The Bison Blog

EMERF Announces Collegiate Motorized Ability Design Awards Competition

Electric Motor Education & Research Foundation's design competition, announced during Medtrade week, encourages students to develop new mobility, accessibility and therapy innovations employing electric motors.

 

To encourage college students to apply their creative energies toward improving the quality of life, the Electric Motor Education & Research Foundation (EMERF) has initiated the Motorized Ability Design Awards competition with a $5,000 first prize for the winning undergraduate team. Announcement of the inaugural design competition is coincidental with Medtrade, the largest international trade show dedicated to the home healthcare industry. EMERF, a nonprofit foundation established in 1995, will also assist qualified teams in procuring donations of electric motors for use in their projects.

The electric motor industry is proud to be able to contribute to improving the quality of life. Everyday, people rely on motors to aid in their mobility, accessibility and therapy: from power wheelchairs to door operators and nebulizers. Speaking as a member of the EMERF board, we want to continue to stimulate innovative new mobility, accessibility and therapy developments and provide a means for undergraduates to exercise their engineering skills as well as their own interests in helping make life better for others.

Entries in the Motorized Ability Design Awards competition will be judged on innovation, utility, marketability, and presentation and the closing date for entries is June 30, 2009. Rules and competition timeline information are available at the EMERF web site. EMERF is also enlisting support from companies in the mobility, accessibility and physical therapy industry who wish to participate in the judging process or become cosponsors of the competition.

Bison Gear's John Morehead to Join Electric Motor Education & Research Foundation Board

To serve as a Director of EMERF, the foundation for advancement and promotion of the electric motor industry

 

I'm pleased to be able to blog that I have recently joined the Board of Directors of EMERF, the Electric Motor Education & Research Foundation, in my role as Vice President, Strategic Planning & Marketing, for Bison Gear & Engineering Corp.  EMERF was established in 1995 to advance and promote the electric motor industry through education, pre-competitive electric motor research, and facilitation of technology transfer within the industry and in cooperation with academic, private research and governmental organizations.

This is an incredibly exciting time for the electric motor industry, considering hybrid electric vehicle development, increased consumer and industrial automation, and the underlying need for greater energy efficiency. To support the current and future requirements of this dynamic industry, EMERF is in the process of implementing significant new projects related to motor industry education and research and I am proud to be associated with the Foundation on behalf of Bison Gear. I look forward to working together with the experienced, insightful motor industry team that makes up the EMERF Board.

About the Electric Motor Education & Research Foundation (EMERF):
EMERF, a 501(c)(3) organization was founded by SMMA, The Motor & Motion Association, in 1995 to promote scholarship, education and research related to electric motors. Electric motors are an important component of economic activity as they are the primary device for converting electrical energy into useful work by all Americans in their homes, automobiles, places of work and study. The Foundation's funds come from the general public, interested private and public institutions and other foundations. The funds of EMERF are directed in the public interest towards expanding the body of knowledge related to electric motors and their manufacture. EMERF draws its leadership from academia, industry, related trade associations such as SMMA, and the general public to help further its' mission.