Engineers are always looking to find solutions for the world’s problems. After learning about the high fatality rates of underride car crashes in Turkey, Kerem Bayhan was inspired to work towards finding a solution that would reduce this number and earn him the 2021 IEEE Presidental Scholarship Award.
Through his research, Bayhan learned that commercial trucks already have guard bars to prevent accidents. Rather than looking to further improve the safety of the truck, Bayhan turned towards improving the safety of cars instead. He designed a mechanical barrier system that attaches to the hood of the car and connects to its electronic control unit. The barrier system consists of an outer layer featuring energy-absorbing material and a second layer made of metal. Airbags are placed between the two layers to propel the hood attachment forward. When the car’s active safety system senses an impact is about to occur, the device extends before the crash happens to protect the driver and the passengers.
Bayhan will be awarded $10,000 over the course of four years of undergraduate study. The award was presented during the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
The second-place winner was Brian Minnick who developed a self-replicating 3D printer and was awarded $600. Minnick is a student at MIT who plans to study material science and engineering. The third-place winner was Boglarka Ecsedi who developed a rip-current detection system and was awarded $400. Ecsedi is a student at Georgia Tech who will be studying computer science.
Congratulations to all of the 2021 Presidential Scholarship Award winners. Read the full IEEE Spectrum Article on the scholarship award and recipients.