0:00:16 > 0:00:20Hello and welcome. Today is the second semi-final of My Genius Idea,
0:00:20 > 0:00:22the show that's looking for the biggest,
0:00:22 > 0:00:24best and brightest ideas from all of you.
0:00:25 > 0:00:30In My Genius Idea, we're looking for the next generation of inventors.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35We received ideas from all over the UK.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38Your genius ideas ranged from how to look after your pets,
0:00:38 > 0:00:40robots to help around the home,
0:00:40 > 0:00:43through to flying cars and eco-powered planes.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46Only 18 ideas made it to the heats
0:00:46 > 0:00:48and over six shows,
0:00:48 > 0:00:49we picked our semi-finalists.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Last time, we found out who was the first finalist...
0:00:56 > 0:00:58- Tybalt.- ..and now, we're looking for the second,
0:00:58 > 0:01:01as three more inventors take their genius ideas
0:01:01 > 0:01:05out into the real world to see if they can actually work.
0:01:06 > 0:01:07In today's show, we'll be finding out
0:01:07 > 0:01:10how well sound travels under water.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14- Lots of crackling, that's it, really. - We've set up mission control
0:01:14 > 0:01:16at Europe's largest solar panel building.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18It would make a big difference in space.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22And we're at a pig farm, trying to keep our washing out of the mud.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24And what we've definitely got here is mud today.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27All our semi-finalists will have to impress expert inventor
0:01:27 > 0:01:28and judge Tom Lawton,
0:01:28 > 0:01:33and prove that their idea is worthy of a place in the Grand Final.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36- Tom has always had a passion for inventing.- I love it.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39There are so many ideas all around us.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41Under everybody's nose, there's a solution
0:01:41 > 0:01:44that needs to be solved or a problem that hasn't been addressed yet.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48Tom started inventing when he was ten, and by the time he was 21,
0:01:48 > 0:01:50he developed his first product -
0:01:50 > 0:01:52the world's first recordable alarm clock.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56You always have ideas. Being an inventor is about
0:01:56 > 0:01:59seeing those ideas through into something that's real.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03He's gone on to build a successful career as an inventor,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06winning international awards for his work.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08Tom chose Tybalt and his
0:02:08 > 0:02:11bike bleeper invention to become our first finalist.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13What do you think is going to make the difference between
0:02:13 > 0:02:15the young inventors that go home
0:02:15 > 0:02:17and the young inventor that joins Tybalt in the final?
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Well, they've all been on their real-world tests,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22and it's all about learning from those real-world tests
0:02:22 > 0:02:25about the problems you might face making your idea real.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27I'm looking for them to have carried some of those ideas
0:02:27 > 0:02:30- and discoveries forward. - In these tests,
0:02:30 > 0:02:33they'll each be reunited with their experts
0:02:33 > 0:02:36to see if their invention can work out in the real world.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39They'll have to report the results of their tests back to Tom.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42He'll want to know how well the tests went and if the idea
0:02:42 > 0:02:45can be improved, if they've any chance of winning a place
0:02:45 > 0:02:46in the final.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50Tom, you can relax for now. I'm about to introduce
0:02:50 > 0:02:51our last three semi-finalists, but first,
0:02:51 > 0:02:53let's remind ourselves how they got here.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Emily beat off the competition in Heat Five to secure
0:03:05 > 0:03:07her place in the semi-final.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Her idea of a device to keep marine mammals
0:03:10 > 0:03:13out of dangerous areas won Tom over.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17- Emily.- When I next pitch to Tom, I think he'll be looking for...
