Solving problems is what engineers do. Deadlines are another hallmark of the profession. One competition brings both of those challenges into another realm entirely. Do what no else has, and do it by this time tomorrow.
If that last line sounds a lot like your boss, you might be ready for Les 24h de l’innovation, the 24 hour innovation competition. The competition, hosted by École de Technologie Superieure in Montreal, Canada, puts students up against tough problems posed by the business community. Student groups from across the globe have 20 questions to choose from and 24 hours to develop a solution.
This year’s winners, the “Y-Nots” from West VirginiaUniversity (WVU) chose to tackle the problem of making stairs a more attractive option. This “Reinvent the Stairs” challenge was approached as a matter of motivation.
To get more college students to take the stairs instead of elevators, the WVU team presented a reward model. Students could earn a sort of frequent “climber” miles where they swipe their ID card when entering and exiting a staircase. Accumulated points could be redeemed for rewards across campus.
Although good for increasing physical activity, the Y-Nots realized they could take it farther. They decided to incorporate sustainability as well. By integrating electric generators into the steps, they propose that 5 watts could be produced every time a person takes a step. More people, more steps, more energy. Not to mention the energy savings realized by reducing traffic on elevators or escalators.
The competition attracts students from all over the world and from diverse backgrounds. Over 1000 students from 5 continents competed in this year’s showdown. The judging is also diverse with a local panel selecting top ideas and passing those on to an international panel for final review.
The problems aren’t limited to typical design issues. Challenges may come from any area, including social, societal, environmental, organizational, artistic, logistical, etc. In a fast-paced world where problems can quickly appear and need to quickly disappear, this sort of competition prepares engineers to be organized and creative.
The video below is that submitted by the Y-Nots of WVU.
Image courtesy of Les 24h de l’innovation