THE

The 2012 Create the Future DesignContest — sponsored by COMSOL,Nordson EFD, and Tech Briefs Media

Group (publishers of NASA Tech Briefs) — recognized innovation in product design in seven categories: Con sumer Products, Electronics,Machinery & Equipment, Medical, Safety &Security, Sustainable Tech nologies, andTransportation. On the following pages, you’llmeet the Grand Prize Winner, as well as thewinners and Honorable Mentions in all sevencategories. Congra tulations to this year’s winners, and thanks to the more than 950entrants from 60 countries who submittedtheir design ideas. To view the entries online,visit www.createthefuture2012.com.

S P O N S O R E D B Y

Special Awards Section

2

Sensordrone: A Practical, Tricorder-Like Platform forConsumers and Mobile Device DevelopersMark Wagner, Ben Madoff, and Mark RudolphSensorcon, Buffalo, NY

What if sensors, meters, and instruments were just appsinstead of single-purpose, bulky, expensive equipment?Sensordrone is a first step towards making this a reality.

Mobile computing is the way of the future, but most sensorproducts have not kept up. Sensordrone is a multi-purpose,configurable sensor that dramatically extends the sensing capa-bility of smartphones and tablets. It is a keyfob-sized platformfor both consumers and developers (software and hardware).

For consumers, Sensordrone includes multiple environmen-tal sensors allowing people to run a variety of apps such as car-bon monoxide, temperature, humidity, and breath alcoholmonitoring. It can also serve as a stud-finder, altimeter, barom-eter, data-logger, light meter, weather meter, and many more.A single device could replace a number of single-purposeinstruments. All a user needs to do is run a new app.

For developers, open software allows software developers tocreate new sensor applications, both for entertainment andserious applications. For hardware developers, Sensordroneoffers an easy way to integrate new hardware products, likemedical sensors, to Android and iOS devices. This platformconcept means that products can be developed and launchedmuch faster, and for less money.

For example, to make a medical sensor instrument today,you need to develop an entire dedicated system. WithSensordrone, you would only need to interface the medicalsensors to Sensordrone’s expansion connector, and then devel-op just the highest-level application software. In some cases,this eliminates the majority of the development cost, so smallcompanies or individual inventors can offer a mobile accesso-ry to the market with minimal risk. The market will benefitfrom dramatic reduction in cost and more customization forspecific applications.

Open software is critical to Sensordrone. Open software anda collaborative attitude are attracting a variety of developers,which will lead to an ever-increasing variety of apps and expan-sion hardware. This open/collaborative approach will enablemuch faster technology advancement.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/grand-prize

Grand Prize Winner(Winner of $20,000)

(Left to right): Ben Madoff, Mark Wagner, and Mark Rudolph of Sensorcon.

“Our inspiration came from the pioneers of the PC industry in thelate 1970s. These people introduced products that were, at the time,regarded as niche hacker products only. But the engineering commu-nity recognized the multipurpose (platform) capabilities of PCs, andquickly created many useful PC applications, which made the seem-ingly niche product into a mainstream product. Now, communicationand entertainment applications are fully mobile, but sensing applica-tions aren’t. We feel that Sensordrone is like those early PCs. It is amulti-purpose tool that could be used by the general population formany useful sensing applications in just a few years. Our goal now isto support the engineering community to take what we have andcreate those great new sensing applications.”

3

LumEN: Luminescent Solar Concentrators forSustainable, On-Demand Electricity ProductionGianmarco Griffini, Massimo Micocci, and Francesca OstuzziPolitecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy

Lum-EN is the first portable device able to harvest solarenergy and deliver electrical energy on-demand, employingorganic luminescent solar concentrators (OLSCs). High light-to-electricity efficiencies can be attained with little use of con-ventional solar cells.

Typical OLSCs consist of a luminescent organic dye dis-solved into an inexpensive transparent matrix material such aspoly(methylmethacrylate). The luminescent species absorbthe incident solar light and isotropically re-emit it at a longer

wavelength. A large part of the emitted photons is trapped inthe OLSC plate by total internal reflection and wave-guidedtowards the edges, where solar cells are placed. Ideally, theemission spectrum of the luminescent species matches withthe absorption spectrum of the solar cell so that its power con-version efficiency can be improved and a reduction of the actu-al active surface area of the solar cell can be attained, therebyensuring reduction of costs of solar energy production.

As opposed to simple solar cells that can only work underdirect sunlight, the OLSC panels can operate well under diffuselight, making it possible for Lum-EN to be used in poorly illumi-nated environments, cloudy locations, or even indoors. By vary-ing the active surface of the luminescent solar concentrators,the output energy can be modulated so as to power a set of LEDsor recharge a smartphone, tablet, or any portable device.

