The Intel ISEF, a program of Society for Science & the Public (SSP), is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition. Approximately 1,700 high school students from more than 75 countries, regions, and territories are awarded the opportunity to showcase independent research and compete for about $4 million in prizes.  Students are judged on their creative ability and scientific thought, as well as the thoroughness, skill, and clarity shown in their projects.

 

In addition to winning the Grand Award for Robotics and Intelligent Machines, Simone won four additional First Place awards Intel ISEF 2016 including:

Vini also won the following additional awards for her Intel project including:

Simone and Vini are two of 12 students engaged in top-level research this year in Dalton's Science Research Program (DSRP), headed by Dalton Science Chair and Science Research Director Lisa Brizzolara. Though only six years old, DSRP has fostered numerous winning projects in premiere national and international scientific competitions, including Intel ISEF, Intel Science and Technology Search, Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, The Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, and more.  Dalton high school students can enroll in different DSRP classes beginning in 9th grade, and typically select a topic for independent research in 9th, 10th or 11th grade, which they pursue after school and in the summers at Dalton or a research laboratory.

 

Simone's Research Abstract

A Novel Haptic Actuator for Robotic Surgery: Utilizing Soft Robotic Pneumatic Networks, a Closed Loop Control System, and an Electro-Pneumatic Control Board to Accurately Restore an Operator’s Sense of Touch.
 

The novel haptic robotic surgical controller is the only robotic gripper prototype to offer a surgeon the intuitive ability to grasp an object remotely, and to accurately replicate the pressure that the end effector encounters on the operator's hand in a realistic manner. This prototype represents the first remote actuator to deliver successfully “bio-mirroring” capabilities, which allow a virtual operator’s experience to mimic six key elements of an actual grasping experience: haptic input, haptic force feedback, grasping control, a compliant end effector, pliable haptic output and a closed loop control system. To accomplish bio-mirroring, this prototype made the first-ever use of soft robotic pneumatic networks in a haptic grasper and was pressurized with an electro-pneumatic control board. This interdisciplinary robotics experiment combined mechanical engineering, material science, electrical engineering and computer programming.

 

  

This paper presents a novel integrated solution for removing nutrient pollutants in water while providing stimulus to the local economy. This project was completed in three phases: the first phase involved research-based experiments to find an ecologically sound solution for eutrophication*; the second phase involved stochastic modeling** to look at the decay profile and estimate the half-life; and the third phase examined the economic feasibility of the solution to make the process profitable instead of being a financial liability for current and future generations. For the purpose of this analysis, the efficacy of hydroponic vetiver farming was studied on water from Lake Wapalanne, New Jersey. This paper elucidates the phytoremediation potential of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) for eutrophied water bodies. The results show that vetiver grass can provide an effective environmental solution to excessive nutrient pollution in water bodies. The change in Total Phosphate (TP) level was analyzed as a first order kinetic reaction. Subsequently, the decay constant was modeled as a stochastic variable using Monte Carlo Simulation. Using the simulation, a probabilistic estimate of half-life was developed. This process improves the predictability and efficacy of the phytoremediation model in determining the range of time needed to reduce the pollutant concentration to the desired level. This study suggests that water bodies with eutrophication problems should develop aesthetically pleasing floating vetiver islands for commercial hydroponic cultivation. What is unique and novel is that by combining Environmental Science with Mathematical modeling, and the principles of Economics, this easily implementable solution will generate economic value and employment while removing eutrophication. This paper opens up numerous possibilities for economically profitable, self-sustainable, and green options for purification of eutrophied water bodies.

 

* Eutrophication is defined as the enrichment of an ecosystem with chemical nutrients, typically compounds containing nitrogen, phosphorus, or both. Eutrophication can be a natural process in lakes, occurring as they age through geological time.

** A stochastic model is a tool for estimating probability distributions of potential outcomes by allowing for random variation in one or more inputs over time. The random variation is usually based on fluctuations observed in historical data for a selected period using standard time-series techniques.

 

Dalton students who are interested in learning more about DSRP science should contact Ms. Brizzolara at lbrizzolara@dalton.org.