Florida Atlantic Wave 2024

FLORIDA ATLANTIC WAVE COMPETITION AWARDS CEREMONY

March 28, 2024

WELCOME WELCOME

Florida Atlantic Wave is an applied research and entrepreneurial competition where students create innovative solutions and compete for a cash prize. Wave is in its ninth year and has supported 249 students who have won over $173,000 in external cash prizes.

We are grateful to Tech Runway under the Division of Research for supporting seed funding for these amazing student projects.

We would like to thank our generous donor Dr. Eric H. Shaw for his commitment to supporting student development and innovation and for sponsoring the $2,000 Dr. Eric H. Shaw Florida Atlantic Wave Excellence in Innovation Award.

We would also like to thank our partners at Palm Beach State College for our continued collaboration and supporting their students in the Wave program and for sponsoring a Palm Beach State track cash prize.

We would like to thank the Office of Government Relations for supporting the Community Engagement cash prize.

Now let’s take a look at these impressive student projects!

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SUCCESS SUCCESS TO DATE

249

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$173K

PARTICIPANTS

WINNERS OF THE FLORIDA ATLANTIC BUSINESS PITCH COMPETITION

WON IN CASH PRIZES

27

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ENTERED FAU TECH RUNWAY

PROVISIONAL PATENTS

Updated as of March 2024

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SPOTLIGHT FLORIDA ATLANTIC WAVE ALUM SPOTLIGHT

Pet HealthCare Innovations traces its origins to a pivotal moment in John Thomerson’s life when the challenges of caring for his beloved dog Daisy, who was grappling with a medical condition causing weakness and paralysis of her legs, sparked the creation of a groundbreaking solution. “The activities of caring for Daisy were frustrating, time-consuming, messy, and had a high risk of injury. In response, I created a prototype for our first device, and it saved Daisy’s life!” Thomerson said.

This heartfelt experience catapulted Thomerson into a journey of innovation that resulted in Pet HealthCare Innovations’ patent-pending and awardwinning ecosystem of six products for mobility-impaired dogs, including a groundbreaking potty station (Potty Pal™), a highly innovative walker (Walker Pal™), and a revolutionary wheelchair (Wheelchair Pal™). These products, along with the company’s best-in-class sling, harness, and hammock (Sling Pal™, Harness Pal™, and Hammock Pal™), form a seamless ecosystem providing unparalleled care.

The company’s Mobility Ecosystem devices are the first of their kind, providing structural support for the dog’s weight, ease of use, assistance with mobility and aid with potty and bladder expression.

Thomerson’s entrepreneurial journey found fertile ground in Florida Atlantic’s Entrepreneur Boot Camp at the Adams Center for Entrepreneurship. The Boot Camp guided him to rapidly take action and make progress every week towards building a business plan and pitch presentation, leading to the founding of a successful business.

Continuing his journey, Thomerson honed his skills in customer discovery through the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps program. Over 125 potential customers and world-renowned veterinary professionals provided feedback and endorsement for the products, signaling a resounding market validation. The Florida SBDC at Florida Atlantic supported Thomerson

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by matching him with an expert consultant for essential market research.

Thomerson’s journey continued with the Florida Atlantic Wave Program, which provided pivotal seed funding for prototype development and comprehensive support, instruction and mentorship, leading him to transform his vision into a more robust suite of tangible products. “John is a true entrepreneur, he never gives up, he always asks questions and takes full advantage of the resources we provide,” said Regina Thompson, assistant director, Strategic and Economic Initiatives.

Taking the next giant leap, Thomerson gained admittance into the Tech Runway Venture Program, describing it as a dream come true. He was able to connect with a diverse cohort of like-minded and ambitious entrepreneurs and innovators, gaining the invaluable guidance of highly successful entrepreneurial mentors.

Pet HealthCare Innovations won second place and a $5,000 prize in the 2022 Florida Atlantic Business Pitch Competition. Following this triumph, the company won numerous pitch competitions at the university, state, national, and international levels, securing first place in the state of Florida twice. It also earned prize funding surpassing $17,000 from competitions and $10,000 from grants. The company was recognized as a Next Generation Inventor by the National Academy of Inventors, was featured in the media frequently, including a front-page spotlight in the Palm Beach Post newspaper and achieved numerous other accolades.

