DESIGN CONTEST 2014 T - LSUphys.lsu.edu/~fmoxley/ntb.pdf · Special Awards Section THE DESIGN CONTEST 2014 Sponsored by T he 2014 Create the Future Design Contest – sponsored by

Special Awards Section

THE

DESIGN CONTEST 2014

Sponsored by

The 2014 Create the Future Design Contest – sponsoredby COMSOL, Inc., Mouser Electronics, and Tech BriefsMedia Group (publishers of NASA Tech Briefs) –

recognized innovation in product design in seven categories:Aerospace & Defense, Automotive/Transportation,Consumer Products, Electronics, Machinery/Automation/Robotics, Medical, and Sustainable Technologies. In this special section, you’ll meet the Grand Prize Winner, as

well as the winners and Honorable Mentions in allseven categories, chosen from more than 1,000

new product ideas submitted from 61 countries.To view all of the entries online, visitwww.createthefuturecontest.com.

Robotic BuildingConstruction ByContour CraftingBehrokh KhoshnevisUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA

Contour Crafting (CC) is acomputerized construction me thodthat 3D prints large-scale structuresdirectly from architectural CADmodels. Walls are built up by form-ing their outer surfaces via extru-sion of a paste-like material such asconcrete, and the use of a robotictrowel to provide a smooth, con-toured surface. CC is a very flexibletechnique, capable of constructingaesthetically pleasing “organic”curvilinear shapes as easily as“boxy” rectilinear shapes; as such, ithas attracted strong interest fromleading architects.

Contour Crafting is the first andonly large-scale 3D printing tech-nology that can rapidly constructcomplete buildings. Contour Craft -ing is a major innovation that auto-mates the construction of wholestructures, and radically reducesthe time and cost of construction.The result would be a revolution inthe construction industry thatwould lead to affordable construc-tion of high-quality, low-in comehousing; the rapid construction of emergency shelters; andon-demand housing in response to disasters.

The Contour Crafting technology has the following uniquefeatures:• Reduces construction cost to about 30% of current cost• Speeds up the construction process by a factor of at least 50• Reduces construction injuries and fatalities (400,000 and

6,000 per year, respectively, in the US, and more severe indeveloping countries)

• Provides emergency shelter to the more than 37 millionannual victims of war and natural disasters

• Provides dignified housing to the low-income population ofthe world

• CC eliminates construction waste, as the computer preciselyadds material where it is needed

• Dramatically reduces construction energy usage (by 90%)and CO2 emission (by 70%)

• Promises limitless architectural features such as curved walls• CC is ideal for lunar and Martian construction using in-situ

resourcesDuring the past decade and under academic grants, the

inventors have demonstrated the feasibility of the concept andcurrently have a system that can build 400-square-foot struc-

tures with solid core or corrugated core walls. Within two years,with sufficient investment, it should be possible to demonstrate24-hour automated construction of a full 2500-square-footstructure. A lightweight machine that will be easily deployablealso will be built.

The optimal outcomes will be at short-term and long-termlevels. In the short term, successful testing of the specimenstructures built by the technology to prove that they outper-form alternative manual on-site and prefab construction meth-ods (wood frame, brick, concrete, etc.) will be ideal. Variousperformance criteria such as strength, cost, speed, waste, ener-gy consumption, thermal insulation, weight, etc. will be meas-ured by standard techniques (such as compressive and tensilestrength testing, life cycle analysis, cost analysis, etc.).

The ultimate long-term outcome is the revolutionizing ofthe construction industry. As for demand, according to theUnited Nations, there is a worldwide shortage of 800 millionhouses. Massive construction of low-income housing aroundthe world, rapid response to large-scale disasters by providingdignified shelters, and significant positive impact on the envi-ronment and energy shortage are some of the impacts of CC.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/grand_prize

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Grand Prize Winner(Winner of $20,000)

“Since the early days of 3D printing, I have been fascinated by the possibilitiesthat these technologies could offer, so I started thinking about novel new ways to 3D print.This win is a tribute to the thousands of hours of effort it took to develop this over the pasttwo decades. The recognition from Tech Briefs Media Group and the prestigious companiesthat sponsored the contest provides a valuable vote of confidence that the Contour Craftingtechnology is going to make an important impact on creating a better future for humanityand our planet.”

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The Polariton Interferometer — A Novel Inertial NavigationSystemFrederick MoxleyLouisiana State UniversityBaton Rouge, LA

Chances are, you have been routedincorrectly by your Global PositioningSystem (GPS), but many of us would belost without GPS navigation. GPS technol-ogy relies on a combination of signalsfrom a complex satellite and ground sta-tion network. This is problematic in aero-space and defense, as GPS signal jam-ming is prevalent. Other technologies,such as Inertial Navigational Systems(INS), can operate independently fromGPS satellites, but rely on GPS satellites tocorrect measurement errors. Theseerrors are often due to limitations of aninterferometer device within the system,known as a gyroscope.

