Milton High grad directs inventive skills toward safety gadget
(Published Sunday, April 15, 2007 11:35:24 PM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Carla McCann/Gazette Staff
MILTON-Nearly every time Christopher Meyer and his friends go motorcycling, one of them forgets to turn off a directional signal.
When that happens, it becomes the other riders' responsibility.
"We have to try to get the driver's attention to tell him the signal light is on," Meyer said.
Unlike vehicles, motorcycle turn signals don't turn off automatically after a turn is completed. And sometimes when a motorcyclist makes a turn, they simply lean the bike and don't turn the handlebars, Meyer said.
Motorcyclists could drive around all day and forget to turn off a signal, Meyer said.
He's hoping to change that.
The 2004 Milton High School graduate recently won fourth place in the UW-Madison Engineering Innovation Days competition for his invention of a helmet-mounted indicator system and map light.
"It's a set of wireless turn signals that go in a helmet," Meyer said. "What they do is allow the signal to be in front of your eyes, rather than down on a motorcycle dash."
When Meyer, 21, made his presentation at the competition, judges asked if the turn signal issue was a big problem.
He and his friends, who also attended the event, told the judges how they always had to be vigilant in checking to make sure no one forgets to turn off a directional light, Meyer said.
Meyer grew up riding dirt bikes, he said.
Chris progressed to motorcycles while in high school.
"My friends and I go motorcycling on weekends," Meyer said. "The countryside is just gorgeous in the summer."
Since the competition, Meyer has spoken with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation in Madison about getting a patent on his invention.
"I'm supposed to hear back from them later this month," Meyer said.
As a mechanical engineering student, Meyer has more than one invention to his credit.
He also invented a dual monitor laptop computer that allows users to work from two screens.
But it's difficult to step into the computer arena with a new invention. Competition is stiff and constantly evolving.
"You could end up infringing on someone's patent," Meyer said.
He and a couple friends also will be competing in a business plan competition with their air plow, which uses a high-speed jet of air to strip off snow.
"It's similar to what airports use to clear the runways," Meyer said.
The invention uses a regular plow, but the blade doesn't touch the ground because a powerful jet of air blasts away snow, Meyer said.
His involvement as an inventor doesn't stop there.
Meyer, a junior, is this year's chairman for the school's Engineering Expo Robotics competition.
The event, which is offered every two years, allows students to show off their inventions.
"We're expecting up to 10,000 people," Meyer said. "We invite all area grade and high school students. It's really a hands-on event. It's gigantic. Sixteen undergraduates organize and run it."
Although Meyer appears to have found his forte in life, he didn't always want to be an engineer.
He had considered attending Marquette University to become a dentist, but wasn't convinced that was a lifelong calling.
"I didn't want to make such a specialized commitment," Meyer said.
He chose to become an engineer after hearing about the career choices in the college of engineering during a registration-day visit to the Madison campus.
"No other school in the state or region has so many things to get involved with," Meyer said. "I keep myself busy. It's been a lot of fun."
His parents, Terri and Mike Meyer, live in Edgerton.