Lum-EN can be used in all situations where a standaloneenergetic source is needed, such as during outdoor activities,excursions, camping, or sailing. The device is easily trans-portable (lightweight and pocket-sized) and easy to use.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/consumer-winner

Catherina, Smartly Illuminate Your LifeValentin Kulikov, Slovak Republic

Catherina presentsautono mous indoorlighting that utilizesrecent advances inLED technology. Thisluminaire is designedto be used as a com-pact light source withhigh efficiency and long lifetime. With the implementationof a highly sensitive PIR detector, Catherina behavesautonomously. It allows the user to get illumination whenneeded without touching any switch.

The user can precisely select the threshold value for min-imal ambient light. If the ambient light is below this thresh-old level (getting dark) and movement is detected, light iscontinuously increased and switched on. After approximate-ly 45 seconds, when there is no movement, it is slowly fadedout and finally switched off.

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

Ultra-Efficient LightingAlistair Macfarlane, East Kilbride, Scotland

In these ultra-high-effi-ciency LED light bulbs andluminaires, each of theindividual LEDs produceslittle local heat and is indi-vidually cooled by PCBtrack and/or small SMTtinned copper fins, which,with airflow through thebulb, provides exceptionalcooling without large-finned heat sinks or the need for iso-lation. The LEDs can be directed to give light in near-spher-ical distribution or made directional. A user-adjustable sen-sor mounted in each bulb allows automatic dimming to beselected, saving energy on days when the Sun shines, but thelights remain on. An option is remote-controlled dimmingfrom a tiny remote that has both a flashing LED so it can belocated in the dark, and is self-charging from a photocell sothat batteries never need to be replaced.

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

Honorable Mentions

“The combination of our skills in product design and materials engi-neering gave us the opportunity to develop a user friendly, environ-mentally sustainable device that addresses the issue of on-demandenergy production. This contest allowed us to promote our productto a large engineering and design community, and we hope we willbe able to collaborate with any interested individual or company.”

Consumer Products Category Winner(Winner of an HP Workstation)

4

Grid-X Cloud and Smartphone AcceleratorJames AwrachSeaFire Micros, Beverly, MA

Supercomputers are linked worldwide, creating ultra-high-performance cloud, utility, and grid computers. TheBandwidth-Delay Product (BWDP), where “delay” is the round-trip time for data transfer, defines required buffer memory.Grid-X addresses BWDP, and enables faster local and globallydistributed supercomputing at lower power and cost. SeaFirealso created a variant called Grid-X Mobile for smartphones.

Grid-X was developed to advance data transfer in high-per-formance computing (HPC) systems. Grid-X interfaces weredeveloped for the data transfer package GridFTP and interfacearchitecture to iRODS as part of the effort to reduce BWDP. BothGridFTP and iRODS are used for HPC data transfer by facilitiesat NASA, National Science Foundation (NSF)-sponsored labora-tories, national laboratories, and other federal entities.

Grid-X is network acceleration technology that reducesmemory requirements, reduces BWDP, and decreases powerconsumption per channel in multiples of 10 Gbps to 100 Gbpsfull-duplex (f-d). Grid-X increases CPU core resource availabil-ity. This innovation was created through novel firmware, hard-ware, and protocol design using COTS materials and transportwith UDP or TCP. Grid-X development was funded in part bySmall Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from NASAand NSF, and through seed investments.

Grid-X is being marketed for applications in cloud comput-ing network acceleration, enterprise network equipment, andprospective network IP sub-licensees. Additional applications

for Grid-X include accelerated management of defense sys-tems, and fast transfer of large volumes of hospital patientdata. Additional customers include manufacturers of HPC sys-tems or integrators. Grid-X Mobile would significantly increasespeed of streaming video to be enjoyed by smartphone users.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/electronics-winner

Isolating DIAC-Based Power Supply Saves Standby EnergyHans Diesing, Schoengeising, Bavaria, Germany

This invention is a simple, inexpensive, compact, isolated,ultra-low-power supply circuit with a standby consumptionin the range of one milliwatt. Apart from powering intelli-gent sensors, this circuit could provide minimal-loss, lowstandby power for monitoring and wake-up of bigger con-sumer electronics AC power supplies and charger adaptorsas a load demand watchdog circuit.

The novel circuit is based on a DIAC (a standard compo-nent in AC dimmers), a small pulse transformer commonlyused for dataline isolation, and three small capacitors: oneAC-current-limiting high-voltage input capacitor, and onehigh-voltage charging capacitor on the primary side, as well asone output buffering capacitor at the secondary side of theminiature pulse transformer behind a diode bridge rectifier.