By utilizing the quasiparticles known as exciton-polaritons,a new patent-pending gyroscopic device called the PolaritonInterferometer provides measurement sensitivities far superi-or to optical technologies such as the ring laser gyroscope.The Polariton Interfero meter will enable aerospace and de -fense teams to maneuver while remaining immune to jam-

ming, remove orientation vulnerability toinclement weather conditions, and providea stealthy INS, as it cannot be detected byradar. Unlike the optical interferometer,the Polariton Inter ferometer’s measure-ment sensitivity is not proportional to thearea it occupies. This enables a more sensi-

tive device that occupies much less space than a bulky opticalinterferometer.

The performance capability of this new technology is inde-pendent of scale, and readily manufactured as a photonic inte-grated circuit, achieved on a microchip smaller than a dime.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/aerodef_winner

New Class of High L/D Multi-Rotor VTOL AircraftGregory Heinen, Tierra Global, Lowell, MA

Vertical Take-Off andLanding (VTOL) air-craft do not scale well toviable manned systemsand lack endurance forhover and cruise. A newclass of vehicles hasbeen developed that uti-lizes multi-rotors, butcruise on wings. A sepa-rate, proprietary wingedversion uses multi-rotors, a high L/D gyroscopic wing-disk, andoutboard fans for forward thrust, but without negative pitch. Amulti-rotor with wings counters negative pitch to cruise, andanother with fixed wings trims in cruise flight. The vehicle atti-tude control system is a high-speed, high-loading blade pitch con-trol mechanism.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/VTOL

Intermittent Fault Detection & Isolation System (IFDIS)Ken Anderson, Universal Synaptics Corp., Roy, UT

The Intermittent Fault De -tection & Isolation System™(IFDIS™) detects and isolatesintermittent faults in elec-tronic wiring. Its initial adap-tation was to detect and iso-late the intermittent faults inthe F-16 AN/APG-68 RadarSystem Modular Low PowerRadio Frequency unit(MLPRF) chassis. IFDIS test-ing of over 400 MLPRF chas-sis during the first few years ofoperation yielded unprece-dented results. Sixty percent of the MLPRF chassis had one ormore intermittent faults, and many chassis had other wiringproblems (opens, shorts, miss-wiring, etc.) that were alsodetected and isolated by IFDIS testing.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/IFDIS

Aerospace & Defense Category Winner(Winner of an HP Workstation)

Honorable Mentions

“Winning this category in the 2014 Createthe Future Design Contest asserts this disruptive technology as a leading design for the industrial and academic community. The worldwide recognition will assist in reaching investors. Byobtaining the necessary funds and industrial partnerships as a result of this award, the PolaritonInterferometer will be a key player in the global inertial sensor market, projected to reach $8.5 billion USD by 2018.”

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Automatic Eye Finder & Tracking SystemRikki Razdan, Alan Kielar, Pat Stearns, and Melissa White ISCAN Inc. Woburn, MA

The intrinsic speed and precision of the human ocular-motor system makes the eye an ideal pointing device forhuman-machine interface. Eye tracking has not yet beenexploited as a robust human interface with computers due tomany technical problems, such as viewing a human face underreal-world conditions, robustly identifying the eyes over adiverse population range, and the complexity of the real-timeimage processing tasks involved. Conventional high-accuracyeye tracking systems require the presence of an operator,and/or require the user to use a chin rest or wear an identify-ing marker so the eye tracking system can find the user’s eyes.

The Automatic Eye Finder & Tracking system automaticallyfinds and accurately tracks both eyes of computer users, and calculates their precise point of gaze as they naturally view a

computer screen. The functioning prototype consists of a faceand eye image acquisition assembly mounted in front of andbelow a standard computer monitor. This imaging unit is con-nected to real-time parallel control hardware processors resid-ing in a PC chassis. The imager is comprised of a high-resolu-tion array, a wide-field-of-view infrared illuminator, and opticsto obtain a clear in-focus image of the user’s face.

The real-time information can be used to speed up conven-tional mouse data entry tasks, as an input device for individualswith neuromuscular impairment, and for rapid target selectionin moving environments.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/machinery_winner

Pars Rescue RobotAmin Rigi, RTS Lab, Tehran, Iran

The Pars Savior aeri-al robot quickly movestoward drowning vic-tims by user guidanceand the activation of itssavior system, whichreleases life tubes. Thewaterproof robot, withmultiple life tubes, hasthe ability to save morethan one person simultaneously. The robot lands on the seasurface, and uses artificial intelligence for accurate analysis ofone’s condition. A FLIR heating camera and LEDs recognizevictims at night, and the intelligence system activates when aperson shouts for help.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/pars

Mosolver = Motor + ResolverDonald Labriola, QuickSilver Controls, Covina, CA

The Mosolver — a combined motor andresolver — senses position by adding apatented passive sensing circuit to theinterior of the existing motor magneticstructure. The ripple current fromthe existing motor PWM drive pro-vides the flux variation that allowsthe sensor to continue operationeven when the motor is stationary.The sensor consists of a novel sensecoil pattern on a polyamide flex cir-cuit, and provides position feedbackat 32,000 counts per revolution. Thepolyamide flex circuit material covers a wide range of temper-atures, and is available in low outgassing as well as radiation-resistant formulations.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/mosolver

Machinery/Automation/Robotics Category Winner(Winner of an HP Workstation)

Honorable Mentions

“This win for us is a great way to introduce our technologyto a wider audience. We have been making eye-tracking systems since 1980, and we have been pioneering the technology. When we read about the contest in NASA TechBriefs, we felt we were at the point where our years of methodically solving important problems to attain real-worldeye-tracking were in a suitable form to present to the public.”

