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Through analysis of social care networks, presented at the 2024 Sunbelt Conference by several members of our OSB team and Teri Garstka, Director of the KU Social Innovation Lab, we've gained a deeper understanding of how network structures underpin the strength and resilience of systems.
In September 2024, Orange Sparkle Ball launched a pilot testing the autonomous robotic pickup of plastic bags for recycling in partnership with Intermode and Refraction AI, with support from the North Corktown Neighborhood Association. The collected plastic bags were processed by the Recycle Here! facility. This pilot was successfully completed in October 2024.
Inclusive Innovation initiatives are a powerful catalyst for collaboration, connecting entrepreneurial communities, businesses, local governments, and academic institutions. These initiatives focus on equitable resource distribution, leadership, and ecosystem building, unlocking solutions that address the unique challenges of communities.
As of Friday, November 22nd, Orange Sparkle Ball has launched their fourth and final Michigan-funded pilot created to explore the use of autonomous robots for multi-material pickup. In this pilot, we are collecting (1) plastic bags for recycling, a material not currently accepted through curbside city recycling services, (2) small electronics for refurbishment, and (3) commercial food waste for processing into bioplastics.
At the core of every successful innovation process is one key element: people. Innovation isn't just about technology or processes—it begins with empowering individuals to think differently and collaborate effectively. At Orange Sparkle Ball (OSB), we believe that innovation is a human endeavor.
How do you know if you’re making enduring change at scale?
At the University of Kansas Social Innovation Lab and Orange Sparkle Ball, we have been partnering on research to understand ecosystems. As a result of this work, we’re excited to release the first in a series of white papers focused on ecosystem evaluation. If you’re an ecosystem builder, this one’s for you!
How do you know if you’re making the best decision possible or acting on the most complete data? Short answer: you don’t. We all act on the best information we have and adapt as new information comes along. That being said, there are some approaches to gathering information that can ensure you are receiving a more comprehensive look.
Inclusive innovation ecosystems are essential drivers of equitable and sustainable growth. At their core, these ecosystems are dynamic networks that foster an environment where diverse individuals and organizations, regardless of their background or circumstance, can fully participate and thrive.
In today's fast-paced world of innovation, staying ahead means being adaptable, connected, and always curious about what's next. Industries are evolving at breakneck speed, driven by tech advances, shifts in consumer values, and the pursuit of smarter, more sustainable solutions.
September 10-12 marked the return of Dayton Startup Week to downtown Dayton, a significant gathering for the region's entrepreneurial community. This event, filled with powerful talks, workshops, and networking opportunities, showcased the dynamic and emerging ecosystem taking shape in real-time. As OSB emerges as an industry leader in ecosystem measurement, our engagement in this new ecosystem provides an opportunity to apply our expertise in analyzing and fostering innovation, helping to catalyze growth, collaboration, and sustainable development within the local startup community.
Orange Sparkle Ball has officially received a 2nd Transportation Innovation Zone (TIZ) Permit for piloting the autonomous robotic pickup of household materials for end-of-life processing in the Corktown region of Detroit in partnership with Intermode with support from the North Corktown Neighborhood Association.
Orange Sparkle Ball is thrilled to announce the expansion of our innovative robotic pickup platform, designed to revolutionize waste management and recycling in the Detroit community. We will be partnering with Intermode and Refraction AI to explore the use of autonomous robots for the pickup of household materials and proper end-of-life processing. Over the next month, we will be launching new material offerings for pickup, including plastic bags, small electronics, and food waste.
Orange Sparkle Ball received a Transportation Innovation Zone (TIZ) Permit for piloting the autonomous robotic pickup of food waste for composting in the Corktown area of Detroit in partnership with Ottonomy and Scrap Soils with support from Brother Nature Farm and the North Corktown Neighborhood Association. This pilot has successfully concluded, and results have been compiled into a case study and pilot video.
The Partnership for Inclusive Innovation is partnering with Orange Sparkle Ball to implement project-centered Innovation Coaching as a core offering of their upcoming Partnership Leaders Program; a 6-month long engagement designed to provide participants with a soft onboarding to inclusive Tech-Based Economic Development and entrepreneurial ecosystem development.
