‘Coolest Thing Made in Colorado’ releases this year’s finalists

There are some pretty amazing things being created in Colorado all the time. The annual “Coolest Thing Made in Colorado” contest shines light on ten inventions in our state every year, and this year’s finalists are out!

You can actually vote for which invention you think is the coolest. Finalists include the “Laser Maze Challenge” by Funovation in Longmont. It’s an interactive attraction where players navigate glowing laser beams, racing against time in three unique game modes that test agility, speed and strategy.

Here are the other finalists:

• AE.1 Cosmos,
  • By Lightship in Broomfield
  • First all-electric aero-electric travel trailer with a 77-kilowatt-hour battery and rooftop solar panels that create a fully self-contained power system.
• AIEye, by HapWare in Golden
  • Wearable bracelets and glasses with assistive technology that translates nonverbal communication cues such as facial expressions, gestures and body language into discreet haptic feedback for people who are blind, low vision or autistic.
• Austere Remediation Unit (ARU-10T)
  • By Austere Environmental in Golden
  • Cleans 10 tons of diesel-contaminated soil per day, removing 99.99% of pollutants and recovering the diesel for reuse.
• Autonomous Nano Tractor (ANT)
  • By Barn Owl Precision Agriculture in La Junta
  • Fully electric, self-driving mini tractor that handles precision row-crop tasks like weeding, targeted spraying and planting support.
• Clarity-1
  • By Albedo in Broomfield
  • First commercial, very-low-earth-orbit satellite to capture 10-centimeter visible imagery and 2-meter long-wave infrared data in a single pass.
• InnovaFlex Arrays
  • By InnovaFlex Foundry in Colorado Springs
  • Complex electrical systems built on glass or flexible materials that enable the measurement or application of electrical signals. It has many uses, including one that allows researchers to study how human tissue responds to pharmaceuticals or treatments.
• Spectra Optia Apheresis System
  • By Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies in Lakewood
  • Industry-leading platform for therapeutic apheresis, cell processing, and cell collection, capable of separating and returning blood components while targeting specific cells for treatment or research. First introduced in 2007 and now used in over 125 countries.
• The Narwhals
  • By Apex Cool Labs in Boulder
  • Portable cooling devices designed to quickly reduce core body temperature by targeting specialized vasculature in the palms. Used by professional athletes, firefighters, construction workers, and others exposed to extreme heat.
• Vertical Hydroponic Farm
  • By FarmBox Foods in Aurora
  • Uses patented vertical farming technology inside upcycled shipping containers to maximize growing space while minimizing water and energy use in solar-capable, climate-controlled farms.

Voters can choose up to three products to vote for once per day until voting closes on Oct. 6. Votes can be submitted online. The Colorado Chamber will announce the winners of the People’s Choice award and the Coolest Thing Made in Colorado during an awards banquet on Oct. 23.