Edison Awards Champions

ON JUNE. FIRST 18, 69? 22 YEAR-OLD THOMAS EDISON RECEIVED HIS VERY FIRST PATENT FOR HIS ELECTRIC VOICE RECORDER THAT DEVICE WAS A COMMERCIAL FAILURE BUT SPARKED A LIFETIME THAT EDISON DEDICATED TO INNOVATION. 157 YEARS LATER, THE EDISON AWARDS TOOK OVER DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS, HIGHLIGHTING THE LATEST GENERATION OF BRILLIANT IDEAS. WGC IS EMMA RODRIGUEZ TAKES US THROUGH THE MARQUEE INNOVATORS SHOWCASE. >> THE ANNUAL AWARDS ARE INFORMALLY REFERRED TO AS THE OSCARS OF INNOVATION. IF YOU APPRECIATE THAT MORE THAN THE MAYOR OF FORT MYERS, KEVIN ANDERSON'S. >> SO THIS IS BIG FOR FORT MYERS BECAUSE IT DEFINITELY PUTS US ON THE MAP AND LETS PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE AND THAT WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND THAT WE'RE A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE WORK AND PLAY AND RAISED A FAMILY. >> ALSO UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EVENT WAS THE TEAM FROM AIR, AN ISRAEL BASED AVIATION COMPANY. THEY CAME WITH THEIR AIR. ONE MEDIUM SIZED AIRCRAFT THAT RESEMBLES A DRONE. IT'S FULLY ELECTRIC AND HAS SMART NAVIGATION CAPABILITIES. AIR DID NOT SUBMIT A PRODUCT TO BE NOMINATED FOR AN EDISON AWARD THIS YEAR. BUT HEAD OF MARKETING GILL CHARNS SAYS HE HOPES THE AWARDS PRESTIGE IS IN THE COMPANY'S FUTURE. HERE'S WHAT HE SAID WHEN WE ASKED HIM HOW IT WOULD FEEL TO WIN A GOLD. >> IT'S VERY EXCITING AND WE'RE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. A TEAM IT BUT WE HAVE A LOT AHEAD OF US FOR THIS YEAR. A LOT TO PROVE A LOT TO DELIVER ON. SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK AHEAD. SO WHERE WE'RE INSPIRED. BUT WE'RE ALSO, YOU KNOW, DRIVEN. >> IN THE VEIN OF OUTRAGEOUS ELECTRONICS, THE HOLLANDALE BEACH BASED TVC ROBOTICS ALSO CAME WITH THEIR LIFE PRODUCT IN THE WAY OF HUMANOID ROBOTS THEY CAN DANCE. DO KARATE AND ONE EVEN RESEMBLES A DOG. THE ROBOTS ARE NOT JUST FOR ENTERTAINMENT ATTACHMENTS LIKE CAMERAS AND WATER HOSES CAN'T HELP COMPLETE TASKS THAT MAY BE TOO DANGEROUS FOR HUMANS. CEO ART MOCK OFF EXPLAINS. >> IT CAN BE USED LIKE A SECURITY GUARD BECAME PATROL TERRITORIES. IT CAN GO 3.60, CAMERAS ON CONSTRUCTION SITE. AND WHAT I LIKE THE MOST WITH RUBBLE, DUCKS. IT CAN WORK WITH. IT'S DANGEROUS FOR HUMANS IN VENGEANCE ENROLLMENT. THAT'S A CHEMICAL FACILITY. IT'S RIGHT TO INSPECT THE LEAGUE'S, YOU KNOW, OR MAYBE OVERHEATING, YS OR EVEN 5 THROUGH THE FIRE. >> INNOVATION COMES IN MANY SHAPES AND SIZES, BUT A COUCH MAY NOT BE. WHAT COMES TO MIND. HOWEVER, LOVE SACK WAS NOMINATED FOR AND WON A BRONZE EDISON AWARD THIS YEAR. LOVE SACK FOCUSES ON ADDING FEATURES TO FURNITURE, MAINSTAYS, LIKE BEAN BAGS, COUCHES AND RECLINERS. IN ADDITION TO 100 YEAR WARRANTY. SHOW ROOM MANAGER ALYSSA COSTS, WHO WORKS AT THE COMPANY'S STERILE LOCATION SAYS IT'S AN HONOR TO REPRESENT SUCH A COMPLEX PRODUCT ON THE GLOBAL STAGE. >> SO THAT'S REALLY THAT INNOVATION PEACE. THE MECHANISM ITSELF HAS ALMOST 600 COMPONENTS IN IT. THE ITEMS THEMSELVES KIND OF SAW THEMSELVES. I MEAN, WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER THE UNIQUENESS OF IT. SO I I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD. I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO GET A CHANCE TO BE A PART OF THE EVENT FOR WGCU NEWS. I'M EMMA RODRIGUEZ. IT.