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

NanoCam — MicroscopicSized CameraJames Scott, Saint Augustine, FL

The NanoCam is a tinycamera comprised of a singlephoto sensor, piezo actuator,and refractive component. Aworking macro prototype wasbuilt with a simple LED as thelight sensor, a quadrant piezo disc actuator, and fiber-opticstrand to sample the light. The oscillating disc deflects thefiber strand so that optical information is “scanned” to theLED. Because the deflection is controlled by frequency, thecamera can have numerous resolutions. The circuitry is asimple ADO and oscillator, sent to a serial or USB input of acomputer. The software reads the bitstream and constructsan image from the signal. Because the circuit and compo-nents are so simple and inexpensive, this can be scaled downusing lithography and other technologies, making this idealfor medical use, microstereoscopic arrays, micro/nanomachine vision, and disposable or consumable purposes.

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

Honorable Mentions

“I was inspired by the idea that cloud computing and mobile stream-ing video should be lightning-fast. This honor will help bring Grid-Xacceleration technology into the commercial cloud and smartphones.”

Electronics Category Winner(Winner of an HP Workstation)

5

Thermal Stir Welding ProcessJeff DingNASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama

The patented thermal stir welding process isa new solid-state (meaning the weld metal doesnot melt during welding) welding processinvented at NASA’s Marshall Space FlightCenter. The unique welding process de-cou-ples the heating, stirring, and forging elementsof friction stir welding, and allows for the inde-pendent control of each element of the weldprocess. An induction coil first heats the weldjoint material to a desired plasticized tempera-ture, at which time the weld joint materialmoves into a through-thickness stir rod thatstirs the already plastic material. The stir rodcan be independently controlled to rotate at a desired rotation-al speed or RPM. Upper and lower non-rotating containmentplates, also independently controlled, compress or squeeze the

plastic weld zone to consolidate the plasticizedmaterial as it is being stirred. The stir rod pro-trudes through the center of the upper con-tainment plate, through the weld materialthickness, and is captured by the lower con-tainment plate.

One of the more important aspects of theweld process is the capability to weld at a specif-ic temperature using closed-loop temperaturecontrol (patent pending). There is no otherweld process capable of doing this. The closed-loop temperature control feature allows theoperator to input a desired baseline tempera-ture at which he wants to weld. An ultrasonictechnology-based temperature sensor monitorsthe internal temperature of the plasticizedweld nugget, in real time, during welding.

Another important aspect of the weld process is the capabil-ity to perform “angled” welds. Because the induction coilheats weld metal into a plastic condition, non-rotating con-tainment plates can be shaped to accommodate weld joints ofdifferent geometries. For instance, the welding of flat platematerial (as shown in the photo) obviously requires flat con-tainment plates.

One of the most significant impacts on weld quality andstrength is the temperature to which the weld nugget is subject-ed, especially in a solid-state weld process. The ability to con-trol welding temperature through the weld metal’s plasticregime will have a significant impact on overall weld quality.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/machinery-winner

Self-Locking ActuatorElias Taye, Chicago, IL

In most gear drives,due to inertial motion,the driven output shaftbecomes the driving oneand the driving inputshaft becomes the drivenone. This condition isknown as back-driving. Inorder to prevent this con-dition, different types of brake or clutch devices are used,such as the self-locking worm gear with a low lead angle.However, worm gears have some limitations. These new self-locking gear actuators don’t have such application limita-tions. They can utilize any gear ratio from 1:1 and higher.They can be external, internal, or incorporated into a plan-etary gear stage or multistage gear systems. Their gear meshefficiency is significantly higher than the worm gears, andcloser to conventional gears. The self-locking gears may findmany applications in many industries, where position stabil-ity is very important in control systems.

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

Zebedee — Handheld Mobile Mapping DeviceElliot Duff, Pullenvale, Australia

Zebedee is a small, handheld de -vice that consists of a lightweightLiDAR scanner with 30-m (100-ft.)maximum range and an industrial-grade MEMS inertial measurementunit (IMU) mounted on a simplespring mechanism. As an operatorholding the device moves throughthe environment, the scanner loose-ly oscillates about the spring, therebyproducing a rotation that converts the LiDAR’s inherent 2Dscanning plane into a local 3D field of view. With the use ofproprietary software, the range measurements can be pro-jected into a common coordinate frame to generate an accu-rate 3D point cloud in real time. To achieve this result, thesoftware must estimate the six-degree-of-freedom (6DoF) tra-jectory of the scanner on top of the spring solely from theavailable range and inertial data. Zebedee’s ability to self-localize enables its use indoors, underground, and in cov-ered environments such as dense forest. As a handheld sen-sor, Zebedee can go almost anywhere a human can go.

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

Honorable Mentions

“Thermal stir welding was an idea I came up with while developingfriction stir welding. The thermal stir welding process de-couples theheating, stirring, and forging elements, and allows for individual con-trol of each. This allows for greater process control. Right now, withthermal stir welding, I believe it could be a significant advancementin welding technology, especially for high-melting-temperature alloysthat are difficult to weld with friction stir welding.”

