Students from the STEM School Chattanooga demonstrated how thermal and ultrasonic sensors can be used to detect bicyclists approaching intersections during a community forum Monday night.
The sensors are just one component of the students' invention, which they are in the process of prototyping thanks to a $10,000 grant through Lemelson- MIT's 2016-2017 InvenTeams program. The invention will use a crosswalk-like sign to notify cars at stoplights and intersections that cyclists are approaching in protected bike lanes.
Will Crutchfield, a member of the STEM School's team, noted how the invention does more than make the roads safer for cyclists and cars, as it will also track the number of bicycles that pass through an intersection.
"The analytics alone will be extremely valuable," he added, as they will be posted online and can inform city planning.
The team of nine students from the STEM School presented the prototypes they've developed and their plans for the completed invention at the Edney Building in Chattanooga's Innovation District, and received questions and suggestions from an audience of about 30.
People asked if the group had considered adding a sound component to the signal as a way to notify drivers, and how other cities have approached the idea of bike safety. Someone asked if the team had considered how they planned to handle a situation where a driver had a green arrow signaling it could make a right turn while also having the light warning of a cyclist.
Kalena Rodriguez, a member of the team, said all of the questions and comments made were either things the team is considering or will look into in the coming weeks.
"We want the community to be involved in this process," Rodriguez said. "We don't want to put something out on the road that people don't want or understand."
STEM School Principal Tony Donen noted how the invention could not only be used across the globe, but also could be adopted for a variety of other uses, mentioning how it could be useful for downhill snow skiers merging runs on the slopes.
The STEM School team is one of about a dozen selected to participate in the program from across the country, and is the first Hamilton County school to be selected out of thousands of applicants each year. This summer, all of the teams will gather at MIT to showcase their inventions.
David Wilson, a teacher at the STEM School and a faculty advisor to the team, said when he applied for the grant he never thought the team would be chosen because of how competitive it is.
"I'm so proud of these kids," he said, noting how hard students work on the invention on their own time.
Wilson said he's always encouraged students to invent the jobs they want to have in the future.
"Now they are getting to do that," he said. "... they are looking past graduation and seeing all of the opportunities."
Contact staff writer Kendi A. Rainwater at krainwater@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow her on Twitter @kendi_and.