Undergraduate invention competitions slated for Feb 8-9

Ski bindings, a reclining wheelchair, digital window-front advertising, a page-turning machine and an online community are rarely found in the same context.

But they and 15 other inventions, all conceived and built by University of Wisconsin–Madison undergraduate students, will be the center of attention at the annual UW-Madison Innovation Days competitions, to be held Feb. 8-9 in the Mechanical Engineering Building on the College of Engineering campus.

Undergraduate students will present their ideas and demonstrate prototypes in hopes of earning a share of more than $27,000 in prizes in the Schoofs Prize for Creativity and Tong Prototype Prize competitions.

Designed to foster creativity and entrepreneurship in students and give them prototype-building and patent-filing experience, the contest awards teams whose ideas and inventions are judged the most innovative and most likely to succeed in the marketplace as well as the best ideas notebook and the best presentation.

Innovation Days is free and open to the public. All prototypes will be on display during the presentations and judging Thursday, Feb. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and many will we on display during the presentations on Friday, Feb 9 from 8 to 10 a.m. Winners will be announced on Feb. 9 at 12:30 p.m.

UW–Madison students can receive a door-prize ticket for each presentation they attend. The prizes, including gift certificates, electronics and camping gear, will be distributed in a drawing after the awards ceremony.

UW–Madison chemical engineering alumnus Richard J. Schoofs (BS ’53) sponsors the Schoofs Prize for Creativity; the Tong Family Foundation, including electrical and computer engineering alumnus Peter P. Tong (MS ’65), sponsors the Tong Prototype Prize and grants.

The Mechanical Engineering Building is located at 1513 University Ave. Visitors can park in Lot 17, the parking ramp on Engineering Drive.

A schedule of student presentations for Thursday include:

– 9-9:15 a.m.: Wedell AT Binding Interface, a system that provides alpine touring abilities to a standard downhill skiing system (Geoffrey Gullickson).

– 9:20-9:35 a.m.: Mechanical Water Purifier, a device to make water potable in third-world countries by removing particles and killing bacteria (Bryan Faust, Greg Troszak, Braden McDermott and Chris Stone).

– 9:40-9:55 a.m.: The High Roller, a wheelchair that can lift and recline to assist in transferring dependent patients between the chair and a bed (Ana Considine, John Nacker, Amy Stoikes, Tim Swenson and Tom Ahlstrom).

– 10-10:15 a.m.: Tactile Feedback for the Blind, a computer touch screen with sound feedback and tactile tongue stimulation that enables blind users to more easily use a computer (Justin Beck, Nathan Klapoetke, Jason Malinowski).

– 10:20-10:35 a.m.: Elderly Computer, a simple, easy-to-navigate computer operating system for senior citizens (Justin Beck).

– 10:40-10:55 Prototype judging.

– 11-11:15 a.m.: BugsTOP, a pond surface agitator that prevents mosquito breeding (Paul Grogan, Kevin McMullen, Mike Tupek, Ryan Larson, Jacob Notbohm and Colin VanDercreek).

– 11:20-11:35 a.m.: Window Inked, transparent LCD digital advertising for storefront windows (Aashish Mehta and Ibrahim Khansa).

– 11:40-11:55 a.m.: Universal Mug Cap, a device that turns any household coffee mug into a leak-proof beverage container (Aashish Mehta).

– Noon-12:25 p.m. Prototype judging.

– 1-1:15 p.m.: Adaptive Fishing Kit, a system that adapts a standard fishing rod and reel so that people with injuries, paralysis or amputation can use it with one arm (Brian “Sunya” Nimityongskul).

– 1:20-1:35 p.m.: Windshield Whiz, a mechanical windshield cover, operated completely on the driver’s side of the vehicle, that prevents snow and ice from accumulating on a car windshield (Chelsea Sabo, Colin Hackbarth, Doug LaPoint and Richard Ehmer).

– 1:40-1:55 p.m.: Smart Brake, an electronic device that monitors wheel acceleration and applies brakes to prevent a rollator walker from rolling away from its user on hills or during a fall (Adam Anders).

– 2-2:15 p.m.: Personal Audio Feedback Sonar, a hat to help the blind and visually impaired navigate by emitting audio signals that change in pitch to indicate distance to a hazard (Dan Volk).

– 2:20-2:35 p.m.: Car Door Thermal Defroster, remotely controlled heat strips positioned around a car door frame to thaw frozen doors (Tae Wook Ahn, Yunmi Chung, Hyungjin Kim, Young Joon Paul Choe, Changhwan Hong, Na Kyung Ham, Hsien-na Chu and Chai Sun Chang).

– 2:40-2:55 p.m.: Wheel-Ease, a fold-out wheelchair wheel that that makes it easier to transfer a patient to and from the chair (Brian Blakeman, Keith Rein, Chris Weber, Nali Thepavong and Nick Haehn).

– 3-4 p.m. Prototype judging.

A schedule of student presentations for Thursday include:

– 8-8:15 a.m.: The Automatic Page Turning Machine, a hands-free device that holds books and turns pages for musicians, chefs, people with disabilities and others (Ling Jun Wong).

– 8:20-8:35 a.m.: UW Pipeline, an online community for UW–Madison students to post classified ads, auction books and other items, and plan events (Brandon Kelly and Bobby Drummond).

– 8:40-8:55 a.m.: Motorcycle Lighting Innovations, a helmet-mounted indicator system and map light for motorcycle drivers (Chris Meyer).

– 9-9:15 a.m.: SwingGuard, a remotely controlled device that cleans rain gutters or eaves from ground level (Bingyi Yu).

– 9:20-9:35 a.m.: Ladder CAT, a device for safely lifting loads up the entire span of an extension ladder (Dan Goesch, Elliot Haag, Logan Hamel, Mike Sracic and Dave Tengler).

– 9:40-9:55 a.m.: EZ Lift Pro, a space-saving lifting platform for warehouse storage (Eric Anstadt, Phil Welte, Ryan Cutshall and Andrea Martin).