NEW YORK, Feb. 4, 2008
/PRNewswire/ -- Litroenergy, a patent-pending designed
material that emits light for more than a decade without
electricity or sun exposure, has won the $20,000 grand prize
in the 2007 Create the Future Design Contest sponsored by NASA
Tech Briefs magazine and SolidWorks Corporation (www.solidworks.com).
Developed by Steve Stark, a design engineer from Champlin, MN,
Litroenergy employs self-luminous micro particles called
Litrospheres to emit light for 12 or more years without
exposure to any external energy source. The relatively
inexpensive material, which can be injection-molded or added
to paint, could save billions of dollars in energy costs if it
achieves widespread commercial adoption. "The goal is to
mass-produce this material and supply OEMs," said Stark.
Initial applications are likely to be in safety products such
as light safety tape and lighted life rafts or floatation
devices.
"This invention and all of the winning entries are wonderful
examples of what this contest celebrates -- the application of
innovative design ideas to solve real-world problems and make
a difference in people's lives," said Joe Pramberger,
Publisher of NASA Tech Briefs.
In addition to the grand prize, first place winners (of
Hewlett-Packard workstations) were named in six categories:
Consumer Products
The LED Cocoon Tent
Stephen Boynton, engineer/designer, Orem, UT
New tent design eliminates zippers and brings the comfort and
convenience of indoor lighting to the outdoor camping
experience using light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
Machinery/Equipment
Cargo Management System
Jeremy Connell, student, Blacksburg, VA
Design for an aftermarket product for truck beds makes storing
and securing loose items simple and convenient.
Medical
3D Ultrasonic Neuronavigation System for Real-Time
Image-Guided Brain Surgery
Ajay Mahajan, scientist, Murphysboro, IL
This GPS-like system could help surgeons navigate through the
brain to find and remove everything from tumors to bullet
fragments easily, cheaply, and with hardly any cutting.
Safety & Security
Personnel Beacon/Locator (PBL) for Mine Workers
Joseph Hollmann, engineer/designer, Kansas City, MO
The PBL uses ultrasonic waves to pinpoint the location of
trapped miners. The miners would carry a small battery-powered
device to signal to rescuers that they are alive.
Sustainable Technology
LEDTRICITY
Ted Bristow, master electrician, Kailua Kona, HI
Solar-powered system can illuminate hundreds of thousands of
LEDs using inexpensive wires, offering applications to home
lighting.
Transportation
Internally Radiating Impulse Structure (IRIS) Engine
Corban Tillemann, student, Dick, Denver, CO
Novel car engine design could dramatically enhance fuel
efficiency by changing the geometry of the combustion chamber,
resulting in a smaller, lighter engine.
"The Create the Future Design Contest has made a commitment to
the creative design process and created a valuable experience
for designers," said Rainer Gawlick, vice president of
worldwide marketing at SolidWorks. "We are happy to celebrate
the ambitious and innovative professionals and students who
participate."
For the first time in contest history, a Web site was created
to allow visitors to review contest entries. Entries with the
most views also received awards.
The winners will be honored at an awards dinner in New York
City this April. They were chosen from among a record 976
entries to the sixth-annual contest. Finalists were selected
by NASA Tech Briefs' editors and judged by an independent
panel of engineering managers and executives.
Contest co-sponsors include COMSOL, Hewlett-Packard, and the
Hong Kong Polytechnic University. For more information, visit
www.createthefuturecontest.com.
About NASA Tech Briefs
NASA Tech Briefs is an official publication of the National
Aeronautics & Space Administration, with a monthly readership
surpassing 400,000. The magazine features exclusive reports of
innovations developed by NASA and its industry
partners/contractors that can be applied to develop
new/improved products and solve engineering or manufacturing
problems. For more information, visit: www.techbriefs.com.
About SolidWorks Corporation
SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systemes S.A. (NASDAQ:DASTY)
(NASDAQ:Euronext Paris:) (NASDAQ:#13065) (NASDAQ:DSY.PA)
company, develops and markets software for design, analysis,
and product data management. It is the leading supplier of 3D
CAD technology, giving teams intuitive, high-performing
software that helps them design better products. Visit the
company's Web site (www.solidworks.com) or call 1-800-693-9000
(outside of North America, call +1-978-371-5000).
Source: Litroenergy
CONTACT: Joe Pramberger, NASA
Tech Briefs, +1-212-490-3999,
joe@abpi.net
Web site:
http://www.createthefuturecontest.com/
http://www.techbriefs.com/
http://www.solidworks.com/ |
