Speculative design concept
The "Aura" case is designed for use in space, to make a wholly basic health routine easier and better. The idea came from a constant curiosity about the future of humanity and where we are heading, given that colonising Mars appears to be gathering momentum. From there I asked myself what the most common means of transport to that destination would be — a spacecraft — which became the setting for a dental kit made for astronauts.
The idea centres on a compact case holding the essentials: toothbrush, solid toothpaste and a self-cleaning system, all aimed at minimising water use, which is severely limited in space. Solid toothpaste is there to control dosage and keep quantities fixed — 25 tablets — so no excess material is carried, since weight is tightly controlled and space aboard is minimal. Both the upper head and the tablets can be refilled; the 25 are calculated to cover a week of brushing, three times a day.
The design draws on the aesthetics and the idea of the future and of space, using joints that recall the docking couplings between spacecraft. The composition is vertical, both to stay coherent with how the brush is used and because the parts themselves call for it. Aura can also be personalised to the user's preferred colour, with up to four combinations.
Features
- Electric case
- USB-C charging
- UV-light self-cleaning system
- Storage for solid toothpaste
- Top handle for holding the kit
- Refill system to save material
Materials
- Plastic (ABS)
- Plastic (TPU)
- Plastic (HDPE)
- Silicone
- Nylon
Electrical components
- 1000 mAh battery
- Mainboard (with button)
- Gear
- Motor
- USB-C port + board
- UV LEDs
Abstract
Have you ever wondered how dental cleaning is performed in space? As you might expect, maintaining daily dental hygiene is a basic necessity for ensuring good health and preventing certain infections that could affect our bodies, regardless of the situation we are in. This implies that, despite being in exceptional circumstances, it is necessary to maintain good hygiene to avoid infections or other complications, since astronauts have limited resources once they are on an expedition. Therefore, with this project, we will examine the challenges and difficulties encountered in this field, and it is intriguing to direct innovation towards a new world (Mars). Finally, to carry out the project, I have opted for several methodologies that provided insights into the type of product and design that would meet the objectives: an electric toothbrush with self-cleaning bacteria capabilities and the use of toothpaste to moderate water usage in space.
Keywords: Dental hygiene, new scenarios, dosage, functionality, and intuitive.