Last week, we held an innovator webinar to share more information about the Challenge, what and who we're looking for and how to enter.
Watch a recording of the webinar here.
Thanks to everyone who joined us on the day, and especially to those who participated by asking questions. While we were unfortunately unable to answer everything live, we've compiled everyone's questions and have answered them below.
Have more questions about the Challenge? Get in touch with us at mobilityunlimited@challenges.org.
General questions on the Mobility Unlimited Challenge
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Would you be able to define what "smart" means in the context of the Mobility Unlimited Challenge?
As per our FAQs, smart or intelligent systems could include Artificial Intelligence, machine learning or other technologies. They are systems comprising sensors and processors, taking a sense input and automatically transforming it into an output. Incorporating these into your device could be accomplished through improved dynamic response to one or more of the following: user intention, surrounding environment, user’s body or the functional parameters of the device.
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How narrow is the scope of the innovation you are looking for? Should we focus on ideas specific to wheelchairs, or can we expand to all types of mobility devices? Also, is the scope limited to devices, or can it be websites, apps, social networks etc.
The Mobility Unlimited Challenge will seek to enhance the mobility and independence of people with lower-limb paralysis by incentivizing innovation and the creation of smart assistive mobility devices that incorporate smart intelligent systems to deliver new and improved functionality and usability.
We expect devices that help enhance user’s mobility and independence through sensing and dynamically responding to one or more of the following:
- The user’s desired intentions
- The user’s environment, proactively navigating space and managing risks
- The user’s body and residual body function, supporting neurorehabilitation and the management of the user’s health and wellbeing
- The usage of the device in order to improve its functional parameters
Examples of the types of devices the Challenge could receive can be found in the Innovator Handbook online, some of these examples are listed below, however, the successful device could be something no one has thought of yet.
- An autonomous powered wheelchair that can detect holes, curbs and obstacles in the environment and respond automatically to avoid crashes or falls.
- A powered lower-limb orthotic brace that monitors the user’s power input and varies the power assistance it provides in line with the user’s need, maximizing the use of the user’s body and residual body function.
- A robotic exoskeleton device that contains an in-built fall detection and prevention mechanism.
- A wheelchair that reads and responds to the user’s intention.
General questions on the Mobility Unlimited Challenge entry requirements
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Please explain the published article requirements. Specifically, if a device is completely innovative, there would not be published articles directly related to such innovation. How general can these articles be?
The entrant should demonstrate a real understanding of the wants and needs of people with lower-limb paralysis in relation to their mobility and independence and the challenges they face. The entrant should be able to demonstrate how their entry delivers improvements in the user’s mobility and independence in comparison to products and devices currently on the market.
The articles or literature we're requesting are not related to your exact idea, but rather ones that support your entry. You don't need to have had your ideas published to be eligible to apply. Also, the articles do not need to have been published by you. It’s about showing your understanding of the wider field, and how your idea fits with the ongoing conversations in the field.
They should support the need for your solution, or, support your solution/the technology behind your solution. As the Mobility Unlimited Challenge is seeking the creation of smart assistive mobility devices that incorporate smart intelligent systems, some ideas will need to demonstrate that their solution is feasible based on literature.
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What level of functioning prototype needs to be developed for the 15th August 2018 entry stage? What if even the $50,000 of the Discovery Award are not enough to develop a fully functioning prototype.
At the August 2018 entry stage, we will be looking at entries’ potential against the judging criteria. You will need some level of prototyping (working model) that will demonstrate that you will be able to develop a prototype capable of user demonstrations by 2020.
If the amount awarded by the Discovery Award is not enough to produce your entry to the main Challenge, you can look for funding elsewhere to cover your costs. Just keep us informed if you do so.
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Are products under market certification eligible?
If the device is ready for commercialization, then your product will not be eligible for the Mobility Unlimited Challenge. We’re looking for new and innovative ideas for mobility devices that incorporate smart intelligent systems to deliver new and improved functionality and usability. If your device is already on the market it would not be eligible for the Challenge.
At the Discovery Award stage, we are looking for innovators with great ideas, who might otherwise struggle to enter the main Challenge. Awardees must use their Discovery Award grant to develop their entry into the main Challenge. For the main Challenge, you will need a working model (this may be a scale model prototype). If you are unsure if your device is suitable, do not hesitate to get in touch at mobilityunlimited@challenges.org.
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Is there an upper limit on the technology readiness of the product submitted? That is can we be too far along and penalized because the expectation is we are already on our way?
We’re looking for new and innovative ideas for mobility devices that incorporate smart intelligent systems to deliver new and improved functionality and usability. If your device is already on the market it would not be eligible for the Challenge.
At the Discovery Award stage, we are looking for innovators with great ideas, who might otherwise struggle to enter the main Challenge. To enter the main Challenge, you will need a working model (this may be a scale model prototype) if you are selected as a Finalist you will develop this into a prototype capable of user demonstrations by the September 2020.
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Do we need to have Intellectual Property?