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Advanced System-Level Modeling


8

Continuously Variable Displacement(CVD) EngineSteve ArnoldEngine Systems Innovations, Inc.Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Passenger car engines are sized to produce very high horse-power to suit the consumer’s demand for drivability and per-formance. Unfortunately, engines run most efficiently at highload conditions and very inefficiently at the low loads wherethey spend most of their time. This results in poor fuel econo-my and high CO2 emissions.

The patented CVD engine mechanism fundamentallychanges the geometry in the crankcase of the engine that hasremained essentially unchanged since the advent of the inter-nal combustion engine.

The true elegance of the CVD design concept is that the fueleconomy improvements do not require changes to many of thetruly complex and high-risk areas of engine development, anddo not negate the advances that have been made in other tech-nology areas. Essentially, all advances in combustion, fuel, andair delivery systems, valve trains, and auxiliary components canbe adapted to the CVD engine with simple reconfigurationrather than fundamental redesign. No high-risk, high-cost newmaterials or manufacturing methodologies are needed. TheCVD engine has a similar part count and smaller engine com-partment footprint to current engines, meaning that these newengines will fit within current car engine compartment volumes.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/auto_winner

3000-Mile Capacitor-Powered Electrical VehicleDenny Wheeler, Crystalline Energy Research, Nampa, ID

A new CapacitorEnergy Pack (CEP) forelectrical vehicles usesMulti-Layer CeramicCapacitors (MLCCs)that include dielectricmaterials that have K(dielectric constant)factors in excess of 300million. Utilizing acharging system thatconverts 240 Volts AC(VAC) to 336 Volts DC (VDC), the CEP could store 1,000Kilowatt Hours (KWh). With the energy pack, the range of EVsand hybrids will increase above lithium-ion battery or ultraca-pacitor options. Expanding the CEP size or adding additionalCEPs will further improve driving range and vehicle powerfunctionality.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/energy_pack

Transmission Lestran Orbital IVT™Hans Peter Hemmer, ASTREMO, Sankt Augustin, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

The Lestran OrbitalIVT™ transmission de signtransmits mechanical powervia oscillating torque, ratherthan traditional speed ratiomethods. The approachcombines the mechanicalefficiency of a fixed gearratio transmission with theengine efficiency obtainedusing a Contin uously Vari -able Transmission (CVT).The power from the cen-trifugal forces of rotatingeccentric masses is harnessed to create the oscillating torque.Infinitely variable torque, from zero torque to the full capabil-ity of torque output, can be produced with no clutching orconversion required at the input.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/transmission

Automotive & Transportation Category Winner(Winner of an HP Workstation)

Honorable Mentions

“The CVD engine is the result of six years of continuingresearch and design work. Receiving such a prestigious awardhelps us realize that we are on the right track, and stiffens ourresolve to get this game-changing technology into the marketplace.NASA Tech Briefs reaches key technical and business professionalsat all levels within many, if not all, of the organizations that wehope will become adopters of our CVD technology.”

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NanoFab Lab … In a Box!™Michael Zach, Anirudha Sumant, and Jonathan Moritz EChem Nanowires Stevens Point, WI

NanoFab Lab … In a Box!™ is a shoebox-sized kit that allowshigh school students to manufacture hi-tech patterned nano -wires in the classroom. The educational kit provides a connec-tion between the students’ curriculum and the emerging fieldof nanotechnology and nano manufacturing. Unlike tradition-al nanomanufacturing, this technology is a simple electroplat-ing bath, power supply, and reusable Ultrananocrystalline

Diamond Template (UDT) electrodes, designed to produceany pattern desired.

Normally, the types of patterned nano and microwires thatthis kit can produce requires millions of dollars to reproduce.This technique can be performed for under $1,000, and the kitincludes everything but the water and the widely available,inexpensive specific chemicals needed. The goal of this kit is toengage students with cutting-edge science, and provide path-ways for their future success and their contribution to society.

