Current airflow measurement devices are typically expensive and designed for commercial HVAC systems, making them impractical for residential applications. Technicians need a simple, affordable solution for measuring total system airflow across indoor ducted furnaces, heat pumps, or central air-conditioning systems. The goal of this challenge is to create a new apparatus that can be easily used by trained technicians, delivering accurate airflow measurements within the residential range of 0 to 2,000 CFM. This device or system should cost less than $100 and be able to complete setup and testing in under 20 minutes.

To make the Air Flow Challenge a success, various efforts were made:

1. Problem Identification: Recognizing the need for an affordable, accurate airflow measurement tool for residential HVAC systems, as existing devices were costly and time-consuming.
2. Solution Development: Participants were tasked to design a solution that met specific criteria, including ease of use, accuracy, low cost, and minimal setup time.
3. Collaboration and Innovation: Participants shared insights, connected with other innovators, and worked on developing devices or algorithms to solve the problem.
4. Judging and Evaluation: Submissions were evaluated based on cost, accuracy, robustness, ease of installation, and usability, with a clear focus on practical solutions for residential HVAC systems.

This structured approach ensured the identification of a viable, scalable, and cost-effective solutions were presented to the judges upon the closing of the challenge.

The Emerson team was pleased with the submission outcomes at closing, receiving 33 potential solutions.  Although the judging panel was unable to determine any clear winners for the $3,000 prize, the Emerson team continued to see this project as a success based on the quality of responses and submissions received. Thus, they decided to award the two competitors with proposals that were closest to meeting the judging criteria. While only two out of the 33 submissions received the Appreciation Awards, there were so many other insightful proposed solutions that they were confident many of the participants will do great things in the future relating to airflow measurements. The Emerson team felt their collaboration with HeroX was a success and look forward to launching more projects in the future.