Changing The Game
I’m so excited to team up with FIRST once again to celebrate the FIRST GAME CHANGERS powered by Star Wars: Force for change season! Later this month we’ll be continuing the Changing the Game series powered by Rockwell Automation on FIRST’s Instagram (@FIRST_Official_) account featuring live interviews with athletes, experts, and other inspiring people who are changing the game in the world of sports.
These exciting interviews with athletes, experts and brands are inspiring young minds by uncovering the STEM in the sports they love. STEM is a way in which all students can “go pro” in the sport they are passionate about. Future innovators inspired by this series will change the game beyond the court! Here are some of the problems a few of our superstar guests have challenged youth to solve!
Ninja Warrior
Michelle Warnky
On our third segment of “Changing the Game” powered by Rockwell Automation, I hosted an exciting interview with American Ninja Warrior athlete and finalist Michelle Warnky to uncover the STEM behind obstacle course racing. Here are 3 ideas for innovation Michelle would love for you to explore.
Obstacle Design and Layout Software
In addition to conquering obstacles on the course Michelle is also a ninja warrior gym owner. Michelle would love a program that could help her optimize the space in her gym. This program would allow her to enter details on her space and what obstacles she wants to incorporate. The program would then provide the best potential layouts to maximize the gym space.
Interested in hearing more about this idea from Michelle? Watch here!
Modular/Interchangeable Obstacles
In order to increase accessibility to the sport Michelle would love to see modular/interchangeable obstacles that allow a ninja gym to increase or decrease the difficulty level of an obstacle quickly.
Interested in hearing more about this idea from Michelle? Watch here!
Automated Scoring System and Wireless Buzzers
Wires on an obstacle course are not only make moving buzzers inconvenient they are also a tripping hazard. Michelle would love to see an automated scoring system with wireless/Bluetooth buzzers that allow for safer and more accurate judging during large competitions.
Interested in hearing more about this idea from Michelle? Watch here!
IndyCar Racing
Charlie Kimball
As a part of our “Changing the Game” powered by Rockwell Automation Instagram LIVE series, I interviewed IndyCar driver Charlie Kimball about how he is using STEM innovations to improve his racing experience and more. Here are 3 ideas for innovation Charlie would love for you to explore.
Augmented Reality Glasses for Fans
Indycar racing events draw in hundreds of thousands of fans with different experience levels and interests. Charlie would love to see the ability for the every fan in the stands to have an augmented reality experience at the race track. This product would aim to improve their experience as a fan with a personalized experience.
Interested in hearing more about this idea from Charlie? Watch here!
See-through Race Cars
There is so much engineering under the hood that the average fan doesn’t get to see in action. Charlie would love to have access to see-through materials that have equivalent properties (safety, strength, weight) of the current carbon fiber honeycomb solutions but that allow for fans to have a view into the engineering and action inside of the racecar.
Interested in hearing more about this idea from Charlie? Watch here!
New Energy Sources
Charlie believes we need to see an evolution in the power sources for racecars. He would like to see racecar innovations drive innovation in the road car sector to create a combination of the internal combustion engine with electrification, hydrogen, etc.
Interested in hearing more about this idea from Charlie? Watch here!
Track & Field
Eric Alejandro
During this episode of “Changing the Game” powered by Rockwell Automation, I interviewed two-time Track & Field Olympian Eric Alejandro about his experience in the Olympics and how STEM plays a major role in the sport. Here are 3 ideas for innovation Eric would love for you to explore.
Hurdle Collecting Robot
After a long day of practice the last thing Eric wants to do is go pick up hurdles. Eric would love to see a robot that can automatically place and pickup hurdles at the appropriate distances. This solution would aim to save time and energy at practices and events while also increasing accuracy of hurdle placement.
Interested in hearing more about this idea from Eric? Watch here!
Smart T-Shirt
Olympic athletes are always pushing themselves to expand the limits of human possibility. Eric would love to see athletic clothing that can analyze key health data in athletes to prevent dehydration, stroke, injury, etc. and alert the athlete or coach.
Interested in hearing more about this idea from Eric? Watch here!
Data Capturing Rabbit
Eric would love to see a robotic system that follows the athlete around the track to keep real-time data to help improve future performance. This data would then be analyzed by coaches along with the athlete to develop targeted improvement plans.
Interested in hearing more about this idea from Eric? Watch here!
Which superstar would you like to hear from next? Please list in the comments section the names of athletes, experts or companies you want me to host next! Make sure to follow @FIRST_Official_ to tune in live and subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch previous episodes. #FIRSTGAMECHANGERS