Both the potentiostat and the microscope connect to anincluded 10" Android tablet for uploading data, images, andvideos through a secure Web portal. The Web site docu-ments progress and gives feedback on how to improve thequality of wires.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/consumer_winner

Quikiks™ — The First Totally Hands-Free Supportive FootwearSteven Kaufman, Hands-Free, LLC, New York, NY

There are 50 millionpeople in the US withphysical or cognitive chal-lenges that greatly limittheir ability to don theirown footwear. Quikiksfootwear allows the wear-er to step easily into the shoes and in the same motion, effort-lessly and securely lock their feet comfortably in place. Using apatented Step-in-Go™ Technology, Quikiks provide hands-freeoperation for people lacking the ability to use traditional shoefasteners such as laces, buckles, straps, or snaps. The shoes willnot slip off of the feet, and provide medically necessary heeland ankle support required for orthopedic footwear.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/quikiks

Gatekeeper: A Bluetooth Low Energy ProximityLock for Your ComputerSiddharth Potbhare, CoolCAD Electronics LLC, College Park, MD

The GateKeeper (GK-Chain)is a Bluetooth Smart proximitytag that can automatically lockand unlock a computer, andkeep track of valuables. Insteadof typing in a password everytime, the GK-Chain unlocks acomputer when you approach,and locks when you leave. Foradditional security, the GK-Chain can be set to require boththe key and password. Using a free companion app, you canfind your GK-Chain with a Bluetooth 4.0-enabled smartphone,allowing you to find lost keys, wallets, or even luggage at theairport. The GK-Chain tracks the location of the key using aproprietary signal strength algorithm, and locks/unlocks yourcomputer based on where you are.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/gatekeeper

Consumer Products Category Winner(Winner of an HP Workstation)

Honorable Mentions

“The international recognition of our NanoFabLab … in a Box!™ educational kit will assist our non-profitorganization in its mission to help students who wouldotherwise lack the opportunities. In addition, individuals ororganizations looking to support individual kits, schools,districts, or regions are encouraged to contact our founda-tion. We want to help connect people who have alreadysucceeded with their own discoveries and/or business withthe most promising and innovative students.”

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A Paradigm Shift for SMT Electronics:Micro-Coil Springs Interconnection forCeramic and Plastic Grid Array PackagedIntegrated CircuitsJim Hester and Mark StricklandNASA Marshall Space Flight CenterHuntsville, AL

Micro-coil springs (MCS) provide flexible electrical inter-connections and allow significant movement in the x, y, andz axes to counteract the thermal expansion and dynamicforces between a microcircuit and a printed circuit board.Micro-coil springs are able to withstand harsh thermal andvibration environments significantly better than the currentstate of the art.

NASA Marshall engineers have developed a novel intercon-nection structure for the integrated circuit packages used inaerospace avionic designs. Micro-coil springs replace ball orcolumn grid arrays (BGA/CGA), preventing connectionbreaks due to thermal and vibration stresses. The innovationreplaces solder balls and solder columns, preventing connec-tion breaks due to thermal stress, and providing longer life forelectronics. The technology provides flexibility in three dimen-sions between the ceramic package and the printed circuitboard — a distinct improvement upon cast or copper-ribbon-wrapped solder column interconnects, which have limited flex-ibility and are less capable of withstanding shear stress. Thetechnology offers a novel alternative, providing better flexibil-ity in high temperatures and harsh environments.

Applications for the technology include automotive elec-tronics, oilfield electronics, electronics for use in wet or humidenvironments, and area array integrated circuits for spaceapplications.

NASA Marshall has signed an exclusive license agreementwith Topline Corporation for the micro-coil technology. NASAhas filed a Patent Protection Treaty, and Topline is filing for-eign patent protection in several countries and plans to sell theproduct worldwide. Topline/Marshall are collaborating onadvancing surface mount technology (SMT).

Topline assists thousands of customers to define and refinetheir SMT and microelectronics assembly processes. Themicro-coil technology will substantially increase interconnec-tion flexibility, offering longer life to these electronics.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/electronics_winner

Wireless Bluetooth Pressure TransducerMark McDaniel, Transducers Direct, Cinncinati, OH

The TDWLB series cer-tified Bluetooth pressure(with optional tempera-ture) transducer is usedfor remotely measuringpressure and/or mediatemperature, mea sur ingthese where power isn’tavailable, and monitoringmultiple sensors at once.The sensor can be readon a smartphone, tablet,or PC. High and low alarm set points alert the user when pres-sures have surpassed a programmable threshold. Applicationsinclude HVAC (residential, commercial, RV, marine), boilers,chillers, industrial, water/wastewater, and industrial and med-ical gases.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/transducer

High-Power, Medium-Voltage Compensator Tomasz Rawinski, Electrotechnical Institute, Gdansk, Poland

This compensatorprotects sensitive, high-power, medium-voltageindustrial installationsagainst dips, sags, andshort-duration inter-ruptions in public po w -er networks. The com -pensator is based onhigh-voltage superca-pacitors that stand upto 1 million charge/discharge cycles. After detecting a voltagesag or interruption, a load is disconnected from the grid powersupply. At the same time, a sinusoidal voltage generator is start -ed. The converter generates supplying voltage using electricenergy stored in supercapacitors. When the compensator is onstand-by, the supercapacitors are charged.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/compensator

Electronics Category Winner(Winner of an HP Workstation)

Honorable Mentions

HemeChip for Early Diagnosis of SickleCell DiseaseYunus Alapan, Ryan Ung, Megan Romelfanger, Asya Akkus, ConniePiccone, Jane Little, and Umut GurkanCase Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OH

The Hemoglobin-Electrophoresis Biochip (HemeChip) canrapidly, easily, and conclusively identify the hemoglobin type inblood to diagnose Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in newborns. TheHemeChip can accurately identify hemoglobin type in a dropof blood. The ultimate goal is to reduce the footprint of hemo-globin screening for newborns down to the size of a credit cardvia HemeChip, which can be easily carried in a pocket togetherwith a smartphone for mobile analysis.