Thomerson attributes his transformative journey to the unwavering support of Florida Atlantic’s Innovation and Business Development ecosystem. “These experiences changed my life forever, for so many reasons, including the milestones accomplished, the world-class mentorship, the relationships with other founders, the vast networks of valuable connections and so much more!” Thomerson said.

A beacon for entrepreneurs and innovators, Thomerson and Pet HealthCare Innovations are poised for even greater strides in the journey ahead.

TEAM PROJECTS

(alphabetical by project title)

AI Spark Student: Vikram Renganathan

Project: In today’s world, understanding artificial intelligence (AI) is crucial for navigating modern society. AI technologies permeate various aspects of daily life, from healthcare to transportation, transforming industries and shaping the economy. However, underprivileged communities often lack access to AI education and resources. If students from these communities aren’t equipped with the knowledge and skills for 21st-century AI careers, they will be at a permanent socioeconomic disadvantage. The AI Spark is solving this problem by educating underprivileged students about AI and how they can master it to find well-paying careers. This is done through a novel, interactive curriculum and partnerships with schools, organizations such as PBS, and volunteers, to spark curiosity in the minds of these underprivileged students. Overall, AI Spark is committed to building a future where all children, regardless of their socioeconomic status, have the opportunity to thrive in an AI-driven world.

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Colossal Jupiter Student: Krystyna Medina

Mentor: Hari Kalva, Ph.D.

Project: Colossal Jupiter is a microschool, an independent learning institution, in Jupiter, for native Spanish-speaking students in grades 6 to 12.

The goal is to provide experiential-based hands on learning, designed to prepare students not just for academic success, but for a life of innovation, adaptability and active citizenship.

Colossal Jupiter represents a groundbreaking approach in education, reimagining the traditional schooling model through a unique microschool framework free from bureaucracy and standardized testing. At the heart of the educational philosophy are three core pillars: future forward competencies, personalized learning and experiential learning.

Students and families take ownership in their education as they have the flexibility to increase or decrease their time at Colossal Jupiter with the option of attending in person one to three days per week. In the end, the school aims to spark the joy for education, exploration and innovation within its students.

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Epilyse Student: Danny Alice

Mentor: Mehrdad Nojoumian, Ph.D.

Project: Epilepsy, a neurological condition characterized by recurrent seizures, impacts the lives of approximately 65 million individuals globally. The unpredictability of seizures poses significant challenges for those affected, necessitating innovative solutions for better management. Introducing Epilyse, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence application tailored for wearable devices.

This revolutionary app leverages advanced machine learning algorithms for real-time seizure detection, offering timely alerts to users, caregivers and healthcare professionals. Epilyse not only empowers individuals with epilepsy but also enhances the understanding of their unique patterns through continuous learning algorithms. With user-friendly features such as personalized insights, proactive alerts and adaptive learning, Epilyse empowers users with control, customization and peace of mind that comes with reliable seizure detection.

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Flood Finder: An AI Camera For Flood Detection Student: Izaac Martinez

Mentors: Cecily Kovatch, MBA

Project: Each year, millions of individuals are impacted by flooded roads, leading to restricted travel, potential property damage, and, in extreme cases, bodily harm. There are limited and inefficient local resources currently in place to address this issue.

At Flood Finder, our mission is to safeguard communities from the perils of flooded roads. We are dedicated to leveraging cutting-edge technology, including cameras equipped with state-of-the-art neural networks like AlexNet, to detect and promptly alert the public about hazardous road conditions. The goal is to significantly reduce the damage to vehicles and, most importantly, protect people from harm caused by flooding.

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Green Tree Students: Prajwal Nagaraj and Charlie Russo

Mentors: William Edward Hahn, Ph.D.