As per our eligibility criteria, “Entrants must own, or have written permission to use, the intellectual property relevant to their entry. All entrants need to demonstrate a willingness to share information about their device for the purposes of the Challenge."
Please note that the contestants will retain all Intellectual Property Rights generated by you through the Challenge as in 5.1 in the Terms and Conditions. The details will be discussed when the Toyota Mobility Foundation and the awardees of the Challenge are to enter into a formal agreement as in 3.4 of the Terms and Conditions.
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Would you be able to discuss Intellectual Property patent rights and protection? Is there any help obtaining patents or requirements to give Toyota Mobility Foundation ownership of Intellectual Property?
As per our Terms and Conditions (4.1d and 5.1), it is the contestant's responsibility to obtain all rights for the prototype they are presenting.
4.1 To submit an application to win, and be considered for award of Challenge monies, you must, and the team leader of a team, must ensure that each team member shall:
d) obtain all authorizations, consents, licenses and permissions necessary to: (i) submit and develop your solution as part of the Challenge; (ii) grant the rights granted to us under these terms and conditions (including without limitation those granted in paragraph 5.2 below); and (iii) if you win the Challenge, to develop and market your winning solution as proposed in your winning entry;
5.1 Except as set out in paragraphs 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 and 6 below, as between you and us, you will retain all intellectual property rights in the results and materials (including but not limited to any data, know-how and information), generated by you while participating in the Challenge (the “Challenge IPR”) and no rights in Challenge IPR shall be transferred to us or our Partners. You shall have sole responsibility at, your own cost, for filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending and enforcing any Challenge IPR.
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Can you talk a bit more about the expectations about public disclosure of Intellectual Property during the application process?
There will be no public disclosure of any submissions until the end of the each selection process. Once successful teams have been selected, we will publicise them as part of the Challenge. Teams will be given the opportunity to review the information used prior to publication. The only parts of your application that might be subject to publication, if your team is successful, is the title of your idea and the short summary that is part of the entry form (Section 2; 2.1 and 2.2).
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For the Mobility Unlimited Challenge, it was mentioned that the prototype would be developed with Toyota. What kind of support would Toyota provide?
The finalists will be responsible for developing their own prototypes. As part of the Challenge, they will have to access mentoring opportunities offered by the Toyota Mobility Foundation from leading experts, possibly including from Toyota engineers.
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Are we going to be able to utilize other media (video clips) to demonstrate our prototype is viable as part of our entry for a Finalist Development Grant in August 2018?
The entry form for the Challenge has a list of documents/media that you can upload to support your submission. Question 2g, “Demonstration Video: Please provide a 2-minute (max) video in English with closed captions demonstrating your working mode”.
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For co-creation criteria, what is the expected level of involvement of the end user?
The question in the entry form for the Challenge is as follow (question 2d). “How will your idea potentially respond to the wants and needs of people with lower-limb paralysis in relation to their mobility and independence? What has been the role of co-creation in developing these insights?”
Questions on the Discovery Awards
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Regarding Discovery Awards, can we apply for 'only' part of the $50.000 grant?
No, we are specifically looking for people to apply for the full amount. This Award is designed to help applicants who need it the most. If the amount awarded by the Discovery Award is not enough, applicants can look for funding elsewhere, should the amount offered by the grant not be enough to cover your costs. Just keep us informed if you do so.
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What is the makeup of the peer review committee?
The review committee for the Discovery Award will be two-fold. The applications will be first reviewed by a set of external assessors, from a US-based university, who will have been carefully selected based on their backgrounds and technical knowledge. After having gone through the first stage, the shortlisted applications will be reviewed by an independent panel of judges, selected for their knowledge and engagement on a variety of topics linked to the Challenge. The judges will be publicly announced soon.
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How will press releases be handled if a Discovery Award is won by a team? Will our product and ideas be released? I’m concerned from an Intellectual Property standpoint.
The only things that will be published in the press are the title of your ideas and the short summary that is part of the application form for the Discovery Award (Section 2; 2.1 and 2.2). You will be given the opportunity to review the information that will be published prior to publication.
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The Discovery Award application form is a closed form. Is there are a way to add additional justifications to the application in the form a free form text? I understand that the Application is limited, but what about supporting documentation, files, drawings, videos?
We are committed to have the fairest approach possible to judging the applications we received. As we expect to receive a large number and a large variety of different applications, we are asking everyone to follow the requirements set up in the application form for the Discovery Award as it will allow us to apply the same judging criteria to everyone. It also helps us manage the flow of information we will receive from all applicants.
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Is there a limit to the number of team members we can have?
There is no limit to the number of members in the team, but in the entry form there is a limit to the number of members that you can present. It’s about knowing who the core team is (please see question 3.h in the application form for the Discovery Award) and demonstrating that the team will be able to deliver.
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Can you discuss the level of business plan and market analysis needed during the Discovery Award phase of the Challenge?
For the application to the Discovery Award, we are expecting applicants to put forward an idea. You need to demonstrate that you have a good understanding of the context and how your idea fits into it. For more information on what to submit for the Discovery Award, please see points 3.a & 3.b of the application form.
