Switzerland.
A railway tests solar panels between its rails. A drone is built for heat. A mechanical watch coordinates two timers with one control. Swiss examples reveal how a specific constraint can focus an invention.
Start with Scewo BRO.
A different way past the stairs.
A Swiss wheelchair combines travel on two wheels with tracked movement on suitable stairs, bringing another option to everyday access.
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The robot makes the upper.
Developed by Swiss brand On, LightSpray uses a robotic process to form a lightweight shoe upper directly around a foot-shaped mould.
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A second use for a working railway.
A Swiss pilot places removable photovoltaic panels between the rails of an operating passenger line, testing energy production alongside railway maintenance.
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A mechanical handover between stopwatches.
Two stopwatches are useful. A shared control gives them a different kind of usefulness.
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A drone built around a hostile environment.
Send a camera into heat that would ground an ordinary drone.
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A suitcase that loses its frame after the trip.
The suitcase can lose its bulk after the journey. FREITAG’s ZIPPELIN uses an inflatable support structure and removable wheels, allowing a large travel bag to pack down for storage.
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The neighbour with a drill might be next door.
Small stickers on a mailbox show neighbours which tools and other occasional-use objects a household is willing to lend.
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Separate a useful resource before it is diluted.
The effect that makes a teapot dribble can help a toilet separate urine. LAUFEN save! uses the bowl’s shape to guide a slower stream into a separate outlet. The original model is now listed as discontinued.
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Recover the heat before the water leaves.
A shower drain recovers heat from outgoing water to warm the clean water arriving at the same time.
Read the storyAn editorial starting point for exploring Switzerland, not a ranking or a comprehensive national survey.