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“Through the whole process, I actually began to see my design turn into a prototype, and now my prototype might actually become a patented reality. By the end, I was so happy that I had chosen to take a chance on myself and do something that brought my engineering and hooping life together.”
—Danielle McIntosh
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“I thought of this product two years ago—I wrote it down and kind of forgot about it for awhile. And I realized that if I didn’t do it, I’d always regret it, so I just decided to pursue it. The competition is a great outlet for anyone interested in innovation and development. The experience gives you the tools to develop the idea and the confidence to continue.”
—Daniel Gartenberg
Mete Kural won the first place $10,000 prize for his Concentrating Spectrum-Splitting Solar Photovoltaic System. (large image) |
For his winning invention — Concentrating Spectrum-Splitting Solar Photovoltaic System — Kural received $10,000. Of the 10 entries this year, a panel of judges deemed Kurals the most creative, novel, innovative, patentable and likely to succeed in the marketplace.
An electrical engineering major from Turkey, Kural said his concentrator, which splits sunlight into the different colors of the spectrum, provides a more efficient and cost-effective way of collecting and using solar energy. This type of energy can then be used to provide electricity for lighting, refrigeration and other household and business needs. Rural regions — to which it is expensive to extend the power grid — would benefit greatly from this system, he noted.
BRAINSTORM is conducted by the UW Technology Enterprise Cooperative, with support from UW-Madisons College of Engineering and School of Business. Funding is provided by Richard J. Schoofs (BSChE 53), chairman of Schoofs Incorporated.
The second place award ($7,000) went to mechanical engineering senior Jake Myre for his invention, Snap-In Joist Stiffener. (large image) |
The second place award ($7,000) went to Jake Myre, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, for his invention, Snap-In Joist Stiffener. The device is essentially two “hinged” pieces of galvanized steel with teeth on each end. The teeth sink into the ends of the facing sides of floor joists. By pushing up on the device, it locks in place.
The advantage of this system over traditional joist stiffeners is that it can be put in place at any time, not just when a house is being built, said Myre. And because it does not need to be connected by any hardware, he added, it would be less expensive to install.
Thomas Edison, one of the world's most famous inventors, made an appearance at BRAINSTORM in the form of Professor Willis J. Tompkins. Here, "Mr. Edison" visits with modern day inventor Eric Wobig, whose Air Lift for wheelchairs won third prize in the BRAINSTORM competition and an Aschenbrenner Prototype Prize. (large image) |
Third Place ($4,000) went to Eric Wobig, a senior in mechanical engineering, for his invention, Air Lift. In simplest terms, the device is two metal plates sandwiching an inflatable bladder and placed in the seat of a wheel chair. Through a control on the wheelchairs arm, the user can inflate the bladder with carbon dioxide to gain an additional six inches for such activities as reaching a can on a shelf. Deflation is just as quick and simple.
Some BRAINSTORM contestants built working models of their inventions, and two such entries received $2,500 Aschenbrenner Prototype Prize, which recognize the best prototypes. These awards, funded by alumnus Tom Aschenbrenner (BSEE 70), went to Wobigs Air Lift for wheelchairs, and a system to ensure hand sanitation developed by Brian Gill (senior, computer science), Wesley Gill (junior, mechanical engineering) and Nathaniel Sellin (senior, electrical engineering).
The hand sanitation process combines an ID card sewn into employee shirts, card-reading sensors mounted near a restroom sink and soap dispenser, and software that records each employees usage data. This system, said the inventors, would be ideal in such facilities as fast food restaurants, food service businesses and daycare centers, etc.
Dorene Kent tied for a fourth place $1,000 prize. The senior chemical engineering major invented a hollow shoe heel for storing personal items such as lipstick and keys. (large image) |
There was a tie for fourth prize, with each entry receiving $1,000: Dorene Kent, a senior chemical engineering major, invented a hollow shoe heel for storing personal items such as lipstick and keys. A hinged door on the front of the heel allows access to the items. Kent said she got the idea after spending $25 for a velvet-and-rhinestone purse to attend a formal. She only used the purse once and wished she had a less expensive manner of stashing small essentials.
Jeffrey Schwai (left) and Erik Burgardt (right) show their fourth place winning entry to Dean John G. Bollinger. The team invented The Safety Range, which reduces the risk of stove fires by preventing burners from operating when they do not have a pot on them. (large image) |
Jeffrey Schwai (junior, mechanical engineering) and Erik Burgardt (senior, industrial engineering) invented The Safety Range, which reduces the risk of stove fires by allowing burners to operate only when there is a pot on them. The students reported 1997 statistics indicating that more than 23 percent of all U.S. home fires started in the kitchen.
Other BRAINSTORM entries included:
No More Slips, by Timin Musallam, a device that drops sand in front of automobile tires to improve traction on ice.
Pocket Memory, by David Overbo, a device for carrying electronic cash and coupons.
Pressure Washer Powered Jet Pump, by Clayton Shakal, a jet pump with a high flow rate and low-to-moderate pumping head capabilities.
Pedal-Powered Seaweed Harvester, by Justin Rohde, which uses leg power to cut and retrieve seaweed.
Judging this years competition were Oliver Julien (BSME 62), Design Concepts; Scott Button (BSME 89), Venture Investors of Wisconsin; David M. Weber (BSIE 85, MBA 91), GE Medical Systems; Monty Schmidt (BSEE 88), Sonic Foundry, Inc.; and Virginia Hinshaw, dean of the UW-Madison Graduate School.
Jan Ver Hagen (BSME 61), senior vice president of corporate projects for Emerson Electric, provided this years keynote address — “Picking the Winners: A Corporate Executives View of How Innovation Becomes Product and Profitable Business.”
