In August, a group of University of Michigan- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (UM-SJTU JI) students won prizes in two different innovation competitions, i.e., TiC100 Smart City Innovation & Entrepreneurship Contest and “Magic Ideas” Chinese Innovator Competition, with their invention “Smart Belt for the elderly.”
JI innovation team and TiC100 sponsor Mr. Huancheng Luo (4th from left)
TiC100 Smart City Innovation and Entrepreneurship Contest is a national innovation competition cosponsored by Advantech Cultural and Educational Foundation, Peking University, Shanghai Jiaotong University and Xi’an Jiaotong University. This year’s theme focused on smart medicine, smart city, smart transportation and other issues. A total of 424 teams entered the competition, divided into three regions (East, North, Northwest China) and two groups (enterprises and students). With their creative invention “Smart Belt and Management System for the Elderly,” the JI team “Family Health,” composed of Hao Zhijian, Guo Ziqi, Ye Xiao Yu, Wu Zhaofeng, Sun Qihan, Liu Xie Yang, Hu Xuefeng, Liu Xiaoshu, stood out among 265 student teams and became one of the 6 finalists at the East China competition held at SJTU on August 8. The national final competition will take place in Kunshan in September.
In addition, the same team also won the bronze prize and “the most user-friendly” design award at the 2015 “Magic Ideas” Chinese Innovator Competition cosponsored by various famous enterprises. Their project attracted great attention and won 4019 votes, the third prize among the 60 teams. The award ceremony was held in Ningpo on August 12.
JI team won the bronze prize and “the most user-friendly” design award at the 2015 “Magic Ideas” Chinese Innovator Competition
With the prevalence of internet, the government is promoting “smart medical services” for the citizens. The JI students’ invention of “Smart Belt and health management system for the elderly” was inspired in this context. The Smart Belt will provide timely assistance to the elderly in case of a fall, where the built-in acceleration sensor would detect the fall and an attached phone APP will automatically send out a distress alert to the family and the emergency center, saving precious time. In addition, a health management system on the Smart Belt monitors the heart rate and, through a mobile phone APP, helps the elderly connect with doctors, gain access to health guide, and enjoy a full range of health services. The project was initiated in the fall of 2013 as a project of the course Vg 100 “Introduction to Engineering,” (original team members: Han Sunqi, Hu Xuefeng, Liu Xiaoshu, Wang Gihong, Wang Sihan), which has undergone three technological upgrades and about to enter the commercial stage.
The third generation of the Smart Belt for the Elderly
The judges of both contests gave excellent reviews to the JI team and held high expectation for the team’s outstanding performance, including PPT presentation of projects, in the TiC100 national competition to be held in September.
Members of JI innovative team (from left):
Hao Zhijian, Guo Ziqi, Ye Xiao Yu, Wu Zhaofeng, Sun Qihan, Liu Xie Yang, Hu Xuefeng, Liu Xiaoshu.
