The 15th of April saw Bavarias youngest inventors recognised for their achievements, at the provincial finals of the Young Innovators competition held in Dingolfing. A total of 70 scholars, between the ages of 10 and 15 years, qualified at various regional finals for the final in Lower Bavaria. For the 14th time, the provincial finals of the competition took place at the BMW factory in Dingolfing.
 
SAR awarded a special prize to two creations which were found to have industrial applications.
 
Nominated by SAR:
 

• 1st place - The "Cat's Whiskers" Sensor

(Johannes Haselberger)

"In my project I developed a touch/tactile sensor based on the principles of the tactile whiskers of a cat. The focus lies on the conversion of the mechanical motion of the tactile hairs into electrical signals allowing you to, e.g. steer a robot, feel the form of a shape or feel surfaces."

• 2nd place - Has the bus been here yet?
  (The electronic bus-stop, Andreas Finkenzeller)
  

  "An electronic bus schedule indicates whether the bus is still to arrive or has already departed. The buses are fitted with a transmitter, which connects with the schedule as soon as it is within range."

The "Cat's Whiskers" Sensor (Johannes Haselberger)

Demonstration Model - The "Cat's Whiskers" Sensor

How do you sort Smarties by colour? (Maximilian Diez)

Noise creates illness - Investigating noise reduction methods (Hans Nerlich)

Protecting exhibits from photography

Vertebra damage due to heavy school bags (Lena Korber, Nadja Wenzel, Sonja Mittl)

Award ceremony

The MC's (Karl Auer and Markus Otmer)

More information can be found at jugend-forscht.de