A microengineered design and microfluidic approach areused in HemeChip. Microfluidic technology allows small sam-ple volume (<20µL, fingerpick/heelprick blood), portability,ease of use, and low power consumption. The microchip sys-tem allows rapid manual assembly and is single-use, preventingpotential cross-contamination between patients.

A mobile imaging and quantification algorithm will be inte-grated to achieve reliable and repeatable results, even inresource-poor settings. The quantification algorithm will auto-matically plot intensity histograms along channels, and highestintensity locations will be evaluated. Positions of healthy/sicklehemoglobin will be determined using the histogram plots, andresults will be displayed on the screen.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/hemechip

ProstaGloveChristopher LaFarge, MedicaMetrix, Wayland, MA

ProstaGlove® is a novel medicaldevice to measure prostate volumeand enable calculation of PSA Density(PSAD), which can be used to identifymen at high risk for clinically significantprostate cancer. ProstaGlove is similar toa standard exam glove used during aDigital Rectal Exam (DRE), but has a bal-loon around the forefinger with fiberoptic sensors and a calibrated grid thatenable a physician to measure the widthof the palpable surface of the prostatethrough the rectal wall. A proprietaryalgorithm determines prostate volume.When the balloon is inflated during use,it creates a clean void and positions a cali-brated grid on the surface of the rectal wall immediately prox-imate to the prostate.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/prosta_glove

Urocycler Automatic Bladder Management SystemDr. David Flinchbaugh, Tech Applications Int’l, LLC, Orlando, FL

The UroCycler Auto maticBladder Manage ment Sys -tem, a magnetic prostheticsphincter tech nology, allowsthe bladders of catheterizedpatients to function in a nor-mal cyclic manner. The keycomponent — a unique, low-pressure-sensitive magneticvalve — is attached to theproximal end of the indwelling Foley catheter exiting the body.The device is precision-made to critical tolerances, assembledin a cleanroom environment, and utilizes ceramic permanentmagnets to hold the valve closed initially. When the urine pres-sure reaches a normal voiding value, the valve opens fully andthe patient experiences a “normal” flow rate of urine until thebladder is empty.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/urocycler

Medical Category Winner(Winner of an HP Workstation)

Honorable Mentions

“Our motivation in development of the HemeChip stemsfrom the needs of the people, as do all technological developments.We believe adaptation and translation of high-end technologies inmedicine from the laboratory benchtop to the point-of-care has a lotto offer in diagnostics and monitoring of complicated diseases, suchas sickle cell disease, in resource-limited settings. Our HemeChipdesign addresses the challenges widely encountered in theseresource-limited settings. We hope this award will help us reach outto potential benefactors, investors, and companies for further supportin diagnosis of sickle cell disease in newborns.”

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ecoVent Systems — Make Every Room theRight TemperatureDipul Patel, Yoel Kelman, Nick Lancaster, Shawn Rose, and Brian Bowen ecoVent SystemsBoston, MA

Most homes have only one thermostat, so they operate like ahouse with only one light switch — everything is either on oroff. That leaves some rooms boiling hot while others are freez-ing cold. It’s uncomfortable, and it’s inefficient.

The ecoVent system of wireless vents and sensors makes anyforced air heating and cooling system smarter by directing con-ditioned air where it’s needed most. ecoVent is easy to install,saves energy, and is ready to make millions of homes muchmore comfortable.

The system consists of three main components: intelligentwireless vents, advanced sensors, and a mobile app that gives

homeowners complete control over their comfort. The sensorsuite monitors the real-time climate conditions in every room,and the intelligent vents redirect airflow accordingly. If roomsare unoccupied, there’s no need to heat or cool them, andhomeowners can use the app to set custom temperature levelsfor different floors, rooms, or times of day.

