July 2010 | Volume 13 Issue 2 60 INCOSE OPERATIONS INCOSE Operations International Students Impress INCOSE at ISEF John Walker, john.walker@incose.org; Cihan Dagli, cihan.dagli@incose.org; David Mason, david.mason@incose.org; Dorothy McKinney, dorothy.mckinney@incose.org; Stan Weiss, stanley.weiss@incose.org; Bill Mackey, william.mackey@incose.org; and Ron Carson, ronald.carson@incose.org E very May, the U.S. hosts the International Science and Engi- neering Fair (ISEF), where more than ffteen hundred inter- national students, all fnalists from regional and national fairs, compete for government, corporate, and professional-society awards, which for the past two years have included the INCOSE Award. This award is for the best interdisciplinary project that can produce technologically appropriate solutions to meet societal needs. The projects are judged from four of the ISEF categories: (1) engineering (electrical and mechanical), (2) engineering (material and bioengineering), (3) energy and transportation, and (4) envi- ronmental management. The award consists of a plaque and USD 1500. Besides the primary INCOSE Award, the Fellows also give worthy projects Honorable Mentions. Honorable Mention recipients receive a letter, a certifcate, and a copy of this issue of INSIGHT . This article recognizes the winners of the INCOSE Award for 2009 and 2010, as well as the Honorable Mentions. INCOSE Award Recipients, 2009 and 2010 At ISEF 2009, Alexander Kent Kendrick of Los Alamos, New Mexico, won the INCOSE Award. Alexander designed, built, and tested in actual caves a new two-way digital under- ground radio, demonstrating an operational goal of a 300 m range through limestone. This system enabled the frst digital communication through rock—as well as the deepest communication—in the history of Carlsbad Caverns (200 m). By using an optimal frequency of 23.4 kHz, the radio is now able to send two-way digital communications. All of the judges were extremely impressed with Alexander’s work, as he has designed his system based on a real customer need statement, took the time to talk to the customer on location, and was able to revise the initial need statement several times. At ISEF 2010, Alexander, again a fnalist from New Mexico, won an INCOSE Honorable Mention. Alexander designed, built, and feld-tested an underground imaging system that can induce currents in aquifers and detect the corresponding secondary feld. He was able to use the basic principles of physics and electronics to create an engineering design that can be tuned and feld-verifed. The INCOSE Fellows are bringing Alex and his 2009 project to the 2010 International Symposium. At ISEF 2010, Gary Stanley Kurek of Bonnyville, Canada, won the INCOSE Award. Gary’s frst invention was a module that can be retroftted to any walker to enable the walker to be used as a motorized wheelchair. He also developed a lightweight wheelchair, operable either manually or with power assist, which can ascend and descend a curb and recline to increase safety. His high-end wheelchair climbs stairs and can raise the user to eye level with standing adults. The INCOSE Fellows have invited Gary to this year’s symposium and are working to bring him and his project to the 2011 symposium as well. 2009 award winner Alexander Kent Kendrick with Bill Mackey and John Walker (Photo by ISEF staf) 2010 award winner Gary Stanley Kurek with John Walker (Photo by Julie Walker, a student member of INCOSE) Honorable Mentions, 2009 Shyamal Ashwin Patel (Saint Augustine, Florida): Shyamal built an aircraft with a twelve-foot wingspan, operated by solar- technology, that will stay aloft for twenty-four hours nonstop. He is a passionate proponent of solar energy, and is convinced that it is both possible and desirable to develop a large passenger aircraft