ITHACA, N.Y. - It's the "Internet of things," billions of devices all around the world use embedded technology to assist, entertain, protect, connect and inspire us.

As more and more of these devices appear and connect, what marvels will the future hold?

To explore that promise, Intel teamed with Cornell University to create a unique national competition that challenges the country's top engineering students to use embedded design and technology to imagine a better world. On May 4 and 5 at Walt Disney World's Contemporary Resort, 22 teams from all across the country will gather to show off working prototypes of their visions - from buzzing guide belts to aid the blind and robotic "ball boys" to help solo tennis players, to touch pad equipped electric guitars, unmanned aircraft that might fly forever, and a robot that will automatically scoop any dog-lover's yard clean.

Teams getting set this week to head to Lake Buena Vista, Fla., include:

  • Team DART - Seattle Pacific University: The Autonomous Waste Remover will automatically navigate your lawn and remove dog waste daily.
  • HAWK - University of Pennsylvania: The prototyping of a sensor-enabled quad-rotor aircraft platform to construct 3D building models that support search and rescue operations.
  • Team VISIONary - University of Southern California: This team proposes a Local Position Detection System with a navigation system to guide a user through an indoor environment.
  • Columbia SWARM - Columbia University: This project plans to use a swarm of microcontrolled robots to take sensor readings and build a map of any environment.
  • Solar Drone - University of California-Berkeley: This team intends to demonstrate multiple-day flight using an autonomous, solar-powered vehicle with a wingspan of 3 meters or less.
  • Team Squirtle - Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Build a liquid handler that's smaller, lower-priced and more intelligent to allow researchers to advance the frontiers of science.
  • Green Lighting - Howard University: The goal is a system to enhance the work environment by regulating the intensity of the lights throughout the day, while minimizing energy costs.
  • Knights of the Workbench - Vermont Technical College: This team proposes creating a fully automated drink-mixing machine that will monitor the blood alcohol content.
  • Kinecthesia - University of Pennsylvania: This team created Kinecthesia, a wearable belt that can detect obstacles to aid the blind and anyone in a low visibility situation.
  • Think Chair - Worcester Polytechnic Institute: The aim of this project is to fit a wheelchair with an intuitive control and navigation system that integrates voice recognition, face tracking and hand gesture interpretation.
  • Sentinel - University of California, San Diego: Sentinel is an intelligent wildlife video-recording system that aims to capture the behavior of elusive and endangered species.
  • Hot Dawgs - Southern Illinois University at Carbondale: Intel processors will monitor a network of sensors in each room and adjust vents to allow optimal cooling and heating.
  • IVS - Portland State University: This team will propose a Prescription Drug Identification device capable of increasing accuracy and providing detailed instant drug information.
  • The Incredible HUD - Purdue University: Using data from a GPS receiver, accelerometer, thermometer and video camera, The device presents the data to the user in a flexible format.
  • The FIVOLTS - Worcester Polytechnic Institute: The team will design a control center to receive "PPG" information from a wireless headband to counter drowsiness.
  • KIDZ - The Mystics - Pennsylvania State University: InTouch will allow individuals to interact with physical objects and each other through the camera of their mobile phones.
  • Audio(G)Fusion - University of Houston: Audio(G)Fusion integrates an Intel processor with an electric guitar so the user can alter audio filters using a touchscreen on the guitar.
  • GT Accessors - Georgia Tech:This team proposes a unique interface device, TabAccess, which provides wireless access to tablet devices for individuals who lack fine motor skills.
  • Team Alpha - GT Night Rover - Georgia Tech: The goal is to perfect engineering designs and computing algorithms so a planetary rover can store and use energy more efficiently.
  • JouleCycle Team - University of Massachusetts-Lowell: "JouleCycle" will help people get regular exercises through a gaming system built on a human-powered bicycle.

(NOTE: A complete description of all teams can be found at www.systemseng.cornell.edu/intel/competition/summaries.cfm.)

Based upon the highly successful Intel Cup China that attracts more than 26,000 students, the Cornell Cup USA presented by Intel was designed to provide an exciting exposition that invites students to create any design to showcase the next great embedded technology invention. The top three contest winners will earn $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500. The competition is being organized by David Schneider of Cornell's Operations Research and Information Engineering; and Byron Gillespie and Kimberly Sills of Intel.

Source: Cornell University