Users plug a sensor suite into any electrical outlet in eachroom, and replace their existing vents with the ecoVent. No spe-cial tools are necessary. Once it’s installed, the system immedi-ately begins learning the characteristics of the home and users’heating and cooling preferences.

ecoVent can reduce heating and cooling costs by as much as50%, and the system can pay for itself in less than three years.By reducing greenhouse gas emissions without sacrificing com-fort, ecoVent will change the way people think about homeheating and cooling.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/sustainable_winner

Direct Solar Energy Conversion to Electricity withNanometer-Scale Metal-Insulator-Metal TunnelDiode Serving as a Rectifier in Rectenna ArraysNikolai Kislov, Nano CVD Co., Tampa, FL

A Metal-Insulator-Metal tunnel diode serves as a rectifier inrectenna arrays. An optical rectenna operates the same way asa well-known radio antenna at lower frequencies. Rectification,based on electron tunneling between closely positioned metalelectrodes, transforms optical radiation of petahertz frequencydirectly into electrical power. Nano-holes through the thick-ness of the film substrate act as a self-alignment mask for form-ing arrays of nanoscale MIMTDs. The inventive design, whichenables independent control of both capacitance and resist-ance, enables high-efficiency, low-cost solar power conversion.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/solar_conversion

Displacing Diesel Consumption with High-AltitudeWind Energy Using a Buoyant Airborne Turbine(BAT)Ben Glass, Adam Rein, Chris Vermillion, Ryan Holy, and EphraimLanford, Altaeros Energies, Somerville, MA

The Buoyant AirborneTurbine (BAT) is a tethered,helium-inflatable shell, ad -apted from military aero -stats, that lifts a three-blade,horizontal-axis wind tur-bine. The rapidly deploy-able BAT, which generates 2-3 times the electricity ofcompeting turbines, lifts awind turbine into stronger,more consistent windsbeyond the reach of conven-tional tower-based turbines.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/turbine

Sustainable Technologies Category Winner(Winner of an HP Workstation)

Honorable Mentions

“Sustainability has always been a driving force forecoVent, and winning this award is a great testament to that fact.We are passionate about helping people live more comfortablywhile saving energy. To us, that’s the definition of ‘creating thefuture.’ Saving energy shouldn’t be a chore, it should be fun –and even better than the status quo. That’s the product we’vebuilt and we’re glad that the voters were excited by it.”

Top Ten Most Popular EntriesVisitors to the Create the Future Design Contest Web site were invited to vote for their favorite entries.

The top ten most popular entries, listed below, were winners of a Sphero robotic gaming ball provided by Orbotix.

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AvhiralPilato David, Poitou-Charentes, France

This mini-computer acts as alaptop or mini-server.

http://contest.techbriefs.com/2014/entries/4122

Survival CapsuleJulian Sharpe, Scott Hill, and Eddie Bernard,Survival Capsule, LLC, Mukilteo, WA

The Survival Capsule is a personal safetysystem and emergency shelter.


Green Cruzer

Thomas Tom, Joanna Joy, Thomas Chacko, andShruthi Lokanathan, ThomasTom, Mumbai,Maharashtra, India

Green Cruzer is a solar-powered electricrecumbent tricycle.


Tea HarvesterRanjit Kumar Das, Guwahati, Assam, India

This is a mechanized tea leaveharvesting system.


Magnetic Engine

Nikhil Raj, P.K. Shahu, and VishwaMohan, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

This engine uses magnetic force torotate the pistons.


Equipment for Iron Filing Estimation in TeaJatindra Nath Kalita, Tea ResearchAssociation, Jorhat, Assam, India

This instrument measures iron filingsin tea.


A Solar Chimney Power Plant with aPyramidal Shape

Dardan Klimenta, Joan Peuteman, and JelenaKlimenta, University of Priština, KosovskaMitrovica, Serbia-Montenegro

A solar chimney power plant features asquare-based pyramidal shape.


Iron Filing Extractor

Jatindra Nath Kalita, Tea ResearchAssociation, Jorhat, Assam, India

This device removes metal particles from tea.


Automatic Ankle Adjustment for a Prosthetic LegSaketh Sai Narayana, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh,India

This device makes walking more comfortable.http://contest.techbriefs.com/2014/entries/4602

Gear Lever Mounted Clutch

Mahesh Narayan Wagh, Anil Vishal Ramteke,Shirish Shaunak Deshpande, Vinesh Shaneel Kaia,and Bhimrao Akshay Sawant, IKSC, Savedi,Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India

This device optimizes the position of theaccelerator, brake, and clutch pedals.


14

Konstantinos AntonakopoulosR&D Senior Engineer/Researcher,Aker Subsea AS, Oslo, Norway

Martin Apa, Chief Engineer, ExelisInc., Clifton, NJ USA

Malath Arar, Staff Engineer, GeneralElectric – Aviation, Clifton Park, NY USA

Yunus Balogun, Materials Engineer,Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane,IN USA

Dean Barker, Senior EngineeringSpecialist, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare,Auckland, New Zealand

Ganesh Kumar Baskaran, PrincipalEngineer, Samsung SDS, Seoul, South Korea

Nate Bernklau, Senior DrivetrainEngineer, John Deere, Davenport, IA USA

Stuart Brown, Managing Principal,Veryst Engineering, Needham, MA USA

Sabin Carpiuc, R&D Engineer,Continental Automotive Romania, Iasi, Romania

Jeff Crompton, Principal, AltaSimTechnologies, Columbus, OH USA

Dennis Doane, DistinguishedMember Technical Staff, TexasInstruments, Plano, TX USA

