Future Awards 2011: the winners

Category: Wellness

Winner: Hyperbaric Controller from CPE Systems
The project was a control and monitoring system contracted by Hyperbaric Health to integrate and replace the existing and outdated controller.
This new technology developed by CPE Systems provides hyperbaric technicians with a number of advanced features that current hyperbaric chamber control systems do not offer, including integrated control and sensor monitoring, automated logging, treatment selection, operator activity monitoring, and remote control capability.
Special attention was placed on the software to ensure it is easy to use, allowing operators to better utilise the automated features of the controller and at the same time give access to advanced and customised control of the system.
In awarding the win, the judges said they particularly liked the Hyperbaric Controller’s improved feature set, expandability and focus on using technology to boost patient outcomes.

Category: Communications

Winner: CaptivEYE Timelapse from Captivaction
The technology is a full-featured timelapse capturing and remote viewing webcam system. Currently used by utilities and construction sites, the footage captured by the system is a way for companies to archive, monitor and market their projects.
Automated pan, tilt and zoom systems allow a single camera to take multiple images in quick succession to result in wide panoramic scenes covering up to 360 degrees of the area. It can also be zoomed in to an area of interest.
Many of the systems are located in remote areas, yet offer seamless camera control, and captured footage is immediately stored on central servers, away from the actual camera site, providing fast access to the latest captures as well as data security.
To do this, Captivaction hooks up these systems with a solar power generation panel, batteries, as well as 3G communications or satellite internet access. A side effect is that the installations are relocatable.
The judges liked the interactivity and potential applications of the system, and the focus on making it truly standalone both in communications strategies and power supply.

Category: Industrial Electronics

Winner: ABB CQ900R from Successful Endeavours
The CQ900R was commissioned by ABB’s High Voltage Division in Lilydale, Melbourne to replace the C200A capacitor bank controller product.
The power systems controller managers power factor correcting capacitor banks to maintain power quality in the power distribution network, with the ultimate goal of improving power distribution profits and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The CQ900R and its variants were designed by Successful Endeavours to cater to the three main segments of demand within the international market.
The units are suited for emerging markets which require reliable but basic features in the controller, developed world markets which require advanced features, and customers who need an advanced controller which support full SCADA and SmartGrid capabilities.
The judges particularly liked the modularity of the system, and the integration of both PCB and software design to yield a flexible product suited for international markets.

Category: Automotive

Winner: Hull Stress Monitoring System from CPE Systems (with Endurance Consulting)
The system was contracted by Rolls Royce Australia Services, and came from a collaboration between CPE Systems and Endurance Consulting. The aim was a system destined for two LPA class ships.
The solution monitors the condition and dynamic forces which put stress on ships’ hulls, and informs the ship’s crew as to the current and projected forces on the hull, so they can continue to safely operate the ships as they age.
Apart from sending real-time alarms to the crew as the hull stress approaches or exceeds the damage threshold, the system must also keep a comprehensive data log so that developing trends can be determined, and decisions made to prolong the service life of the ships.
The judges were impressed by the very short delivery timeframe, and the focus on intuitive software to ensure useability by the crew.

Category: Student

Winner: olyMEMS from Carson Au at Jounce Labs
Jounce Labs is a collaboration by two current UNSW students, Carson Au and Teng Zhang. The company’s flagship product, the olyMEMS, is a training and performance assessment tool targeting Olympic weightlifters.
The olyMEMS is an open source hardware project which improves on current training and performance assessment tools. Traditional methods use a high-speed camera with post-processing to extract useful data.
The system developed by the students employs a MEMS inertial measurement unit attached directly to the barbell to measure parameters such as peak vertical acceleration and velocity, as well as logging the characteristic curve of the acceleration. This data is then sent wirelessly to a base station, which displays the relevant information in real time on an LCD.
The judges liked the open nature of the olyMEMS system and the use of electronics technology to provide an improved alternative to conventional ways of monitoring weightlifting performance.

Category: Best in Design

Winner: In-Vehicle Fast Charger from Redarc Technologies
The product is a super quick DC to DC battery charger for roadside assistance vehicles which takes a completely flat battery to a useable state within 15 minutes.
The charger is designed to be mounted in roadside assistance vehicles, and is robust and durable under extreme temperature and environmental conditions. It is simple to use with built-in safety features protecting against short circuit and faulty cells.
The In-Vehicle Fast Charger integrates Redarc’s Multi-chemistry battery charging technology to deliver very high current to a flat battery, without having to run any additional vehicles.
The judges said the entry successfully combines proprietary technology with universally compatible features to solve an age-old problem. The safety features and rugged enclosure were clearly designed with the target users in mind.