From snowblowers to automotive improvements: Student innovators prepare to compete

UW-Madison undergraduate student inventors will display 22 inventions as part of the annual Innovation Days competitions, to be held Feb. 10 and 11 in Engineering Hall on the College of Engineering campus.

The inventors 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 experience with prototype-building and intellectual property, the contest awards teams whose ideas and inventions are judged the most innovative and most likely to succeed in the marketplace. The event is free and open to the public.

In addition, awards are given for the best ideas notebook and the best presentation.

All prototypes will be on display during the presentations and judging Thursday, Feb. 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and many prototypes will be on display during the presentations on Friday, Feb. 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Winners will be announced on Feb. 11 at 2 p.m.

UW-Madison students can receive a door-prize ticket for each presentation they attend. The prizes, including electronics and computing equipment, 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.

Engineering Hall is located at 1415 Engineering Drive. Visitors can park for a fee in Lot 17, the parking ramp on Engineering Drive near Camp Randall Stadium.

Here is the competition and presentation schedule for Thursday, Feb. 10:

8:45-9 a.m. — Opening Remarks from Dean Paul Peercy and Alicia Jackson

9-9:15 a.m. — Downspout Hydropump, Nate Cira and Alex Rio

9:20-9:35 a.m. — Obsedis, David Michaels, Tim McGowan and Nicolas Clarens

9:40-9:55 a.m. — Master Key, Steve Wisser

10-10:15 a.m. — The MicroMag Stent Deployment System, Tom Gerold

10:20-10:50 a.m. — Prototype Judging Round

10:55-11:10 a.m. — Stud Gun, Scott Johanek

11:15-11:30 a.m. — Five Finger Friend, Jeff Inhofer and Scott Johanek

11:35-11:50 a.m. — Glide Luggage, Jeff Inhofer and Scott Johanek

12:00-12:30 p.m. Lunch

12:30-1:00 p.m. — Prototype Judging Round

1:15-1:30 p.m. — Longboard Sling, Sean Kelly and Tyler Pihl

1:35-1:50 p.m. — Automotive Laser Lines, Stefan Jedlicka

1:55-2:10 p.m. — Plane Balance, Ray Uhen

2:15-2:30 p.m. — General Purpose Multi-directional Ultrasonic Ranging System, Gustave Granroth

2:35-3:00 p.m. — Prototype Judging Round

3:10-3:25 p.m. — Breast Milk Filter for HIV-1, Laura Zeitler and Kimberli Kamer

3:30-3:45 p.m. — Light-emitting Door Viewer Communicator, Kevin Ripley and Brandon Kryger

3:50-4:05 p.m. — Automated Snowblower System, Abilesh Seshedri and Antonio Puglielli

4:10-4:25 p.m. — Masdex, Tim McGowan

4:30-5:00 p.m. — Prototype Judging Round

Friday, Feb. 11:

8:30 a.m. — Opening comments from Alicia Jackson, the competition director

8:35-8:50 a.m. — The NAVI System, Erkin Otles, John Cheadle and Patrick Gruenwald

8:55-9:10 a.m. — Brew Fresh, Ben Schneider and Victoria Yakovleva

9:15-9:30 a.m. — Paper, Wayne Bontrager

9:35-9:50 a.m. — Innovative Diet Plan and Charitable Food Donation System, Tyler Lark

9:50-10:05 a.m. — Break

10:05-10:20 a.m. — Direct Flow Value Train for Internal Combustion Engine, Nick Falk

10:25-10:40 a.m. — Proper Tear Paper, Joe Vosters

10:45-11 a.m. — Bubble Banger, Joe Vosters

2 p.m. — Resume for awards ceremony/door prizes