Innovation Works Competition

Judges from a variety of organizations, including Lockheed Martin, will play a critical role in the competition. Competition participation will be virtual. Team members must exercise social distancing and comply with all standing health guidelines (e.g., wearing masks) as they participate.

Unique methods of illustrating your solution may be appropriate and are allowed. For example, physical demonstrations and simulations could be very effective. However, be extremely careful to stay within the competition time and virtual presentation format (Zoom) limits.

Short videos and references* on “design thinking” and how to do effective “elevator pitches,” to help participants prepare before the competition starts, are available in the following links:

"Crash Course in Pitching" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO3CY9a6rwQ

"Design Thinking Part 1" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI8svM0C52E

"Design Thinking Part 2" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsaBU_kO-yQ

"Design Thinking Part 3" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92SdZzu07Ew

"Design Thinking Part 4" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRyeGcIVc54

The following documents* will also prove useful:

Basic_Pitch_Rules.PDF           
A_Crash_Course_in_Design_Thinking.PDF

(*Special thanks to Maggie Koops, a WSU alum, for her efforts preparing this material.)

Deconstructing the Elevator Speech - A helpful breakdown of what an elevator speech is and the elements that go into it. While teams will not be presenting research during this competition, the ability to convey an idea in a succinct manner is critical.

Judges score teams, as the competition progresses, based on the below noted specific categories:

1. The team’s problem understanding
2. The team’s solution uniqueness
3. The demonstrated value of the team’s solution
4. The practicality of the team’s solution
5. The team’s overall effectiveness communicating
   
   (*Note: Not all categories will be active in all sessions.)

Scores use the following scale:

• 0-points means the specific category result is missing or unacceptable
• 2-points means the specific category result is just acceptable or adequate
• 4-points means the specific category result is very good
• 6-points means the specific category result is truly extraordinary

Point values other than 0, 2, 4, or 6 are not allowed.

The category scores from the judges are averaged and used in the following equation to determine a team’s session score:

Session Score* = Average of Category 1 Scores + Average of Category 2 Scores + Average of Category 3 Scores + Average Category 4 Scores

(*Note: Not all categories will be active in all sessions.)

In order to provide valuable feedback, session category average scores will be shared with teams as soon as is possible.

Session scores combine to determine a team’s final competition score using the following equation:

Final Score = (0.1 * Session 1 Score) + (0.2 * Session 2 Score) + (0.7 * Session 3 Score)

 

Each session will progressively address different parts of a team’s efforts and results, specifically:

• Session 1 is where the team identifies a problem as they see it and their specific focus area
• Session 2 is where the team presents their initial idea for a solution to the problem
• Session 3 is where the team presents their evolved and final overall result

The following competition rules apply: 

1. Contest participants must compete as a team, composed of at least three and no more than four full-time WSU students (for this competition, full-time student status means each undergraduate or graduate student is currently enrolled, respectively, in at least 12 or 6 credit hours). 
2. Multi-disciplinary teams are encouraged but at least one member must be a current engineering major. 
3. A maximum of twelve teams can compete. As a result, a pre-contest entry and review process will be used to invite the most promising teams to participate. 
4. Because of the pandemic, participants will interact virtually. Zoom will be the primary communications tool. 
5. Each team member is required to present at least once during the event. 
6. Contest events, activities, presentations, etc. will be tightly scheduled and time-limited. Competitors must meet these limits. There will be no exceptions, unless in rare and unavoidable cases (e.g., WSU ITS services go down). 
7. The principal competition efforts and results must be those of the student team. Outside assistance of any kind or amount must be formally and completely identified in a submitted List of References. 
8. Proper referencing of any and all sources or assistance (e.g., periodicals, conference papers, books, web pages, conversations, emails, etc.) is required. 
9. Failure to submit a complete List of References by the stated deadline may result in disqualification. 
10. Be sure to monitor the competition web page and your emails for updates, changes, and other information. 
11. It is the team’s responsibility to check the schedule and to be on time for their presentation in each session. 
12. Teams that are late for a presentation time slot will not be given additional time, but are eligible for scoring. 
13. Teams totally missing a presentation time slot receive a zero for that session score. 
14. The is no automatic requirement to award a first, second, or third place winner (e.g., if there were only three competitors). Winning teams must deliver high-quality and innovative solutions with acceptable final team scores. There are no default wins. 
15. Generalized unofficial results, if available, may be shared during the Closing Session. Final results will be posted on the web page as soon as they are made official. 
16. All competition related aspects (e.g., rules, requirements, constraints, schedules, awards, etc.) are subject to interpretation and change at any time by the contest director (Dr. Miller, WSU Aerospace). 

OPENING SESSION – Friday, 10/21 @ 4:00pm Central

SESSION 1 – Saturday, 10/16 (all times are Central)
This session focuses on the team’s identification of a problem and their specific focus area.

Team/Time	10:00am	10:15am	10:30am	10:45am	11:00am	11:15am
1	X
2		X
3			X
4				X
5					X
6						X

 SESSION 2 – Saturday, 10/16 (all times are Central)
This session focuses on the team’s initial idea for a solution to the problem.

Team/Time	4:00pm	4:15pm	4:30pm	4:45pm	5:00pm	5:15pm
1	X
2		X
3			X
4				X
5					X
6						X

SESSION 3 – Sunday, 10/17 (all times are Central)
This session focuses on the team’s final overall result.

Team/Time	2:00pm	2:15pm	2:30pm	2:45pm	3:00pm	3:15pm
1						X
2					X
3				X
4			X
5		X
6	X

CLOSING SESSION – Sunday, 10/17, @ 4:30pm Central

Opening Session Link: https://wichitastate.zoom.us/j/92619869101?pwd=djBGaFdsZDdWa3dNTnBrSk9QbjAzZz09 Password: 761181

Session 1 Zoom Link (Saturday): https://wichitastate.zoom.us/j/97863975138?pwd=NWY1UWdwUjMrUmsxMEZBRkU4RndaUT09  Password: 804311

Session 2 Zoom Link (Saturday): https://wichitastate.zoom.us/j/91880214636?pwd=Tnp0bExkT2JPbTV5ZzdreEdvWjVGQT09  Password: 699202

Session 3 Zoom Link (Sunday): https://wichitastate.zoom.us/j/94569905503?pwd=R2M0SVhMQktKSzdzbHhTVkNGU2ZFdz09    Password: 307353

Closing Session Zoom Link: https://wichitastate.zoom.us/j/96681260622?pwd=cVFON3p2TmlQRENsVndJV2E3WERFdz09 Password: 859271

The competition theme builds on the qualification theme of countering drone swarms.

However, your new and innovative idea must address swarms of fast and agile Group 2 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) or drones. The Department of Defense (DoD) defines vehicles in this group as weighing between 21-55 pounds each and with a maximum altitude and speed capability of 3,500 feet and 250 knots.

Remember, this is a competition. Your ideas and presentations need to be of high quality. Take the time to learn all you can about design thinking, elevator pitches, and making effective presentations. There are helpful links on the competition website. The efforts will serve you well in the final phase of the competition and your career.

Counter Swarm Concepts

Autonomous unmanned air vehicle (UAV) technology has rapidly advanced. Public security and defense-related risks are substantial, especially given there will likely be more than one vehicle. Swarms of nefarious UAVs are now a major concern.

Your challenge is to, first, learn as much as you can about swarming UAV threats and existing counter technologies. Then you need to identify a new and innovative idea or concept to counter UAV swarms.