Food Factor

Welcome to the LugNuts 3rd Season:   Food Factor.   The Challenge this year was to come up with a solution to help with food safety.  We think we came up with a good idea .  We call it Stickify! (It's fun to say isn't it).  We had lots of fun and did well in our challenges.  Stay tuned for more details about our season and our solution.

Right now, we are in the running for the Global Innovation Award.  Please click the link above and vote for the LugNuts and their product idea - Stickify!

Getting a Patent and the Global Innovation Award

One of the most exciting parts of having a great team idea is also getting the chance to make our idea into a real product.  Everywhere we have gone,  several different people have come up to us to ask for one of our Epi-Watches.  We've even had people give us their contact information in case we are able to manufacture them.  It has been very interesting to find so many people with allergies everywhere we go.

The first step in the process was to get a patent.  We filed and received a provisional patent before our state championship in the beginning of December.  The LugNuts found it very exciting to be able to have their idea labeled, "patent pending."  I think when the patent went through they thought for the first time, "Hey, maybe we could actually make this product."  Then, over Christmas break, we heard about a new FLL opportunity.

This was the next step for us -- to enter our idea into the FLL Global Innovation Award contest.  The Global Innovation Award is sponsered by FLL, Xprize, and the US Patent Office.  This would be a great opportunity for us because the award is money, which would be very useful, and advice, which would be even more useful.  The award is now in the hand of the judges -- we'll see how we do.

Either way, we have enjoyed being able to share our idea with even more people and have gotten lots of positive feedback, a few suggestions and even a few copycats (it must be a good idea if other people are trying to copy us, but we are glad we filed for a patent already).  The LugNuts have learned a lot about robotics, engineering, allergies, and now business.  Thanks to all of our readers who have supported and voted for us.  This year we decided to focus on having fun -- and lots of fun we did have and still continue to have.

--The LugNuts

We don't serve Peanuts . . . just Peanut Butter.

At the beginning of the school year, we usually go and talk to the teachers and some of the staff at the school to let them know about our son's food allergies and how to keep him safe.  One year I will never forget:

We went to talk to someone in charge of the cafeteria to find out what they do for kids with severe food allergies.  They basically told me that they didn't do anything for those kids - not even a peanut free table at lunch.

This was quite a change from the school we had just come from so I was a little surprised.  But what finally got me is when the lady told me that I didn't need to worry about my son's peanut allergy because they didn't serve peanuts.

"We don't serve peanuts here," she was proud to report.  "Oh - you don't do peanut butter sandwiches?" I asked.  "Yes, we serve peanut butter -- but no peanuts," she replied.  I was a little taken back at first but then said,  "You Do know that there are peanuts in peanut butter - - don't you?"  "Well, yes,"  was all she could say.

I think this demonstrates the lack of understanding some people have about food allergies.  People with severe food allergies can't eat any of the food they are allergic to, they can't even touch that food, and often just being around that food can bother them.

This year, the LugNuts set out to increase allergy awareness -- especially at school.  The team members really learned a lot about the subject this year and felt like they could help other people understand it more too.  One of the things they did was create a video about food allergies.  They played this video during the news at school.  They also passed out flyers and talked to people that had questions.

Here is a copy of their allergy awareness video:
(Thanks to FAAN for a lot of the information they used)

It seems that a lot people know someone with food allergies, but a lot of people don't really understand that allergic kids have to completely avoid that food.  The LugNuts found out that the best thing that the kids can do to help at school is to wash their hands after they eat.  This sounds pretty simple, but it really does help.

If you want more information about food allergies or FAAN, here is a link:  FAAN

Finally -- a Clean Room.

As the LugNuts were coming up with ideas for their solution, they did a lot of research.  They talked to people with allergies, a doctor who treats those with allergies, and they researched a lot on the internet--both about allergies and epinephrine and about the EpiPen and how it worked.   But -- one of their favorite parts of their research was when they went on a field trip.

The LugNuts went on a field trip to the Tech Group.  They had already come up with the idea for some sort of watch that could give epinephrine, but they weren't exactly sure about how it would work.  The Tech Group manufactures medical devices, including EpiPens.  The LugNuts were able to see how they used robotics in the manufacturing process, how the EpiPen is made, and what kinds of parts make up the device.

During the field trip, the boys got to go inside a clean room.    This was one of their favorite parts of the day.  After all, the LugNuts are 6 boys and they aren't used to being in a clean room.  It took quite a bit of preparation to get ready -- they had to dress in full clean room gear.  First, they had to wear long pants and closed toe shoes.  (We do live in Arizona and it was still hot, so the boys normally would have worn shorts and sandals).  They weren't allowed to wear any make-up or glitter--but this wasn't a problem since they are boys.  Then they had to put on a hair cover and safety glasses.  Next came the hood, the long white jacket and the protective gloves.  Last, they had to cover their shoes with thin white booties.   Finally, they were dressed and ready to experience the clean room.











The people at the Tech Group were very nice and answered a lot of the boys questions.  The boys really started to get excited about their solution.  After the field trip, they understood a little bit more about the safety precautions and the components that were necessary for their Epi-Watch.  The LugNuts were full of ideas and ready to design.  


Now - if we could just get them to pick up their rooms . . .

LugNuts in the News.

One of the fun things that the LugNuts have been able to do is to share their idea with lots of people.  It seems that everywhere they go, they run into people with allergies who would like one of their Epi-Watches.  That is one of the main reasons why they would really like to make the Epi-Watch into a real product.

For part of their sharing, they have been able to talk to several reporters from newspapers, magazines and TV stations.  I think the LugNuts favorite interviews have been the ones that landed them on TV.   At first they were a little nervous, but now they are becoming pros at answering questions for the reporters.  Their most recent interview was with ABC 15 news.  They were able to get a great spot in the middle of the 6:00 nightly news.







They have been able to reach a lot of people and have gotten a lot of positive responses.  I don't think they will ever get tired of telling people about the Epi-Watch or how it works.  Pretty much everyone they talk to at least knows someone with allergies.  In fact, 1 in 25 people in the United States have food allergies -- that is a lot of people that this watch could help.

Here is a link to their ABC 15 news story if you would like to see what they have to say:

The LugNuts on ABC 15 News

It's the Eye of the Robot . . .

This season, the LugNuts made up a song to the tune of "Eye of the Tiger."  They have had a lot of fun with it and enjoyed singing it for everyone at the regional and state tournaments.
Now they would like to share it with you:

Its the eye of the Robot, 

its the thrill of the drive,  

Rising up from a bucket of Legos,

And the last NXT brick wins the trophy tonight,

And a robot will rise above all

in this battle.

Happy Heart Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from 

our Minions to yours!

  Thanks to all of you who have shifted 

gears and voted for the LugNuts!