Introducing Penny Pickup by Orange Sparkle Ball - a platform where autonomous and micromobility solutions can be hailed specifically for various material and waste product types and redistributed to the most viable, sustainable destination to ensure their proper reuse, recycling, refurbishment, and redistribution.
Last month, several of our OSB team members and Teri Garstka, Director of the KU Social Innovation Lab, presented at the 2024 Sunbelt Conference hosted by the International Network for Social Network Analysis!
Last month, OSB team members Ashley Touchton, Amy Qu, Michaela Bonnett, and Nix Fisch had the great pleasure of presenting at the Middle Georgia Regional Library to share the results of our Macon Ecosystem Mapping.
As part of Orange Sparkle Ball’s programming during the Detroit Month of Design festival, we’ll be hosting a panel discussion highlighting the importance of city government and community partnerships in successful technology piloting.
Orange Sparkle Ball is excited to announce our acceptance as an exhibitor at the 2024 Detroit Month of Design, and to the first ever Detroit Month of Design Mobility track! Our demo on September 7th will showcase the Autonomous Robotic Pickup Platform we are currently piloting in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit.
Orange Sparkle Ball is excited to announce our participation in the upcoming Design Core Detroit event, Drinks x Design at the Dequindre Cut Freight Yard! Drinks x Design offers an opportunity for creative businesses throughout the city to open their doors and share their work with the public. This upcoming Drinks x Design session will feature Detroit-based organizations and individuals moving the needle in the Equitable Mobility space.
This blog features frequently asked questions Orange Sparkle Ball has been asked about our Autonomous Robotic Pickup Platform being launched in Detroit, Michigan. Orange Sparkle Ball was awarded a Real World Deployment Grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation's Office of Future Mobility and Electrification. This grant is enabling us to put our Autonomous Robotic Pickup Platform into action through a series of pilots in the Transportation Innovation Zone of Detroit, established by the Office of Mobility Innovation at The City of Detroit.
Orange Sparkle Ball has officially received a Transportation Innovation Zone (TIZ) Permit for piloting the autonomous robotic pickup of food waste for composting in the Corktown region of Detroit in partnership with Ottonomy and Scrap Soils with support from Brother Nature Farm.
Orange Sparkle Ball was awarded a Real World Deployment Grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation's Office of Future Mobility and Electrification. This grant is enabling us to put our Autonomous Robotic Pickup Platform into action through a series of pilots in the Transportation Innovation Zone of Detroit, established by the Office of Mobility Innovation at The City of Detroit.
Earlier this month, the OSB team had the great opportunity to attend the Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting, hosted at Jekyll Island!
Working directly with those affected by your challenge is crucial in order to effectively solve it. From getting a clear understanding of what stakeholders have experienced, to accurately seeing the challenge space, to co-designing a solution, engaging with stakeholders can be incorporated at every step. Sophie Becker reflects on the best practices of these sessions and what we can learn from them as facilitators.
Recently some of our teammates had the privilege of attending the Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design LaunchPad event. LaunchPad is an end-of-semester showcase where both graduate and undergraduate students display their remarkable projects crafted throughout the semester.
The Partnership for Inclusive Innovation is partnering with Orange Sparkle Ball to implement project-centered Innovation Coaching as a core offering of their upcoming Partnership Leaders Program; a 6-month long engagement designed to provide participants with a soft onboarding to inclusive Tech-Based Economic Development and entrepreneurial ecosystem development.
This past March, Innovation Strategist Diego Perez had the great opportunity to represent OSB on the judging panel of Georgia Tech’s 2024 IDSA Student Merit Awards.
Join OSB’s Ashley Touchton and Hannah Ranieri with Idea Overflow Podcast hosts Dan Perotti and Patrick Payne to hear about OSB’s founding, the story behind the name, their individual career journeys, to forming a relationship with DroneUp, speaking at SXSW 24, and receiving permitting and funding to pilot an autonomous drone pick-up pilot in Detroit, Michigan.
Orange Sparkle Ball was awarded a Real World Deployment Grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation's Office of Future Mobility and Electrification. This grant is enabling us to put our Autonomous Robotic Pickup Platform into action through a series of pilots in the Transportation Innovation Zone of Detroit, established by the Office of Mobility Innovation at The City of Detroit.