Romanian teen wins big with low-cost self-driving car innovation

Romanian teen wins big with low-cost self-driving car innovation

Ionut Budisteanu from Romania wins first prize at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

• The world's largest high school science research competition, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of the Society for Science & the Public, announced its top winners in Phoenix.

• Ionut Budisteanu of Romania received the Gordon E. Moore Prize, a $75,000 prize named in honor of the Intel co-founder and fellow scientist.

• Two winners of the Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards – Eesha Khare of Saratoga, California and Henry Lin of Shreveport, Louisiana – each received a $50,000 award from the Intel Foundation.

PHOENIX–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Ionut Budisteanu, 19, from Romania, won first place for using artificial intelligence to create a viable low-cost self-driving car model at the International Science Fair and Intel Engineering this year, a program of the Society for Science and the Public.

Ionut said his research addresses a major global problem. In 2004, car accidents caused 2.5 million deaths worldwide.¹and 87% of accidents were due to driver error². With 3D radar and mounted cameras, Ionut created a feasible design for an autonomously controlled car, capable of detecting traffic lanes and sidewalks, as well as the car's real-time position – and it would only cost $4,000. He received the $75,000 Gordon E. Moore Prize, named in honor of Intel's co-founder and fellow scientist.

Eesha Khare, 18, of Saratoga, California, received the $50,000 Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award. With the rapid adoption of portable electronics, Eesha recognized the critical need for energy-efficient storage devices. She developed a small device that fits into cell phone batteries, allowing them to fully charge in 20 to 30 seconds. Eesha's invention also has potential applications for car batteries.

Henry Lin, 17, of Shreveport, Louisiana, also received the Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award, worth $50,000. By simulating thousands of galaxy clusters, Henry provided scientists with valuable new data, allowing them to better understand the mysteries of astrophysics: dark matter, dark energy and the balance of heating and cooling in the most massive objects in the universe.

“We support the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair because we believe that science and mathematics are the foundation of innovation, essential to global economic growth and societal progress,” said Wendy Hawkins , executive director of the Intel Foundation. “This competition encourages millions of students around the world each year to explore their passion for math and science while developing solutions to global challenges.”

This year, approximately 1,600 young scientists were chosen to participate in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. They were selected from 433 affiliated salons in more than 70 countries, regions and territories. In addition to the winners mentioned above, more than 500 finalists received awards and prizes for their innovative research. The awards included 17 “Best in Category” winners who each received a $5,000 prize. The Intel Foundation also awarded a $1,000 grant to each winner's school and the affiliated salon they represent.

The following lists the 17 Best of Category winners from which the top three were chosen:

The Society for Science & the Public, a nonprofit organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education, has owned and administered the International Science and Engineering Fair since its inception in 1950.

“We congratulate Ionut, Eesha and Henry on their success at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair this week in Phoenix,” said Elizabeth Marincola, president of the Society for Science & the Public. “Their research demonstrates the value of hard work and creative thinking. All finalists at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair here this week show great promise in harnessing the power of science and innovation to solve problems and create opportunities for our global community.

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair honors some of the world's brightest and most promising student entrepreneurs, innovators and scientists. Finalists are selected each year from hundreds of affiliated salons. Their projects are then evaluated on site by more than 1,200 judges from almost every scientific discipline, each with a doctorate. or the equivalent of 6 years of related professional experience in one of the scientific disciplines.

This is the first year that all Intel International Science and Engineering Fair finalists will receive digital badges recognizing and rewarding their achievements in independent scientific and engineering research. Volunteers, judges and performers will also receive badges. Digital badges promote informal modes of education and provide recognition and accreditation for achievements beyond the classroom. Learn more about the badging initiative at http://badging.societyforscience.org.

A full list of finalists is available in the event program. The 2013 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair is jointly funded by Intel and the Intel Foundation with additional awards and support from dozens of other corporate, academic, government and scientific organizations. This year, more than $4 million was awarded.

To learn more about the Society for Science & the Public, visit www.societyforscience.org and follow the organization on Facebook and Twitter.

For the latest education news from Intel, visit www.intel.com/newsroom/education and join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

About Intel

Intel (SIN: INTC) is a global leader in IT innovation. The company designs and manufactures the essential technologies that serve as the foundation of computing devices around the world. Additional information about Intel is available at newsroom.intel.com and blogs.intel.com.

Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.

Note to editors: Multimedia is available at:www.intel.com/newsroom/education.

¹World report on road accident prevention, WHO, 2004 (from Ionut research)
² A study using UK and US accident reports as data (from Ionut research)

Intel Company
Gail Dundas, 503-816-2382
[email protected]
Or
Society for Science and the Public
Sarah Wood, 202-872-5110
[email protected]
Or
North of Nine Communications, for Intel
Maria Culp, 646-525-5654
[email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States Europe North America Arizona California Romania

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Romanian teen wins big with low-cost self-driving car innovation originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try one of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a broad range of viewpoints makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.