Collaborative Research: Fostering Innovation and Creativity: A National Design Competition in Rehabilitation and Assistive Devices

该项目的目标是为康复和辅助设备领域的本科工程设计团队提供一个独特的机会，在全国设计竞赛中展示他们的产品创新。这一目标将通过三年的承诺来实现，以支持在夏季生物力学，生物运输和生物工程会议（SB3C）上举办的全国设计竞赛，来自全国各地的本科生设计团队可以提交他们在康复和辅助设备领域的设计。摘要由该地区的教师审查，前六名的团队被邀请参加SB3C，并在一个特别的讲台会议上介绍他们的工作。每位入围者将获得3000美元的旅行和原型开发费用。这项比赛也有可能被用作激励的组成部分，以促进其他教师教学设计或产品开发课程的创新和创造力。未来三年比赛的稳定性使组织者能够更早地招募，并能够在提交截止日期之前与团队确认旅行和原型制作的资金可用。SB3C竞赛将为全国各地的教师提供一个机会，将其作为培养创造力过程中的激励因素。参加会议的本科生通过参与比赛将学习生物固体力学，生物流体力学，设备设计，康复，细胞和分子力学，功能组织工程，生物传热传质和生物工程教育。许多讲台会议，海报会议，研讨会和全体会议的目的是吸引和激发与会者，包括本科生设计竞赛的会议。本科生设计竞赛将扩大激励的组成部分的好处，其他本科生和他们的教师导师在全国各地。此外，作为该项目的一部分开发的材料将与参与之前和未来比赛的所有教师导师共享。这项比赛为团队提供了一个全国性的场地（有许多国际参与者），以展示他们在康复和辅助设备领域的创新，并与同行竞争。参加会议的本科生将参加一个研究驱动的活动，由在设备设计，康复，残疾和许多其他领域拥有专业知识的教师，临床医生和工业代表举办技术会议，研讨会和演讲。此外，资金将使旅行的学生谁否则可能不会参加学术会议成为可能。出席会议为学生提供了宝贵的交流机会，包括研究生院和就业的联系。在会议中加入竞赛也使与会者了解到针对残疾人或正在康复的人的需求的创新解决方案。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The objective of this project is to provide a unique opportunity for undergraduate engineering design teams in the area of rehabilitation and assistive devices to showcase their product innovations in a national design competition. This objective will be accomplished through a three-year commitment to support a national design competition hosted at the Summer Biomechanics, Biotransport and Bioengineering Conference (SB3C) where undergraduate design teams from across the country can submit their designs in the area of rehabilitation and assistive devices. The abstracts are reviewed by faculty in the area and the top six teams are invited to attend SB3C and present their work in a special podium session. Each of the finalists will receive $3000 for travel and prototype development. This competition has the potential to also be used as a motivational component to foster innovation and creativity by other faculty teaching design or product development courses. The stability of the competition for the next three years allows the organizer to recruit earlier, and be able to confirm with teams that funds are available for travel and prototyping in advance of the submission deadlines. The SB3C competition will provide an opportunity for faculty across the country to use it as a motivational component in the process of fostering creativity. Undergraduate students attending the conference through their involvement in the competition will learn about bio-solid mechanics, bio-fluid mechanics, device design, rehabilitation, cellular and molecular mechanics, functional tissue engineering, bio-heat and mass transfer, and bioengineering education. Numerous podium sessions, poster sessions, workshops and plenary talks are designed to engage and excite the attendees including the session for the undergraduate design competition. The undergraduate design competition will broaden the benefits of the component of motivation to other undergraduate students and their faculty mentors across the country. Further, the materials developed as part of this project will be shared with all faculty mentors involved in prior and future competitions. This competition provides a national venue (with many international attendees) for teams to showcase their innovations in the areas of rehabilitation and assistive devices and compete with their peers. Undergraduate students attending the conference will participate in a research-driven event with technical sessions, workshops and presentations by faculty, clinicians and industrial representatives who have expertise in device design, rehabilitation, disabilities, and numerous other areas. Also, funding will make travel possible for students who otherwise might not attend an academic conference. Attendance at the conference provides valuable networking opportunities for the students, including contacts for graduate school and employment. The inclusion of the competition at the conference also exposes attendees to innovative solutions for needs of individuals with disabilities, or those undergoing rehabilitation.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.