Project: Green Tree is an agtech initiative that integrates artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics to introduce precision agriculture to farms worldwide, aiming to significantly boost efficiency and sustainability. Through realtime data analysis and automated operations, the platform assists farmers in making informed decisions that lead to optimized resource usage and enhanced crop yields.

As the project moves through the market validation phase within controlled lab environments, students are preparing for field deployments on farms. The insights gained from these pilots will refine the AI algorithms and inform our scalable subscriptionbased SaaS model. Ultimately, Green Tree aspires to be the cornerstone of smart farming, contributing to an ecosystem where technology and nature synergize for a more productive and sustainable future in agriculture.

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KaBodali Suspended Footbridge Students: Alejandra Vega, Tyler Owen, Claudia Diaz, Evan Cabrera and Andrew Gates

Mentor: Frederick Bloetscher, Ph.D.

Project: Footbridges are a proven solution to help residents of rural communities worldwide cross natural obstacles, often consisting bodies of water, by reducing fatalities and increasing safety.

The KaBodali suspended footbridge, projected to span the Mkhomati River in the rural municipality of Nkhaba, Kingdom of Eswatini, will provide direct benefits to five communities: Kusulvkeni, Manyaweni, Kudlomo, and Hhehhe. The bridge will enhance access to essential resources, including education, healthcare and economic opportunities. The design and construction plan of the bridge was suited to the site’s specific characteristics and limitations to ensure its safety and longevity.

For the development of this project, the student team will travel to Nkhaba, to assist in the construction of the bridge while staying in a homestead that belongs to a family from the local community.

This lodging arrangement will give the team the opportunity to maximize their cultural exchange and engagement opportunities.

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Marine Guard Student: Yashwin Adusumilli

Mentors: Katherine Hendrickson, MS, and Tricia Meredith, Ph.D.

Project: Introducing “Marine Guard,” a pioneering solution dedicated to combatting nutrient pollution in brackish water environments, championing the cause for marine conservation. Unlike traditional methods, Marine Guard harnesses the natural nutrient absorption prowess of Gracilaria tikvahiae seaweed, presenting a formidable competitor in the battle against harmful algal blooms and water quality degradation. With its ability to preserve marine biodiversity and restore fragile ecosystems, Marine Guard offers tangible benefits to society, promoting sustainable practices across agriculture, industry, and urban development. By providing a reliable and eco-friendly approach to nutrient pollution management, Marine Guard empowers communities to safeguard their aquatic resources for future generations.

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MicroBiome Portal Students: Jean Dorsainsville, Stefania Volpe, Midley Sylien and Jonathan Guarnizo

Mentor: Nirthieca Suthakaran, Ph.D.

Project: The MicroBiome Portal is a social networking website designed for microbiology students. The website empowers students to explore and share microorganisms found in their experiments by contributing to a comprehensive user-generated online database.

From collecting samples to growing and isolating microbes, the website supports students at every step by fostering an inclusive scientific community. The MicroBiome Portal not only serves as a knowledge repository, it is also a collaborative space, enriched with elaborate experimental protocols, interactive visualization tools, and dynamic forums. This website is designed to enhance microbiology education, offering a platform that effortlessly blends with course curricula, making microbiology experiments accessible by encouraging students to participate and share their insights. The MicroBiome Portal is a social networking website that enriches the study of microbiology by combining individual student research with communal discussions. Thereby enhancing the learning experience and empowering students to contribute to the scientific understanding of microbiology research.

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Nanosense: A Nanosensor Array Medical Diagnosing Device Students: Noor Habona and Abby Sinu

Mentor: Waseem Asghar, Ph.D.

Project: According to the National Institutes of Health, 58.4% of individuals report that traditional medical barriers, such as time-constraints and high cost, prevent them from receiving medical diagnoses.NanoSense, a nanosensor array medical diagnosing device, was created to make medical diagnoses more convenient and accessible. This cutting-edge technology uses a network of nanochemical sensors on a silicon chip combined with a monitoring system. Composed of humidity, temperature, and pressure/flow, this device detects real-time chemical and physical properties of human breath for a non-invasive and low-cost medical diagnosis. NanoSense identifies biomarkers related to conditions such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. No such technology exists in the market today. NanoSense changes the way decisions are made to help both patient and medical care providers to minimize cost, optimize resources, reduce risk and cut the amount of time needed for receiving a response.