Machinery & Equipment Category Winner(Winner of an HP Workstation)

6

Prosthetic Leg ConnectorDave KingSynergy Tech, Kelowna, BC Canada

This is a device to aid those who wearprosthetic limbs. The current state of the artis a multilayer system that consists of a cot-ton sock and a silicone rubber sock that fitsover the limb. The prosthesis can attach tothe silicone sock by means of a rod andratchet device. In the case of an artificial leg,the user places the rod into a receptacle inthe leg and steps into it. The ratchet thenholds onto the rod. However, this can causeproblems for patients who are physicallyweak or who suffer from tenderness in theremaining upper leg. That is enough to stopthe patient from trying to use the prosthesis.This device replaces the silicone sock and allows for much eas-ier “application” and better comfort.

The Prosthetic Leg Connector consists of a donut-shapedchamber on the bottom of a specially designed silicon sockthat has several vertical expansion chambers. The donut-shaped chamber is a reservoir for fluid. When pressure, suchas from standing, is placed on the socket, it compresses thedonut/toroid, which pumps fluid into the vertical expansionchambers that grip the limb. When the weight is removed,the fluid returns to the chamber and the grip loosens as aresult of the person walking and putting their weight ontothe leg.

This will pro-vide multiple ben-eficial effects; themost important isthe increased comfort level. Second, is the massaging action.This will also provide tactile feedback that lets the patientknow when he is putting weight on the limb. All of theseeffects will help someone walk faster with more comfort, andlonger. And they will have tactile feedback to help relearnhow to walk and balance.

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

SwipeSenseYuri Malina, Evanston, IL

SwipeSense is a portable,trackable hand sanitationdevice that clips onto thescrubs of a physician or nurse,and dispenses one dose ofalcohol hand sanitizer with thesqueeze of a hand. Embeddedelectronics in each devicetransmit individual handhygiene data to a Web applica-tion in real time via a sensor network plugged into outletsthroughout the hospital.

This enables the Web application to capture both handhygiene frequency data and location data based on deviceproximity to various sensors. The Web application provideshospital administration with anonymous reports for infec-tion prevention strategies, while providing personal rewardsand incentives to individual staff members.

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

V2 Renal Denervation System for Vessix VascularStuart Karten, Marina del Rey, CA

The V2 Renal DenervationSystem™ performs a fast,one-time procedure calledRenal Denervation (RD),which is clinically shown toalleviate hypertension. Usedin hospital catheterizationlabs, it deactivates nerves atthe base of the renal arterywith a short pulse of radiofre-quency energy, treating one of the physiological roots ofhypertension in just 30 seconds per artery.

Single-button operation makes the GUI simple to navi-gate. Users are notified that the catheter is in place, prompt-ed to push the button to deliver treatment, and then givenan on-screen summary. The entire process happens in justfour screens. Color, layers, and size create an informationhierarchy that distinguishes between information displayedfor knowledge and information that requires action.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/v2renal

Honorable Mentions

“The inspiration behind this was mydad. He had a heart attack while onvacation, and picked up an infectionthat resulted in him losing his leg mid-calf. I watched my dad struggle puttingon his prosthetic leg to the point ofexhaustion. He was discouraged, andalmost gave up trying to walk again. Iwas convinced there had to be a betterway. He passed away before getting touse this device. I know it would havemade a difference for him, and I believeit can do the same for others.”

Medical Category Winner(Winner of an HP Workstation) Category Sponsor:

7

LIFE PACK Hypothermia Prevention Floatation DeviceDwight and Jane CushmanVillage Memorial, Portland, OR

Even with floatation gear, when a person who is not pre-pared for the cold falls into cold water (temperatures of 52 °For less), the shock of the cold alone can be fatal. Most peoplewho die of hypothermia do so in the first few minutes fromfailure to breathe or to sustain their heart. The LIFE PACKfloatation device is designed to offer protection from cold-water temperatures, and the wearer can hold a child hands-freein water.

The LIFE PACK is a dual-bag floatation device incorporatingan inner thermal lined compartment that holds a heat-generat-ing, super-corrosion technology sleeve. This slim, lightweight,disposable, magnesium particle-impregnated sleeve is also cur-rently in use as flameless ration heaters (FRH). This heat-gener-ating element creates an exothermic reaction that allows itswearer to maintain hypostasis for several minutes, even in dan-gerously cold water. In just 12 minutes, the standard FRHsleeve’s temperature can reach 60 °C — enough heat to bring aliter of water to a boil. Heat is generated because the FRH con-tains magnesium metal-impregnated material that when mixedwith water, forms magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen, initiat-ing the emission of excess energy. Adding water breaks mole-cule bonds, and energy is released when the atoms re-bond toform new molecules. The corrosion is the process of the mag-nesium metal reacting with the air and water. But where theexposure to air would usually form a film, preventing further

oxidation of the magnesium, the salt eats away at the formingrust coating, thereby allowing the water to continue to reactdirectly with the metal and speeding up the corrosion process.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/safety-winner

Leakproof DamperStanley Demster, Lenexa, KS

There are many situations that require an absoluteleakproof seal of an air duct in a building. This inventionconsists of a recently patented leakproof damper thatincludes integrated monitoring of the damper performancethat can remotely indicate the condition of the damper. Afailing or failed damper is reported to the operator. Thisprocess is called “automatic proofing.”

