Ft. Myers Area Students Win Awards at Raytheon Technologies Invention Convention U.S. Nationals 2023 Powered by The Henry Ford
Dearborn, Michigan – Eight students from throughout the Ft. Myers area were honored recently for their ingenuity at the seventh annual Raytheon Technologies Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, powered by The Henry Ford. They were among over 70 award-winning K-12 inventors from across the nation who were celebrated on June 9 at the awards ceremony hosted by The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation correspondent Albert Lawrence, with astrobiologist and aquanaut Alyssa Carson as keynote. More than 80 awards, including cash prizes, trophies, medals and patent applications were handed out.
Pictured above: ICSUN winners from the Fort Myers area
(top, left to right) Amaya F., Wally V. and Alessandra C.
(middle, left to right) Kurukulasuriya N. and Dhruva S.
(bottom, left to right) Yusef M., Aum D. and Dhira S.
Amaya E., Eleventh Grade, Bonita Springs
CantorColburn – Detroit Patent Application Award, Originality Award and Technology of Tomorrow Award, presented by Raytheon Technologies for Biopurication: Utilizing Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina major to create an open system bioreactor that generates electricity while running a dual-purpose air purification and CO2 sequestration system
“This system utilizes a consortium of Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina major algae to create an open system photobioreactor. The consortium of algae has already been determined to be reliable in improving air quality and decreasing common pollutant concentrations. The system uses photosynthesis, naturally performed by the algae, to generate electricity to power both and air pump for the system, as well as an external illuminator. This invention was created with the final idea of it being used as a modular system to wrap around street lights to power the street light while simultaneously improving air quality and decreasing pollution concentrations along roadways.”
Wally V., Second Grade, Fort Myers
First Place in the Second Grade Category for Squeaky Clean Machines
“Squeaky Clean Machines is a train toy for kids that they can use safely in the bath. I created silicone molds based on my wooden train tracks in order to create different colored linking tracks made from soap with train engines and coal cars made from sponges. Children, like my little brother, can now enjoy playing with this toy in their baths while also getting clean!”
Alessandra C., Second Grade, Fort Myers
Second Place in the Second Grade Category for The Cane Catcher
“Cane toads (Bufo Toads) are a destructive invasive species in Florida. They are bad for the environment. They eat small mammals, birds, frogs, other toads, pet food, human garbage…and almost anything else! They are also toxic to humans and deadly to dogs. I used a bug light, fly fishing lures and a cage to trap them. We euthanized all toads without pain using the guidelines from the University of FL & the Florida Wildlife Commission. Eventually, I trapped all of the Cane Toads in our yard and nearby pond. My neighbors noticed and wanted some for their yards. My trap will help the environment and makes me an inventor!”
Kurukulasuriya N., Ninth Grade, Fort Myers
Second Place in the Ninth Grade Category for KESS: Kinetic Energy Storage System
“My invention, KESS, is an environmentally-friendly, low-cost backup energy storage system for domestic use. My invention is made of metal components, including rods, a rotating mass, a motor, a rubber belt, nails and bolts, bearings and couplings. The device can be charged when power is available and then used when the power supply is lost. The energy will be stored in the form of kinetic energy in the rotating mass. The device does not need an additional energy source to function when releasing its stored energy, so there is no operating cost once installed. This device will have a positive impact, especially due to the vast number of people worldwide who experience power interruptions due to natural disasters and other circumstances.”
Dhruva S., Tenth Grade, Fort Myers
First Place in the Tenth Grade Category and the Transportation Industry Award for FLOW: A Deep Reinforcement Learning ML Algorithm To Make Traffic Management More Effectual
“The goal of this invention is to improve the efficiency of traffic flow by leveraging the strengths of Artificial Intelligence (AI), determine the best Machine Learning algorithm for improving traffic efficiency, and the benefit of implementing such processes.”