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The One Love Project Student: Alecia Leiba

Mentor: Julia Sanchez

Project: The One Love Project aims to support individuals, especially college students, in feeling valued, respected and connected through campus outreach and activities. It seeks to alleviate stress, provide comprehensive support, enhance self-worth, and raise awareness of mental health priorities. Inspired by the power of love, the project advocates for universal access to kindness and promotes mental well-being as a daily priority.

Unlike initiatives limited to specific months or occasional recognition, The One Love Project prioritizes ongoing mental health awareness to ensure continuous support for individuals of all identities. It emphasizes inclusivity and aims to foster a culture of care and support for everyone, recognizing the significance of mental health in daily life.

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PolitiCom: A Political App Students: Josiah Morris and Matthew Sirkin

Mentor: Mark Clifton, MS

Project: Navigating the political landscape can become extremely difficult and time-consuming when supporting politicians and finding government resources. Due to a constant source of misinformation, negative social constraints, and political mistrust, U.S. citizens often make detrimental mistakes when voting. PolitiCom was created to reduce these issues and enact a national change. PolitiCom offers both voters and politicians the tools to make real political change. The app’s key features provide politicians a platform to interact directly with voters, create a more efficient way of donating to political campaigns, allow voters to post questions about local political issues, and find their local offices immediately by inputting their zip codes.

PolitiCom bridges the gap between citizens and their politicians by offering valuable and impactful tools that shape the future of political communications.

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Sensory Personalized EEG Assistive Communication (SPEAC) Device Student: Emma Susi

Mentor: William Hahn, Ph.D.

Project:

SPEAC is an innovative, assistive communication device for individuals with conditions like ALS or stroke, which can cause communication challenges, enabling them to communicate and interact with the world. Utilizing affordable EEG technology, SPEAC accurately translates brain signals into real-time communication, enabling users to express themselves effortlessly. This solution enhances social inclusion and emotional well-being by providing a lifeline for those with communication difficulties, fostering independence and improving their quality of life. Inspired by a passion for leveraging technology for social good, this project aims to bridge the communication gap and empower individuals to connect with the world around them. Designed for use by individuals with ALS, stroke survivors and those with speech impairments, the device offers a non-invasive, affordable alternative to existing communication aids. It provides real-time communication without the need for physical movement or invasive procedures, setting it apart from competitors and opening the door for thousands of patients.

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Shoulder Solutions Student: Nicholas Mellas

Project: The goal for this project is to develop a shoulder brace strap prototype. The plans for this product are to create a more comfortable alternative for patients to attach to their shoulder braces to wear pre and post operation. The current models are equipped with neck straps that are rough, non-flexible and uncomfortable. The goal is to make this device universally fitting into any shoulder or arm brace on the market, and make it available in doctor’s offices and emergency rooms nationwide and to offer patients the option to order online.

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Solfonic: A Solresol Multisensory Integration Interface Student: Bryan Aviles – Lopez

Mentor: William Hahn, Ph.D.

Project: The aim of the project is to develop a multisensory translation interface based on Solresol, a unique language using musical notes. This interface integrates visual, auditory and kinesthetic modalities, filling a gap in tools designed for diverse learning and cognitive needs. Recognizing the benefits of multisensory learning, the tool capitalizes on sensory overlaps reminiscent of synesthetic experiences and has therapeutic potential, especially for Alzheimer’s patients, by strengthening memory pathways. As the tool translates text into corresponding colors, musical notes and gestures, it becomes a revolutionary educational platform suitable for various learning styles, with further applications in therapy, neuroscience research and worldwide education.

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Stone Pine Marketing and Productions: Innovative Marketing Solutions for Non-profits Students: Alberto Hernandez

Mentor: Timothy Steigenga, Ph.D., and Danyelle Greene, Ph.D.