The differential pressure reading provides the proofingfunction. A small leak in a damper will reduce the pressure,but the blower will cause air drawn from the clean side toleak out to the dirty side rather than have dirty air leak intothe clean side. A larger leak may cause a loss in pressure andthe system can then alarm. The objective is to detect leakagebefore it becomes critical.

The damper can be used to replace existing dampers inducts today. It contains no exotic or rare materials, andshould have an operational life that is equal to convention-al dampers. This damper can enhance safety and protectionwhen working with dangerous airborne materials.

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

LED/Optic Identity Verification in the Visible and IRFrequenciesHarry Wainwright, Bethlehem, PA

This is a method of employ-ing a 10+" flexible, embedded,light-emitting alphanumericdisplay in conjunction withstandard night-sensitive securi-ty cameras or portable, stan-dard-issue FLIR equipment toverify the identity of properauthority on individuals froma distance. Fusing PMMA optical fibers into the rear of a jack-et defining the letters or symbols of an agency keeps the lettersinvisible until a wearer decides to activate them to be seen.

Two display options are instantly available for a wearer toactivate by pressing an embedded switch in the sleeve. Onewill trigger a high-intensity light output in the visible range sothat surrounding observers are aware of the identity of a per-son of authority, and the second option allows for one toemit infrared through the letters so only others in a team canidentify without allowing casual observers to see the display.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/led-display

Honorable Mentions

“When several cases involving strong, young adults drowning inlocal waterways passed through our Portland funeral homes, we feltbewildered and frustrated by the deaths. The role of hypothermiawas largely underestimated in drowning cases. We hope exposure inNASA Tech Briefs connects us with folks interested in life-savingemergency response gear who would like to bring products like theLIFE PACK to market.”

Safety & Security Category Winner(Winner of an HP Workstation)

8

Aquaback Water Purification SystemBill Zebuhr, Scott Newquist, David Dussault,E. Andrew Condon, Steven Sahagian,Nicholas Wong, Michael Easton, William Burie, Charles Blanchard, and Nicole SandovalAquaback Technologies, Tewksbury, MA

A highly efficient, low-cost, low-maintenance, compact, modularvapor compression distiller isdesigned to be the water processingmodule in a wide variety of water pro-cessing systems to clean incomingwater or reclaim waste water. The sys-tems will enable recycling of mostwater for any use, including potablewater, at a lower overall cost than anyother technology or combinations oftechnologies, addressing water supplyand disposal problems worldwide. Distillation provides thehighest-purity water in a single operation, but until now, dis-tillers have been too expensive to make or operate to be practi-cal. Aquaback has optimized every aspect of distillation usingthe known vapor compression method to recycle over 99% ofthe heat of vaporization using a mass-manufactured, self-clean-ing design.

The basic module design is sized for a single household, butis scalable by combining individual modules in arrays for larg-

er-capacity systems applicable to industrial and commercialwastewater reuse or purification systems. The combination oflow direct energy consumption and the absence of consumablefilters and chemicals minimizes environmental impact.

The operating temperature is the boiling point of water, sothe system is designed fundamentally to conserve heat. It isenclosed in a vacuum insulation shell that loses less than 20Watts of power at standby, and enables an external tempera-ture that is only a few degrees above ambient. The compressoris a high-speed turbo machine, with a single moving part, run-ning on water bearings. It consumes less than 400W while pro-ducing 20 gallons per hour of distillate from a wide variety ofinfluents, including sewage.

Large markets will include distributed household wastewatertreatment systems that can offer full recycling and zero dis-charge if desired, industrial wastewater treatment, and point-of-entry water systems.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/sustainable-winner

Solar Boiler Electrical Generator and Heat MachineMatthew Davis, Oak Ridge, TN

By focusing sunlight on a linearboiler (with a parabolic trough orlinear fresnel reflector), makingsteam, and putting that through anefficient steam turbine connected toa permanent magnet alternator anda condensing thermal storage tank,it is possible to make heat, hot water,and electricity at higher efficienciesand lower cost than using photo-voltaics. This design utilizes an ana-log tracking system that requires noelectricity, uses solar energy to cre-ate movement, and operates on fluid logic.

The system is made from common materials, and can bebuilt by almost anyone from residential power consumers tooff-grid, third-world consumers. Further iterations will beuseful for cooling and heating of containers, as well as inter-planetary applications.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/solar-boiler

Solar Ice MakerDuilio Guetti, Montesilvano, Pescara, Italy

The Solar Ice Maker is arefrigerator for the storage ofvaccines that is completelyautonomous and independ-ent from electricity.

