The Wearable Robotics Association (WearRA) is inviting entries that represent the most innovative new ideas in wearable robotic technology for the Innovation Challenge as part of WearRAcon. The winner will receive international recognition and a $5,000 cash prize to support development and commercialization of the technology.
This friendly competition represents an opportunity for university labs, small companies and even individual teams to present their ideas, no matter how original or unorthodox, on the main stage of the conference.
In the past, the Innovation Challenge has been a high energy event full of surprises. Entries and presentations have ranged from novel mechanical linkages all the way to complete exoskeletons and exosuits. Last year’s event even included an exosuit concept for dogs, a man’s best friend.
Upload your concept paper by January 24, 2020. The review committee will select as many as ten (10) finalists. All finalists will be invited to present their product concepts at WearRAcon 20, March 30 – April 1 at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale, AZ (USA). The winning entry will be selected through live voting by conference attendees and a panel of judges representing industry, government, academia, and corporate executives. The top projects will receive awards. The one considered to be the most innovative will be announced at the conference and will receive $5,000 to accelerate the new technology.
Submission Details:
Submissions are due by January 24, 2020. The proposal must include information about intellectual property and the development outline with milestones for deliverables. Explain the potential impact on the wearable robotics community, as well as significance of this concept as an advancement for the industry.
Eligibility:
Instructions for the Submission:
Please submit your proposal by Friday, January 24, 2020 | 11:59 PM (EST).
Proposal Content (NTE 4 pages)
Paper Layout:
Proposal Submission:
Review:
Proposals will be scored based on the following criteria:
Selected Proposals/Finalists: Finalists will be notified by February 14, 2020. As many as ten (10) finalists will be selected to present at WearRAcon 20 (Scottsdale, Arizona, March 30 – April 1, 2020). Each presenter will have five (5) minutes to present the concept, followed by five (5) minutes of questioning. Each finalist will also receive a small exhibit space for two days of the conference. The event will feature live voting among audience members and a panel of judges representative of industry, government, academia, and corporate executives. The winning project considered to be the most innovative will be announced at the conference.