65th Annual STS (2005-2006)
Finalists
Adam Daniel Sidman

COLORADO
Adam Daniel Sidman, 18, of Colorado Springs, entered the Intel Science Talent Search with an engineering project designed for the motion picture industry. As a feature film intern, and head of his own freelance production company, Adam had first-hand experience with the heavy, bulky camera stabilization rigs currently in use, and believed they could be improved. His solution - built in his basement woodworking shop with used and sample electronic equipment - is a lightweight, handheld stabilizer using micro-electromechanical system-based gyroscopic sensors and servo motors. When the gyros sense rotation, they signal the corresponding motor to apply opposing torque, virtually eliminating unwanted movement. Adam believes his invention is clearly superior to the purely mechanical devices now available and has applied for a patent. The son of Dr. Michael and Renee Sidman, Adam's research received eight awards at the 2005 Intel ISEF in Phoenix. He is design, layout and photography editor of the school paper at William J. Palmer High School. Adam was a national finalist in the National History Day competition and plays the saxophone. He hopes to study at Yale or USC.