The Solar Ice Maker con-sists of a solar collector con-nected to an evaporator and acondenser. The system usesthe properties of some solidmaterials (adsorbent materi-als) to fix on its surface water vapor, methanol, or ethanolvapor. The system operates alternating a useful night stage,in which the working fluid evaporates to give the coolingeffect, to a daytime stage where the adsorbent is regenerat-ed by solar radiation. The minimum ice production of themachine is about 7.5 kg, which is used as a cold storageinside the unit. The unit does not require electricity, skilledoperators, or maintenance.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/ice-maker

Honorable Mentions

“Years of work and innovation in the energy and water businessmade it clear that current water purification technologies could be,and should be, improved. A strong motivation for developing thistechnology was an interest in creating communities that could besustainable. Winning this award will facilitate the interaction withothers with the same interest and goals to collaborate on achievingthe overall objectives of a cleaner and more healthful future.”

Sustainable Technologies Category Winner(Winner of an HP Workstation)

9

Re-Thinking Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems Ivan BatinicATPS, Inc., San Martin, CA

The ATPS system is a new approach to implementing vehic-ular Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) that is moreeconomical and ecological than existing systems. A passive,non-electronic sending unit (inside the tire) eliminates RFelectronics, thermal compensation issues, raising of the RFnoise-floor, and wasteful consumption of limited lithiumresources for batteries. The TPMS is comprised of two funda-mental components per wheel/tire assembly: an in-tire trans-ducer, and an external, statically mounted chassis sensing com-ponent. Signal processing is performed by direct 2- or 3-wiresensor interfaces.

The pressure transducer directly converts air pressure to aknown distance between two permanent magnets, relative to a

standard barometric reference (25 ºC at sea level). This isaccomplished by affixing a permanent magnet on both ends ofa cylindrical aneroid bellows. The aneroid bellows is hermeti-cally sealed with an internal atmosphere of nitrogen, whichexhibits the same temperature coefficient of expansion as air,without the corrosive ozone or moisture components. TheATPS pressure transducer is extremely reliable and robust, andhas a longer lifespan than the vehicle itself.

The active sensing of the magnetic moments, or sendingunit’s, relative magnetic distance is accomplished with a mag-netic sensor per-wheel, configured as a digital switch. Thisenables the transmission of vehicle tire air pressure informa-tion wirelessly, and without the use of RF or active circuitry.Each wheel sensor is mounted statically relative to the wheelspindle. The digital nature of this sensor eliminates any analoguncertainty incurred by real-world effects.

For more information, visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/transportation-winner

Module WheelchairSebastian Menzel, Srem, Wielkopolska, Poland

This active wheelchairconsists of two mainparts: a seat module anda wheel module. Thewheelchair folds withoutthe help of other people.The small size makes itpossible for the user topack the wheelchair easi-ly into a car. The user can choose different types of wheels,depending on need.

The user may change the angle of the seat to stabilize thebody better. Moreover, since the wheels work like a tanktread, the user may protect their hands from injury. Thewheelchair has great balance since 80% of the weight isfocused at the main wheel axis.

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

Low-Loss Planetary Shift TransmissionRichard Lloyd, Coventry, West Midlands, United Kingdom

A novel type of planetaryshift transmission has beendesigned with reduced para-sitic losses. Instead of oil-immersed multi-plate clutches,a small number of externaldry-friction devices is used toengage the six available gearratios. With dry friction, theapplication force and the dragwhen disengaged are significantly reduced.

The transmission provides 6 ratios, which are determinedby the ring gear/sun gear ratios of the planetary gear sets,as well as the fixed internal structure. Since the frictiondevices are external, the transmission can function withoutelectronic or electro-hydraulic systems, and the wearing ele-ments are simple to replace. There are no rotating clutcheswith complex oil feed arrangements. The internal compo-nents are conventional gears, bearings, and shafts.

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

Honorable Mentions

“Whether an ordinary Joe with an extraordinary idea, or vice-versa,ideas submitted to the Create the Future contest go far beyond thestandard peer review common to thousands of Internet forums byguaranteeing an objective and impartial review by a panel of world-class scientists. For me, it has validated the economic viability andecological value of an idea that lacked funding to otherwise marketit to industry. Now I believe implementing this idea will become asurgent to industry as it has been for ATPS for the past several years.”

