Sensor That Makes Smartphones "Smarter" Wins Global Design Competition

NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A new invention, Sensordrone, with the potential to dramatically extend the sensing capability of smartphones and tablets has been awarded the grand prize of $20,000 in the 2012 "Create the Future" Design Contest.

The Sensordrone Tricorder Platform for Consumers and Mobile Device Developers is a key fob-sized device that includes multiple environmental sensors that enable consumers to run a variety of Apps -- from carbon monoxide monitoring to breath alcohol testing. For mobile device developers, it offers an open platform to create new low-cost sensor applications, both for entertainment and more serious applications such as medical sensors.
http://contest.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/2649

Sensordrone was among the more than 950 new product ideas submitted in the tenth annual design contest, which was established in 2002 to recognize and reward engineering innovations that benefit humanity, the environment, and the economy. This year's contest was co-sponsored by Nordson EFD (www.nordsonefd.com), COMSOL (www.comsol.com), and Tech Briefs Media Group (www.techbriefsmedia.com).

Mark Wagner, president and founder of Sensorcon (Buffalo, NY), is part of the design team and sees the Sensordrone product as a first step in making sensors, meters, and instruments "Apps" instead of single purpose, bulky, expensive equipment.

After hearing the news that he was the grand prize winner of the Create the Future Design Contest, Mr. Wagner replied, "Winning the Create the Future Design Contest was far beyond my expectations and I am really honored by receiving this award. As the product is now moving from prototype to production, this will add an additional level of credibility."  

In addition to the grand prize of $20,000, first-place winners (of Hewlett-Packard workstations) were named in seven categories:

Consumer Products
LumEN: Luminescent Solar Concentrators for Sustainable On-Demand Electricity Production
Gianmarco Griffini
A portable device able to harvest solar energy and deliver electrical energy on-demand indoors or outdoors.
http://contest.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/2531

Electronics
Cloud and Smartphone Accelerator
James Awrach
A tool that enables faster local and globally distributed supercomputing at lower power and cost.
http://contest.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/2826

Machinery & Equipment
Thermal Stir Welding Process
Jeff Ding
A new solid-state welding process invented at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center that greatly improves weld quality and strength.
http://contest.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/2583

Medical – sponsored by Value Plastics, Inc. (a Nordson Company)
Prosthetic Leg Connector
Dave King
A device to aid those who wear prosthetic limbs that allows for much easier application and better comfort.
http://contest.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/2288

Safety & Security
LIFE PACK – Hypothermia Prevention Floatation Device
Dwight & Jane Cushman
A heat-generating floatation device resembling a backpack that offers protection in dangerously cold water.
http://contest.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/2226

Sustainable Technologies
Aquaback Water Purification System
E. Andrew Condon
A highly efficient, low cost, low maintenance, compact, modular vapor compression distiller to be used in a wide variety of water processing systems to clean incoming water or reclaim waste water.
http://contest.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/2286

Transportation
Re-Thinking Automotive TPMS
Ivan Batinic
A new approach to implementing vehicular Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) which is more economical and ecological than existing systems.
http://contest.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/3041

Finalists were selected by senior editors at Tech Briefs Media Group and judged by an independent panel of design engineers. Visitors to the contest Web site could vote on entries, with the 10 most popular designs awarded a Space Mouse PRO 3D mouse from 3Dconnexion. Popular design winners hailed from Canada, India, and Egypt, in addition to the U.S. For more information, visit www.createthefuture 2012.com.

About COMSOL

COMSOL, Inc. (Burlington, MA) provides software solutions for multiphysics modeling and simulation. Its flagship product, COMSOL Multiphysics, lets engineers and scientists build simulations to verify and optimize their designs. Its unparalleled ability to include all relevant physical effects that exist in the real world opens up a wide array of modeling possibilities. COMSOL's customers apply this technology to make cars and aircraft safer and more energy efficient, enhance the reception of our cell phones, search for new energy sources, explore the universe, develop medical equipment enabling more accurate diagnoses, and educate the next generation of scientists.
www.comsol.com

About Nordson EFD

Nordson EFD designs and manufactures precision fluid dispensing systems for benchtop assembly processes and automated assembly lines. By enabling manufacturers to apply the same amount of adhesive, lubricant or other assembly fluid to every part, every time, EFD dispensing systems are helping companies in a wide variety of industries increase throughput, improve quality and lower their production costs. Other fluid management capabilities include high-quality syringe barrels and cartridges for packaging one- and two-component materials, and a wide variety of fittings, couplers and connectors for controlling fluid flow in medical, biopharmaceutical and industrial environments. The company is also a leading formulator of high-quality solder pastes for printing and dispensing applications in the electronics industry. www.nordsonefd.com

About Tech Briefs Media Group

Tech Briefs Media Group is publisher of NASA Tech Briefs, the largest-circulation design-engineering magazine worldwide; Defense Tech Briefs, the largest-circulation engineering magazine for the mil/aero market; and Medical Design Briefs; the only medical publication targeted 100% to OEM product designers. Combined, these products reach over 600,000 engineers and managers worldwide. Additional publications include Photonics Tech Briefs, Imaging Technology, Motion Control and Automation Technology, RF & Microwave Technology, Embedded Technology, and Lighting Technology. The Tech Briefs Media Group product line has grown to include print/digital advertising, email/web products, virtual events, custom media, and content related advertising.  www.techbriefsmedia.com

SOURCE Tech Briefs Media Group