Project: Stone Pine Marketing and Productions specializes in bolstering nonprofits in South Florida through innovative marketing and video production services. Understanding the unique challenges of the sector, which includes shoe-string budgets and a need for tailored approaches, Stone Pine offers cost-effective solutions to enhance visibility and impact. With more than 94,000 nonprofits in the state facing issues with visibility, our approach focuses on social media, short video content, email marketing and fundraising campaigns. We leverage our extensive experience and connections to personalize services boosting community engagement and donor support. Stone Pine’s strategy of creating impactful videos and promoting organic social media growth addresses nonprofits’ visibility issues and creates a sustainable marketing model. This allows non-profits to concentrate on their crucial missions with increased support and recognition.

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Trailblaze Treck Students: Giannyna Orbegoso and Kerlens Jeanty

Mentor: Natacha Nettles, M.Ed.

Project: In today’s workforce, many companies prioritize profit over human relations, leading to frequent layoffs and a culture of insecurity.

This environment encourages workers to do the minimum required to avoid losing their jobs rather than contributing passionately to their roles. Trailblaze Treck aims to change this by cultivating a new generation of leaders who value caring, trust and strong workplace culture. It focuses on high school students, providing them with the tools and experiences to develop empathy, effective communication, collaboration and leadership skills. This program includes workshops on self-growth, practical skills like active listening and handling conflict, as well as opportunities for handson experience through volunteer work and internships. By doing so, Trailblaze Treck seeks to build a foundation of passionate leaders who can transform workplaces into environments where trust and human relations are prioritized, ensuring job security and employee engagement.

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Web-based Applications for Identifying Urban Heat Islands Students: Madan Thapa Chhetri and Anil Kumar Mandal

Mentor: Hongbo Su, Ph.D.

Project: Urban Heat Islands (UHI) is a critical concern in sustainable development due to its association with global warming. Traditional UHI assessment methods are time-consuming, requiring extensive data collection and computation. This project introduces a webbased approach for rapid UHI identification, utilizing Google Earth Engine, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and Landsat datasets. This project’s method allows UHI computation within minutes of any geographic extent, offering insights into land surface temperature dynamics and showcasing UHI time series. The primary goal is to support urban planners and researchers in addressing heat’s environmental and health impacts.

This work facilitates informed decision-making for interventions like urban roof installations and energy conservation measures by streamlining UHI computation. This research contributes to sustainable development goals by providing a practical tool for mitigating UHI effects. Future directions include advancing analytical techniques for more comprehensive UHI assessment.

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Water Pillow Student: Christina DiMeo

Project: Babies are born with soft spots on their heads known as fontanels, crucial for their brain growth. The anterior fontanelle, located at the top-front of the skull, closes between 9 to 18 months, while the smaller posterior fontanelle at the back closes around 6 to 8 weeks after birth. Any irregularities in fontanel appearance should prompt immediate medical attention, as they could indicate dehydration, fluid buildup or other concerns.

The Water Pillow, inspired by experiences in daycares and orthopedic units, addresses the need for proper head support during sleep to prevent rolling over. It incorporates cold therapy to stimulate neurogenic pathways for fontanel closure, aiming to promote safe sleep habits until 18 months of age. The Water Pillow is designed with input from medical professionals to ensure optimal support and safety for infants.

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WineChef: Personal AI Voice Assistant for Wine Selection Students: Pavel Bazhutov

Mentor: Evgeny Bazhutov

Project: With a myriad of bottles to sift through, the process of choosing the perfect wine often becomes a time-consuming and frustrating experience. Furthermore, wine assistants may not be helpful if people don’t trust their recommendations or are absent when wine lovers need them most. WineChef addresses these challenges.

WineChef is an artificial intelligence voice assistant designed to replicate the interaction between a wine enthusiast and a sommelier, offering personalized wine selection suggestions in retail stores and restaurants.

Now there is no need to read 10 bottles or wait for an assistant in the store. Wine lovers can simply tell WineChef their wine preferences and a personal AI assistant will provide in simple terms, an unbiased and professional recommendation.

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NOTES

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FLORIDA ATLANTIC WAVE www.fau.edu/fauwave fauwave@fau.edu

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