Mitch Finne, Engineering Manager,Medtronic, Fridley, MN USA

Vishnu Gandhi, Senior DesignEngineer, Onatrio Power Generation,Courtice, Ontario, Canada

Paul Goossens, Vice President,Engineering Solutions, Maplesoft,Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Christoph Hamann, Dr.-Ing,Continental Automotive GmbH,Regensburg, Germany

Roger Harmon, DistinguishedMember of the Technical Staff,Motorola Mobility LLC, Chicago, IL USA

Jim Hathaway, Manager, ProductionPrograms, Northrop GrummanAerospace Systems, Redondo Beach, CA USA

Robert Holzhauer, Senior Development Engineer, Chrysler Group, LLC, Northville, MI USA

David Jorde, Owner, Jorde Development, Design &Consulting, Fallbrook, CA USA

Pankaj Kalore, Engineer, Miller Electric Mfg. Co., Appleton, WI USA

Gary Kemp, Mechanical EngineerStaff, Lockheed Martin Missiles andFire Control, Euless, TX USA

Preston Kemp, Principal Engineer, GE Power & Water, Greenville, SC USA

James Lauer, Master Black Belt,Caterpillar Inc., Morton, IL USA

Dzung Le, Reliability and V&VManager, Schlumberger, Jurong, Singapore

Yu-Tai Lee, Senior Scientist, NavalSurface Warfare Center, CarderockDivision, West Bethesda, MD USA

Yong Chin Lim, RDD Manager, DysonMalaysia, Senai, Malaysia

Edward Miesak, Scientist, LockheedMartin, Orlando, FL USA

Scott Moore, Chief Engineer, AlliantTechsystems (ATK), Anoka, MN USA

Paul Moren, Projects Quality Manager,Valeo, Cergy Pontoise, France

Stephen Osborne, Senior ProjectEngineer, Stanley Black & Decker,Towson, MD USA

David Ouellette, Lead Designer,General Electric, Plainville, CT USA

Anil Pandit, Consulting Engineer, GEIndustrial Solutions, Bangalore, India

Terry Partridge, Technical Advisor,Cummins Inc., Columbus, IN USA

Richard Paw, Strategic AllianceManager, Synopsys, Mountain View, CAUSA

Humberto Pretti, Senior StructuralEngineer, General Motors, San Paulo, Brazil

Jeffery Puschell, PrincipalEngineering Fellow, Raytheon, El Segundo, CA USA

Antonio Quintieri, Senior Engineer,Procter & Gamble, Waterloo, Belgium

Niat Rahman, Project Engineer,General Motors, Pontiac, MI USA

Muriel Saccoccio, Engineer & ProjectManager, CNES (French SpaceAgency), Toulouse, France

Wolfgang-Michael SchulzDr. rer. nat., SEMIKRON, Zirndorf,Germany

Alex Selvarathinam, AeronauticalEngineer Senior Staff, Lockheed MartinAeronautics, Fort Worth, TX USA

Susan Stanton, Principal, SBCi Ltd.,Sunbury, OH USA

Michael Stokes, Design Engineer,Ethicon Endo–Surgery, Cincinnati, OHUSA

Edwin Tan, Electrical Design Engineer,KLA-Tencor, Milpitas, CA USA

Petrica Tudosa, R&D NDT, AlstomCH, Rieden, Germany

Rich White, R&D MechanicalEngineer, Agilent Technologies,Wilmington, DE

Bruce Woollard, Engineering Fellow,Raytheon, Tucson, AZ USA

Puck Yan, Principal Professional Staff,Johns Hopkins University AppliedPhysics Laboratory, Laurel, MD USA

Meet the JudgesThe sponsors of the 2014 Create The Future Design Contest thank the following judges for their participation.

15

COMSOL, Inc.COMSOL, Inc. (Burlington, MA) provides software solu-

tions for multiphysics modeling and simulation. Its flagshipproduct, COMSOL Multiphysics, lets engineers and scientistsbuild simulations to verify and optimize their designs. Itsunparalleled ability to include all relevant physical effects thatexist in the real world opens up a wide array of modeling pos-sibilities. COMSOL’s customers apply this technology to makecars and aircraft safer and more energy efficient, enhance thereception of our cell phones, search for new energy sources,explore the universe, develop medical equipment enablingmore accurate diagnoses, and educate the next generation ofscientists. www.comsol.com

Maplesoft™(Machinery/Automation/Robotics Category Sponsor)

Maplesoft™, a subsidiary of Cybernet Systems Co., Ltd. inJapan, is the leading provider of high-performance softwaretools for engineering, science, and mathematics. Maplesoft’score technologies include the world’s most advanced symboliccomputation engine and revolutionary physical modelingtechniques. Combined, these technologies enable the creationof cutting-edge tools for design, modeling, and high-perfor-mance simulation. www.maplesoft.com

SAE InternationalSAE International is a global association of more than 138,000

engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, auto-motive, and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International’score competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consen-sus standards development. SAE International’s charitable armis the SAE Foundation, which supp orts many programs, includ-ing A World In Motion

