Intel ISEF winner builds autonomous window cleaner for commercial buildings
Oliver Nicholls, 19, of Sydney, Australia, was awarded first place for designing and building a prototype of an autonomous robotic window cleaner for commercial buildings at this year鈥檚 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of the 京东影业影视传媒 & the Public and the world鈥檚 largest international pre-college science competition. The competition featured nearly 1,800 young scientists selected from 420 affiliate fairs in 81 countries, regions and territories.
In essence, a flying drone-like device is tethered to the roof of a building and equipped with a powerful spray nozzle and rotating scrubbers. The $2,300 device can withstand 28 mph winds and could replace traditional methods that can exceed $11,000 per cleaning and reduce injuries in this high-risk occupation. Nicholls received the Gordon E. Moore Award of $75,000, named in honor of the Intel co-founder and fellow scientist.
Meghana Bollimpalli, 17, of Little Rock, Arkansas, received one of two Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards of $50,000 for her novel, low-cost approach for synthesizing materials that could greatly cut the production and energy costs of making electrodes for devices like supercapacitors. She found that combining common substances like tea and molasses with nitrogen and phosphorus in a commercial microwave formed a powder that could be used as a coating for electrode-like materials, giving them similar properties of more expensive metals like platinum.
Dhruvik Parikh, 18, of Bothell, Washington, received the other Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award of $50,000 for his development of less expensive yet more robust ion exchange membranes for use in large industrial-scale batteries for storing solar or wind-generated electricity for later distribution. His composite membrane has 10 times the proton conductivity of the industry鈥檚 standard membrane, while reducing production costs by about 30 percent.
鈥淚ntel congratulates Oliver Nicholls, Meghana Bollimpalli, Dhruvik Parikh and all of the participants on their groundbreaking research that will help solve some of today鈥檚 greatest global challenges,鈥� said Rosalind Hudnell, Intel vice president of Corporate Affairs and president of the Intel Foundation. 鈥淲hen students from different backgrounds, perspectives and geographies come together and share their ideas, there is no limit to what they can achieve.鈥�
In addition to the top winners, approximately 600 finalists received awards and prizes for their innovative research, including 24 鈥淏est of Category鈥� winners, who each received a $5,000 prize in addition to their $3,000 first place award. The Intel Foundation also awarded a $1,000 grant to each winner鈥檚 school and to the affiliated fair they represent.
鈥淐ongratulations to Oliver Nicholls, Meghana Bollimpalli and Dhruvik Parikh on winning the top awards at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair!鈥� said Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of the 京东影业影视传媒 & the Public and publisher of Science News. 鈥淭he breakthrough ideas presented by the winners and finalists demonstrate how the brilliant minds of future generations will make the world a better place. These young innovators are the stewards of our future, and we look forward to seeing all that they accomplish as they continue to pursue their interest in STEM.鈥�
A full listing of finalists is available in the . The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2018 is funded jointly by Intel and the Intel Foundation with additional support from dozens of corporate, academic, government and science-focused sponsors. This year, approximately $5 million was awarded.
