. REVENUE MODEL Per-rental fees, monthly/family memberships, future equipment sales. TARGET MARKETS Public parks, recreation departments, sports complexes, schools, apartment communities, campgrounds, beaches, HOAs. MISSION Remove barriers to play by making sports equipment available whenever and wherever people want to be active.
The spark · where the idea came from
“Taj would go to the park and sometimes forget his ball, so he first thought about keeping one locked up there. Park rangers explained that anything left at the park needed to be available for public use. Taj then tried leaving a ball with a note and trusting the honor system, but the ball was neglected and eventually stolen. That experience inspired Ball Hawg: a better way to keep sports equipment secure, cared for, and available for everyone to use.”
How to help
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Plan of action
- Sketch the indicator capFirst hand-drawn concept of the glowing cap and how it diffuses light.
- Build a working sensor prototypeBench prototype with a capacitive moisture probe and an LED stand-in.
- Source a bioluminescent dye that is safe for indoor useFind a non-toxic indicator material that fades visibly across the moisture range.
- Run a 30-day test in 10 real homesShip 10 testers and gather feedback on glow visibility at night and in bright rooms.
Bulletin board
Jun 21, 2026
Looking for a horticulturist
We need someone who knows how indoor plants react to soft light at night. If you know anyone, message us.