®and the Collegiate Design Series™. In

2012, SAE Inter national acquired Tech Briefs Media Group,publishers of NASA Tech Briefs. www.sae.org

Contest SponsorsThe 2014 Create the Future Design Contest is sponsored by COMSOL, Inc. and Mouser Electronics

Prize sponsors:

Mouser ElectronicsMouser Electronics, a subsidiary of TTI, Inc., is part of

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway family of companies.Mouser is an award-winning, authorized semiconductor andelectronic component distributor, focused on the rapid intro-duction of new products and technologies to electronic designengineers and buyers. Mouser.com features more than 4 mil-lion products online from more than 500 manufacturers.Mouser publishes multiple catalogs per year providing design-ers with up-to-date data on the components now available forthe next generation of electronic devices. Mouser ships globallyto more than 400,000 customers in 170 countries from its492,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility south of Dallas,TX. www.mouser.com

Analog Devices (Supporting Sponsor)

Innovation, performance, and excellence are the cultural pil-lars on which Analog Devices (ADI) has built one of thelongest-standing, highest-growth companies within the technol-ogy sector. Acknowledged industry-wide as the world leader indata conversion and signal conditioning technology, AnalogDevices serves over 60,000 customers, representing virtually alltypes of electronic equipment. www.analog.com

Intel (Supporting Sponsor)

Intel is the world’s largest manufacturer of semiconductors.Intel’s entire processor portfolio provides design engineerswith direct access to the industry’s most advanced processors.Intel’s industry-leading technologies are created using the mostadvanced foundry process technologies in the industry, produc-ing unprecedented levels of performance and efficiency.www.intel.com

Top Prizes Awarded in the Create the Future Design Contest

THE

DESIGN CONTEST 2014

On November 7, the top prizes in the 2014 Create the Future Design Contest were presented in New York City.Winners in seven categories, as well as the Grand Prize winner, received awards for their innovations in the annualcontest.

The Create the Future Design Contest – sponsored by COMSOL and Mouser Electronics, and presented by Tech BriefsMedia Group, an SAE International company – stimulates and rewards innovation, and has attracted more than 9,000product design ideas from engineers, entrepreneurs, and students since 2002.

Find descriptions of all winning inventions and honorable mentions at www.createthefuturecontest.com.

Keynote speaker Monika Weber, Grand Prize winner ofthe 2011 Create the Future contest, talked about how far hertechnology has progressed since her win. The Fluid-Screensilicon biosensor chip technology she co-invented at YaleUniversity brings the power of an entire lab into the palm ofyour hand to detect bacteria in blood and water in 30 min-utes or less. Her spinoff company, Integrated MicrofluidicDevices (IMD), is based in Boston, MA and New Haven, CT.Learn more at www.fluid-screen.com.

What if you could 3D-print emergency shelters fortens of millions of victims of war and natural disas-ters? And what if those shelters could be built auto-matically in just a day? Behrokh Khoshnevis of theUniversity of Southern California (center) won the$20,000 Grand Prize for his answer to those ques-tions: Contour Crafting, a computerized constructionmethod that 3D-prints entire buildings automatically.Here, Bernt Nilsson (left) of COMSOL (contest spon-sor) joins Khoshnevis and Coby Kleinjan (right) ofMouser Electronics (contest sponsor). Learn more athttp://contest.techbriefs.com/grand_prize.

Each of the seven category win-ners received a workstation fromprize sponsor Hewlett-Packard. JohnBickel, Corporate Account Manager,Workstation Sales, represented HPat the event.

16

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THE

DESIGN CONTEST 2014

17

Monika Weber, Founder and CEO ofIntegrated Microfluidic Devices, wasthe Grand Prize Winner of the 2011Create the Future Design Contest.

S P O N S O R E D B Y

Mark Wagner, Presidentof Sensorcon, Inc. Grand Prize Winner of the2012 Create the FutureDesign Contest.

THE

DESIGN CONTEST 2015

The Future Starts With

You

Salim Nasser (left), CTO and Co-Founder ofRowheels, Inc., was the

Grand Prize Winner ofthe 2010 Create the

Future Design Contest.

Bill Zebuhr, Co-CEO and CTOof Aquaback Technologies.Sustainable TechnologiesCategory Winner of the 2012Create the Future DesignContest.

GRAND PRIZE: $20,000!ACCEPTING INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM ENTRIES STARTING MARCH 1, 2015.

Get details at www.createthefuturecontest.com

The team at SunFriendCorporation (l-r) Leonard Egan,Siddharth Potbhare, KarinEdgett, and Shahid Aslam (notpictured — Tariq Aslam).Winners of the 2011 ConsumerProduct Category.

Documents

DESIGN CONTEST 2014 T - LSUphys.lsu.edu/~fmoxley/ntb.pdf · Special Awards Section THE DESIGN CONTEST 2014 Sponsored by T he 2014 Create the Future Design Contest – sponsored by