Transportation Category Winner(Winner of an HP Workstation)

10

Michael Akins, Senior ConsultantWorley ParsonsReading, PA

Malath Arar, Senior EngineerGeneral Electric Schenectady, NY

Dean Barker, Dr.Physics for IndustryAuckland, New Zealand

Nate Bernklau, Design EngineerJohn DeereDavenport, IA

Douglas Bradley, Composite Materials SpecialistGeneral DynamicsSterling Heights, MI

Stuart Brown, Managing PrincipalVeryst EngineeringNeedham, MA

Kyle Bunch, Research andDevelopment ScientistPacific Northwest National LaboratoryRichland, WA

Jeff Crompton, Principal AltaSim TechnologiesColumbus, OH

Juergen DenkerSenior Research EngineerTK PolysiusBeckum, Germany

Mitch Finn, Engineering ManagerMedtronicFridley, MN

Venkat Gaddam, Electrical EngineerMedtronic NeurologicalMinneapolis, MN

Alan Goelzer, Group ManagerJacobs ConsultancyDurham, NH

David Jorde, Senior DevelopmentDesign EngineerSolar Turbines Inc.San Diego, CA

Pankaj Kalore, EngineerSiemensBuffalo Grove, IL

Matthijs Klomp, Dr.eAAM Driveline SystemsTrollhattan, Sweden

James D. Lane, Automation EngineerBPDurango, CO

James Lauer, Lean 6 Sigma MasterBlack BeltCaterpillarMorton, IL

Nora McGuinness, Global Marketing & CommunicationsNordson EFDEast Providence, RI

Scott Moore, Senior Staff TechnologistAlliant TechsystemsAnoka, MN

Stephen Osborne, Senior Electrical EngineerStanley Black & DeckerTowson, MD

Sergio Pacheco, Program ManagerFreescaleTempe, AZ

Anilkumar Pandit, Senior Consulting EngineerGE EnergyBangalore, India

Pramod Patil, Assistant GeneralManagerSuzlon Energy Ltd.Pune, India

Samuel R. Phillips, ConsultingEngineerSamuel R. Phillips ConsultingGrass Valley, CA

Antonio Quintieri, Senior EngineerProcter & GambleStrombeck Bever, Belgium

Carlos E. Ramirez ValenzuelaResearcherInstitute De Investigaciones ElectricasCuernavaca, Mexico

Kiran Reddy, Senior Research ScientistKimberly Clark Corp.Roswell, GA

Paul Schwendinger, Program ManagerHoneywellGolden Valley, MN

Peter Seiler, Principal MaterialsEngineerMedtronicMount View, MN

Susan Stanton, PrincipalSBCiSunbury, OH

Thomas J. Steinbrunner, ElectronicsEngineerNational Air and Space Intelligence CenterWright-Patterson AFB, OH

Darren Stevenson, ResearcherUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL

Glenn Strahs, Technology ManagerU.S. Department of EnergyWashington, DC

David Strei, Principal EngineerRosemount Inc.Chanhassen, MN

Vladimir Theodorof, EngineeringSpecialistCaterpillarDunlap, IL

Michael Vidal, Director of QualityNordson EFDEast Providence, RI

Rich White, Mechanical R&D EngineerAgilent TechnologiesWilmington, DE

Brandon L. Winslow, Clinical EngineerProvidence Health and ServicesPortland, OR

Jian Zhang, Principal SystemsInformatics AnalystAmgenThousand Oaks, CA

Meet the JudgesCOMSOL, Nordson EFD, and Tech Briefs Media Group thank the following judges for their participation.

Evacuated Tube Transport Technologies (ET3)™Daryl Oster, ET3 Global AllianceThis global transportation system is silent, low-cost, fast, secure, safe, andenvironmentally friendly. It uses car-sized magnetically levitated capsulesthat carry 6 people or 800 pounds of cargo. Visithttp://contest.techbriefs.com/ET3

Benchtop Pomegranate De-seederUddhab Bharali, UKB AgrotechA cylindrical container with a rotating disc uses centrifugal force to pushthe fruit towards the side walls. It de-seeds the fruit in a few seconds. Visithttp://contest.techbriefs.com/deseeder

Making Fuel from Vehicular EmissionsJaideep Singh, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.The bioremediation-based, modified catalytic convertor uses algae,enabling it to produce liquid fuel from emissions. Visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/fuel

Multi-Function Photocatalytic Solar DesalinationAmin Taheri Najafabadi, Vancouver, CanadaGreen hydrogen produced via artificial photosynthesis with zero storageand transportation costs can provide potable water in remote areas. Visithttp://contest.techbriefs.com/desalination

Adaptive Smart Home TechnologyAmit Badlani, Texas InstrumentsThe adaptive home tracks human behavior and responds according to theneeds of the people living in the house. Visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/smarthome

Virtual Walking Stick for the Visually ImpairedJonathan and Maxwell Tolstedt, Brainstorm ConsultingThe device features an integrated global satellite receiver and inertial meas-urement unit that allow the device to know its exact location. Visithttp://contest.techbriefs.com/walkingstick

Inoculation Monitoring DeviceAvantika, Birla Institute of TechnologyThis automated device helps people keep track of immunization schedulesusing a buzzer accompanied by audio assistance, as well as visual display.Visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/inoculation

Solar Boiler Electrical Generator and Heat MachineSee details on this technology on page 28.

