2014 Winners
Click here to view the 2014 Regional Winners
Click here to view the 2014 Honorable Mentions
1st Place West Salem High School — Salem, OR
Back (L to R): Michael Lampert (Coach), Jonathan Williams (Mentor), Anton Schuster, Ron Partch(Toshiba), Front (L to R): Cameron Johnson, Eleanor Fadely, Emma Harnisch
Quantum Dot Energy Harvesters for Powering Implantable Medical Devices
Presently, electronic medical implants such as pacemakers, defibrillators, and neurostimulators rely on batteries that require constant surgical replacement. A convenient and permanent solution will harvest the thermal energy of the human body through a simple heat engine made from quantum dots. Quantum dots are nanocrystals that exhibit special properties, namely their ability to easily morph into efficient semiconductors, which will revolutionize thermoelectric generators and supercapacitors. Heat engines made with quantum dots have high efficiencies because of their chemical potential energy, yielding high energy densities and power outputs. Our Quantum BioEngine system will generate energy through temperature gradients of the body using a solid state chip implanted subcutaneously. The convergence of quantum dot technology with biomedical devices will create a world where human power sustains human life.
2nd Place W. L. Mackenzie C. I. — Toronto, ON
Kimberly Luces (Toshiba), Liane Celseti (Vice Principal), Ricky Chen, Dan Timonera, Ingridi Musa, Cindy Law (Coach)
LTCHDTM using P-SOT
We propose the use of fully photonic (using light alone) optical transistors to boost optical computing. These “optical transistors” would effectively achieve greater processing power. These optical transistors would use photonic-saturation to saturate a nanocrystal to the point where it stops absorbing light of a specific wavelength, consequently letting excess light pass through. Our optical transistor will be capable of running at multiple wavelengths, allowing each unit to perform the function of multiple transistors simultaneously.
1st Place Marlboro Middle School — Marlboro, NJ
Back (L to R): Paul Pires, Jessica Ramos (Toshiba), Denise Hayston (Coach), Randy Back (Toshiba), Front (L to R): Nikhil Chakraborty, Louis Li, Justin Chen, Rohit Sivananthan,
iGlasses - The Eyeglasses of the Future?
The eyeglasses of the future will provide improved vision, greater connectivity, and early detection of eye diseases. iGlasses will automatically adjust its lenses based on the object being viewed and the needs of the user’s eye to provide perfect vision, eliminating continuous changes in prescriptions, need for bifocals, and eye strain. iGlasses will also provide the user with real-time content directly to the lens and scan the eye for problems. The lens will be made from a material that adjusts its refractive index based on an electric current. The frame will have iris and pupil tracking to determine the object the user is viewing, infrared sensors to get distance from the object, micro-cameras to detect changes in the dimensions and health of the inside of the eye, a microprocessor, a display on the lens, and technology for communication.
2nd Place Northview High School—Duluth, GA
Yashi Sanghvi, Amy Hu, Amanda Zhang, Sara Lepkofker (Coach), Not in the picture: Lesley King (Toshiba)
Kidney Microfilter Regulation Device (K.M.R.D.)
The Kidney Microfilter Regulation Device (K.M.R.D.) is an artificial silicone kidney that will be surgically implanted into a patient’s body. It will have scanning nanofilters that will identify and regulate levels of phosphorous and other large particles in the blood that can be harmful in high concentrations as well as figure out what particles to let through the artificial kidney membrane. The K.M.R.D. will have most functions of a healthy kidney such as releasing hormones, balancing particles, and checking substance levels in the blood as well as medical reporting features.
1st Place Locust Valley Intermediate School — Locust Valley, NY
Bob Triscari (Toshiba), Roarke Creedon, Matthew Klein, Shawn Kapoor, Anne Joyce (Coach), Maria Sidor (Mentor)
Plant Power – Super-hydrophobic Lotus Leaf
Our innovation will involve the nano-imprinting of the lotus leaf pattern on airplane exteriors so that ice and snow no longer build-up and affect airplane safety. The surface of the lotus leaf is “super-hydrophobic,” it repels water. Currently, the airplane industry has to address ice and snow build-up after it has formed on the exterior of an airplane. The de-icing and anti-icing processes use chemicals that run-off into the water and impact the natural habitat. Our vision is to make airplane flight safer with this preventative measure.
2nd Place Countryside Montessori Charter — Land O' Lakes, FL
Lorna Cohen (Coach), Sophia Nobles, Joseph Santana, Catherine Tomasello, Peter Fehrenbach (Toshiba), Heather Tomasello (Mentor)
WateRenew: Wave Power for Clean Water
Our idea, WateRenew, will have wave wings to harness energy, and a cutting-edge desalination plant to generate drinking water from the ocean. The vacillating hydroelectric forces of the underwater swells provide renewable energy. The wave wings will provide electricity, with no extra carbon dioxide being released. Then, a new reverse osmosis membrane made out of grapheme will trap salt while allowing water molecules to flow through.
1st Place John Ross Elementary — Edmond, OK
Front Row (L to R): Kathy Conrad (Mentor), Ciara Newberry, Elora Johnson, Swapneel Mandal, Heidi Walter (Coach), Shawn Frost (Toshiba Rep), Credit: Susan Parks-Schlepp
Hot Car Safety System
The Hot Car Safety system warns when a car gets too hot for people or animals to be in the car by sounding an alarm. Weight sensors placed under the seats of the car ensure that the system turns on to protect all occupants.
2nd Place Waldron Mercy Academy — Merion Station, PA
Back Row (L to R): Liz Meyer (Coach), Nell Stetser (Principal), Charlie Giunta (Toshiba Rep)
Front Row (L to R): Ella McGovern, Lindsay McBride, Antoine Adson, Krishnan Raj, Credit: Trish Lockett
Not in the picture: Lucille Morinelli (Mentor)
S.A.F.E.R. (Saving All Friends Escaping Rip currents)
S.A.F.E.R. is designed to save people that become stuck in a rip current while swimming at the beach. It is a wearable, inflatable belt that stores both pressure and velocity sensors, and GPS technology that will save a swimmer from the dangers of a rip current.
