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Since Tech Briefs magazine launched the Create the Future Design contest in 2002 to recognize and reward engineering innovation, over 15,000 design ideas have been submitted by engineers, students, and entrepreneurs in more than 100 countries. Join the innovators who dared to dream big by entering your ideas today.

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Special Report spotlights the eight top entries in 2023 as well as past winners whose ideas are now in the market, making a difference in the world.

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A ‘Create the Future’ Winner Featured on ‘Here’s an Idea’

Spinal cord injury affects 17,000 Americans and 700,000 people worldwide each year. A research team at NeuroPair, Inc. won the Grand Prize in the 2023 Create the Future Design Contest for a revolutionary approach to spinal cord repair. In this Here’s an Idea podcast episode, Dr. Johannes Dapprich, NeuroPair’s CEO and founder, discusses their groundbreaking approach that addresses a critical need in the medical field, offering a fast and minimally invasive solution to a long-standing problem.

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“At COMSOL, we are very excited to recognize innovators and their important work this year. We are grateful for the opportunity to support the Create the Future Design Contest, which is an excellent platform for designers to showcase their ideas and products in front of a worldwide audience. Best of luck to all participants!”

— Bernt Nilsson, Senior Vice President of Marketing, COMSOL, Inc.

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Laser Guided Car Parking System

Votes: 0
Views: 11749
Consumer Products

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method for accurately and easily guiding a vehicle into a garage to a predetermined location.

A further object of the invention is to combine reliable ?State-of-the-art? compact diode laser technology with a mounting provision that is simple to install, adjust and utilize for parking a vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method for guiding a vehicle using highly visible linear lines which enable the driver to adjust the vehicle side to side prior to stopping at a precise location.

The invention includes an apparatus and method and an article of manufacture for guiding a vehicle precisely into a predetermined parking location. More particularly the present invention relates to an apparatus comprised of a currently available compact diode laser unit mounted to a holding device. The holding device is designed to hold the laser unit and to fit into a base unit which in turn is mounted to the ceiling of the garage above the vehicle to be guided. The combination of laser, base unit and holding device allows one to attach, adjust and focus the laser beams quickly, easily and accurately.

Additionally, as a means to activate the device ?on? and ?off? several options exist. Option 1, allows the device to be plugged directly into an available electrical outlet provided by (integrated into) the garage door opener. This outlet provides the required voltage to operate the laser and is coupled with the garage door opener light. Typically, when the garage door opener is activated to allow a vehicle to enter, the opener light also is activated. With this arrangement the garage door opener assures the parking laser goes on when it is needed and turns off automatically when the garage door opener light goes off.

http://www.lazrpark.com/LP/Default.asp

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  • ABOUT THE ENTRANT

  • Name:
    George Butler
  • Type of entry:
    team
    Team members:
    Scott Staggers
  • Profession:
    Engineer/Designer
  • George's hobbies and activities:
    scuba, skiing, hiking, motorcycles
  • George is inspired by:
    To refine a design in a unique way to improve a process, function and aesthetics.
  • Software used for this entry:
    Unigraphics
  • Patent status:
    pending