Emerging Technology Awards 2020

Today, the engineering world is reacting to a crisis of historic proportions. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all facets of engineering—from design and manufacturing to supply chains and shipment deliveries.

Every year, the editors of Mechanical Engineering magazine evaluate dozens of innovations in clean energy, bioengineering, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and pressure technology to select five ascending technologies that have left the research and development phase and now look poised to transform their fields.

In 2020, these technological innovations will be different. Several industries have shifted focus from their regular production lines to pitch in and help create medical technology during the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, Mechanical Engineering magazine intends to recognize the innovations that are not only changing industries but also supporting society during COVID-19.

We invite you to submit your innovations in our five respective industry segments.

What inventions have had an incredible impact in 2020? What designs have changed the way we think about engineering? How have they helped society during the COVID-19 crisis?

You tell us. Submit your creations, designs, and innovations to see if you will be one of our 2020 Emerging Technology Award recipients.

Nominations close July 15, 2020. All nominations are kept confidential and the winners for each category will be selected by a judging committee of industry professionals. For a complete list of rules, click here.

Robots are the future workforce. They can alleviate the dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks that humans have to fill everyday in warehouses, in factories, and out in the field. Robotic innovations will also be found in the home and working closer with people; providing personal care and companionship.

Past winners:

2019: Shark Robotics’ Colossus firefighting robot
2018: RoboKind’s Milo, a companionship robot for children with autism
2017: Mobileye’s software for objection detection for self-driving cars

Pressure technology is the foundation of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The boiler code was established by ASME to help prevent the disasters being cause by exploding boilers. Pressure technology is the key to several systems for hydraulic power, pneumatic pressure, heating and air conditioning, and the transportation of fuels and gasses.

Past winners:

2019: Lattice Technology’s lattice pressure vessels
2018: IDE Technologies reverse osmosis desalination system
2017: Babcock and Wilcox’s high efficiency ultra-supercritical boiler design

Wind turbines, wave capture, and solar panels are all examples of the future of energy. Clean energy efforts move industrial society away from carbon based fuels and legacy power distribution systems, and transition to energy with lower emissions and more efficient energy distributions.

Past winners:

2019: Momentum Dynamic’s street level inductive charging systems for electric cars
2018: GE Renewable Energy Haliade-X, the world’s largest offshore wind turbine
2017: Tesla Motors’ optimized battery technology and manufacturing

The manufacturing industry historically has experienced innovation and technology change first. Robots, smart data, and advanced vision systems, debuted first in the manufacturing setting before reaching the consumer market. Advances in manufacturing forecast the future of technological innovation.

Past winners:

2019: MBFZ toolcraft topology optimized conformal cooling for mold manufacturing
2018: Airbus’ design software and 3D-printing of lightweight and strong cabin parts
2017: Siemens’ additive manufacturing process for turbine blade development

Medical engineering innovation is the integration of technological solutions into the delivery of medical care. Bioengineering introduces new tech advances such as advance monitoring systems, robots for surgery, or additive manufacturing for bio-organic transplants. Changing the face of medicine through the innovation of engineering.

Past winners:

2019: 3D Systems on-demand anatomical modeling for surgery
2018: Microsoft’s HoloLens for 3D-virtualization of medical objects
2017: MIT’s automated foot-able prostheses for the handicapped

Judging Guidelines

All entries should include:
1. Company name
2. Product name
3. Industry serviced
4. Engineer most closely related with its design
All entries should be already in the market
1. Products should be available for at least one year in the market
2. The more unique the product solution, the better
3. Products should have viable case study examples to showcase their solution
All entries should include the their developmental background and technical specifications
1. A brief story of how the product was developed and came to be
2. Any tech specs that highlight the parts unique design or solution should be submitted
All entries should include a brief background of the design engineer(s)
1. Two to four sentences that highlight the engineer or engineers educational and professional background

Mechanical Engineering Magazine Emerging Technology Awards 2020

Nominations close July 15, 2020. All nominations are kept confidential and the winners for each category will be selected by a judging committee of industry professionals. For a complete list of rules, click here.

ROBOTICS

PRESSURE TECHNOLOGY

CLEAN ENERGY

MANUFACTURING

BIOENGINEERING

ROBOTICS

PRESSURE TECHNOLOGY

CLEAN ENERGY

MANUFACTURING

BIOENGINEERING

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