Yusef M., Eleventh Grade, Fort Myers
Second Place in the Eleventh Grade Category, Cantor Colburn – Detroit Patent Application Award and the Environmental and Social Impact Award for Synovial Saver: A Novel, Non-Invasive Medical Device That Detects Osteoarthritis Knee Joint Health Through Vibrational Sensing Methods
“Knee joint osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease, affecting 32.5 million US adults. Early detection of OA is crucial as the disease acts rapidly and there is no cure after the window of opportunity has passed. Synovial Saver™ offers a uKNEEque, low-cost and non-invasive method of detecting knee joint OA. In fact, within 30 seconds Synovial Saver™ can accurately diagnose OA. After countless iterations, the final device structure is incorporated by two systems: an input system and a computational system. The input system gathers vibration frequencies emitted from the bending of the knee using dual piezoelectric accelerometers and a piezoelectric disk. The efficiency of the vibration sensing devices were tested, with the data collected being 98% accurate. The computational system includes an Arduino Uno Rev3 Microcontroller, which computes the data through various scripts, datasets, etc. A near field communication chip can be scanned by a mobile phone, which outputs the diagnostic result through a website to the mobile phone.”
Aum D., Twelfth Grade, Fort Myers
Second Place in the Twelfth Grade Category for Medibound: A Low-Cost Machine Learning Diagnostic Device and Medical IoT Application as a Novel Approach to Combating Retinal Diseases
“The investigator’s development of low-cost machine learning algorithms, paired with a novel device and application, have the potential to mitigate diabetic retinopathy. To elaborate, the investigator’s k-nearest neighbors were more accurate in lower training sample sizes and his convolutional neural networks were more accurate in higher training sample sizes, indicating that an efficient approach for the device would be incorporating a KNN algorithm to recognize the retina when in-view and a CNN algorithm to discern between that sample’s particular stage of DR. Once a patient is diagnosed, the testing results are exported via an NFC transmitter placed under the device’s charging port. This technology allows users to hover their phones over the labeled NFC area and receive trial results over the app. With this project and future projects, the researcher aspires to not only bridge the gap between technology and preventable retinal diseases, but also offer a lasting improvement.”
Dhira S., Sixth Grade, Fort Myers
Animal Care and Pets Industry Award for PetBFound
“PetBFound is an on-demand all-in-one pet tracking smart device with audio, video, GPS and LED light features that can attach to an existing dog harness. The PetBFound mobile app is the interface for the device and allows the user to remotely turn on features to track a pet. The default is off-mode for the device and can be activated remotely to track a lost pet. The device can be charged using solar power with backup battery provision.”
“The brilliant young students of our Invention Convention program have the power to change the world,” said Patricia Mooradian, president & CEO of The Henry Ford. “They are the problem-solvers we need today and their determination and dedication is awe-inspiring. We are proud to support and mentor these young inventors and can’t wait to see all that they will accomplish in the future.”
Invention Convention Worldwide is a K-12 invention education program aligned with national and state educational standards that teaches students problem-identification, problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and creativity skills. The program builds confidence in invention, innovation and entrepreneurship for life. More than 166,000 K-12 inventors from across the country participate in Invention Convention Worldwide programs each year, with the hopes of advancing to the U.S. national competition.
“The passion, innovative spirit and drive to create a more inclusive, connected and sustainable future is a hallmark of Invention Convention students,” said Randy Bumps, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility at Raytheon Technologies. “We believe the experience and community students gain through the Invention Convention program today will set them on a path to becoming the world-class engineers and technologists who solve tomorrow’s challenges.”
Students compete at local and regional levels before advancing to the U.S. national competition. To participate, students must submit a video presentation of their invention, a prototype, an inventor’s logbook showing the journey of their invention process and a poster board highlighting key points of the invention process.
A recording of the Invention Convention U.S. Nationals 2023 awards ceremony can be viewed HERE.
The mission of Invention Convention Worldwide is to bring Invention Education to students everywhere. Organizations interested in bringing the year-long program to their region can get more information at www.inventionconvention.org/
About The Henry Ford
Located in Dearborn, Michigan, The Henry Ford, a globally-recognized destination, fosters inspiration and learning from hands-on encounters with artifacts that represent the most comprehensive collection anywhere focusing on innovation, ingenuity and resourcefulness in America. Its unique venues include Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, Benson Ford Research Center and Henry Ford Academy, a public charter high school. Together with its online presence at thf.org, its national television series The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation and Invention Convention Worldwide, the growing affiliation of organizations fostering innovation, invention and entrepreneurship in K-12 students, The Henry Ford inspires individuals to unlock their potential and help shape a better future.
About Raytheon Technologies
Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) is the world’s largest aerospace and defense company. Our global team of 180,000 employees pushes the limits of known science and redefines how we connect and protect our world. We are advancing aviation, building smarter defense systems and creating innovations to take us deeper into space. The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.