Design and Development of a Multi Stage Contra Rotating Mini Axial CompressorAmit Mangtani, IIT BombayThe compressor eliminates stators and decreases the compressor lengthand weight. It also provides more pressurization in reduced length. Visithttp://contest.techbriefs.com/compressor

Flying SaferAlaa Thabet, Ideal Standard InternationalThis technology provides a range of parachutes to an aircraft to slow itsmotion through the atmosphere, reducing the collision force of the aircraftwith the ground. Visit http://contest.techbriefs.com/flying

11

Top Ten Most Popular EntriesVisitors to the Create the Future Design Contest Web site were invited to vote on their favorite entries. Here are the top ten most pop-ular entries, winners of a SpaceMouse Pro 3D mouse from 3Dconnexion.

Contest SponsorsThe 2012 Create the Future Design Contest is sponsored by COMSOL, Inc. and Nordson EFD.

Nordson EFDNordson EFD designs and manufac-

tures precision fluid dispensing systems forbenchtop assembly processes and auto-mated assembly lines. By enabling manu-facturers to apply the same amount ofadhesive, lubricant or other assembly fluidto every part, every time, EFD dispensingsystems are helping companies in a widevariety of industries increase throughput,improve quality and lower their produc-tion costs. Other fluid management capa-bilities include high-quality syringe barrelsand cartridges for packaging one- and two-component materials, and a wide varietyof fittings, couplers and connectors forcontrolling fluid flow in medical, biophar-maceutical and industrial environments.The company is also a leading formulatorof high-quality solder pastes for printingand dispensing applications in the elec-tronics industry. www.nordsonefd.com

COMSOL, Inc.COMSOL, Inc. (Burlington, MA) pro-

vides software solutions for multiphysicsmodeling and simulation. Its flagshipproduct, COMSOL Multi physics, letsengineers and scientists build simula-tions to verify and optimize their designs.Its unparalleled ability to include all rele-vant physical effects that exist in the realworld opens up a wide array of modelingpossibilities. COMSOL’s customers applythis technology to make cars and aircraftsafer and more energy efficient, enhancethe reception of our cell phones, searchfor new energy sources, explore the uni-verse, develop medical equipmentenabling more accurate diagnoses, andeducate the next generation of scientists.www.comsol.com

Value Plastics, Inc.(Medical Category sponsor)

Value Plastics, a Nordson company,designs and manufactures over 4,000plastic tubing components. Productsinclude quick connect, luer, tapered seal,tube-to-tube, threaded, blood pres-sure, biopharm, and bondable fittingsdesigned for use with tubing IDs between1/16" (1.6mm) and 1" (25.4mm).www.valueplastics.com

Prize sponsors:

12

2012 Contest Awards DinnerJanuary 18, 2013

The Russian Tea Room, New York CityPhotos: Ellen Dubin, Ellen Dubin Photography

2012 Grand Prize and First Place Category WinnersTop Row: Bill Zebuhr, Dwight Cushman, Ben Madoff, Andrew Condon,Amin Taheri Najafabadi, Craig Bruns (for Dave King)Bottom Row: Jane Cushman, Mark Wagner, Jeff Ding, Massimo Micocci,James Awrach, Ivan Batinic

Grand Prize Winners and Contest SponsorsMike Vidal, Contest Sponsor, EFD Nordson; Mark Wagner and BenMadoff, Sensorcon, Grand Prize Winners; and Bernt Nilsson, ContestSponsor, COMSOL.

Daniel Lockney, Guest Speaker, Technology Transfer Program Executive,NASA Headquarters.

13

Contest Awards Dinner January 18, 2013

Popular Vote Winner, Amin Taheri Najafabadi (center), for Multi-Function Photocatalytic Solar Desalination with contest sponsors.

Craig Bruns (accepting award for Dave King), with sponsors, for MedicalCategory first place winner for the Prosthetic Leg Connector.

Center: Massimo Micocci, first place winner in the Consumer ProductsCategory for LumEN: Luminescent Solar Concentrators for Sustainable,On-Demand Electricity Production.

Jeff Ding, first place winner in the Machinery & Equipment category,receiving his award from NASA Tech Briefs’ editorial director, Linda Bell.

14

Jane and Dwight Cushman, first place winners in the Safety & SecurityCategory accepting the award for their LIFE PACK HypothermiaPrevention Floatation Device design.

Andrew Condon and Bill Zebuhr (center), first place winners in theSustainable Technologies Category for the Aquaback Water PurificationSystem, accept their award from the contest sponsors.

Center: Ivan Batinic, first place winner in the Transportation Categoryfor Re-Thinking Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems.

Contest Awards Dinner January 18, 2013