0:03:17 > 0:03:22if I've improved my idea, if it's progressed.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Karampreet fought off tough competition in his heat
0:03:32 > 0:03:34to win a place in today's semi. His idea
0:03:34 > 0:03:37of putting solar panels in space
0:03:37 > 0:03:40to beam power back to Earth impressed judge Tom.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42When I was waiting for the result in front of Tom,
0:03:42 > 0:03:45I was really nervous and, if I'm honest, probably not expecting
0:03:45 > 0:03:48to get through, because the other two ideas were also genius.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00Oliver won through in the first heat to win his place in the semi-finals.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04His idea of a wireless controlled clothes line
0:04:04 > 0:04:06gave him the edge with Tom.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10I was really nervous when I was waiting to hear the results from Tom,
0:04:10 > 0:04:12but I got there in the end,
0:04:12 > 0:04:15so I was just over the moon when he said Oliver.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Our budding inventors all went out in the field
0:04:21 > 0:04:24and developed their ideas further in real-world tests.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26First up, Emily.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Her invention is a warning device
0:04:30 > 0:04:32to keep sea mammals away from danger.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35It works by playing warning sounds underwater
0:04:35 > 0:04:36to keep them out of harm's way,
0:04:36 > 0:04:40by using the sound of their most feared predator, a killer whale.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43RECORDING OF WHALE
0:04:45 > 0:04:49We're here on the stunning Isle of Mull off the west coast of Scotland,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52a place rich in marine life and one of the best places in Europe
0:04:52 > 0:04:55to see dolphins, seals and even whales.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59We're going to be hooking up with Emily's expert, Jonathan Gordon,
0:04:59 > 0:05:01on a research boat, to see how Emily's idea
0:05:01 > 0:05:03might work in the real world.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Emily, what areas would you need to protect sea mammals from?
0:05:07 > 0:05:10We need to protect them from military sea operations,
0:05:10 > 0:05:15oil slicks and wind farm construction.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17How does it feel to be in a part of the world that might actually
0:05:17 > 0:05:21- use your idea?- It feels really good. Before, it was just an idea,
0:05:21 > 0:05:23but now, it's really coming to life and it's really exciting.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26- Shall we go and meet your expert? - Yeah.- Come on.
0:05:27 > 0:05:28- Morning.- Hi, Jonathan.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30- Good to see you again. - Good to see you.- Hi, Emily.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35It's a big day for Emily. On board the research boat,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37she's going to have the chance to see some of the sea mammals
0:05:37 > 0:05:39her idea could help protect,
0:05:39 > 0:05:42and then test some of the technology needed to make it work.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46Emily, we're heading out there to an island called Calve Island.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49It's one of the places that seals come and haul-out, to rest.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54She'll have to report all of the results from her test back to Tom,
0:05:54 > 0:05:56as she tries to win the last spot in the final.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02That's so cool, look at that seal just there.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09I think it's really amazing, because I always just thought
0:06:09 > 0:06:11they were an extraordinary and beautiful animal.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Seeing them up close, I feel they're even more beautiful.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16- It's nice to get so close, isn't it? - Yeah, it's amazing.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18Having seen the type of sea life
0:06:18 > 0:06:20that could benefit from Emily's idea,
0:06:20 > 0:06:24Jonathan now wants to show her how well sound can travel underwater.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Emily, this is called a hydrophone.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30It's really like a microphone that you can put in the water,
0:06:30 > 0:06:31and we can listen and see what we can hear.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Does the sound travel well under the water?
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Extremely well, better than it travels through the air.
0:06:37 > 0:06:38A lot of animals that live in the sea,
0:06:38 > 0:06:42but particularly marine mammals, are very acoustically oriented.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45That's their main sense for detecting all sorts of things,
0:06:45 > 0:06:47including things they need to be frightened of.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Emily, have a listen, see what you can hear.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57CRACKLING
0:06:57 > 0:06:58Lots of crackling, that's it, really.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00Yeah. What that crackling is
0:07:00 > 0:07:05are little shrimps that live on the bottom and make very loud clicking,
0:07:05 > 0:07:08cracking noises. That's often what you hear
0:07:08 > 0:07:11when you're in a rocky environment, crackling.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16Emily now knows that sound travels really well underwater,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19but just how far away can it be heard?
0:07:19 > 0:07:22To find this out, Jonathan's put together a test.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24He's going to be playing the sound of the killer whale
0:07:24 > 0:07:27- from the lifeboat... - This is our underwater speaker.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Do you want to lower it gently into the water?
0:07:31 > 0:07:34..and then, they'll head back out into the harbour,
0:07:34 > 0:07:35to see how far the sound travels.
0:07:35 > 0:07:41- How far away are we now?- 650 metres.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44That would be a really useful distance to be able to keep animals
0:07:44 > 0:07:47away from dangerous things, and give them protection.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50This test is key in getting their idea to work.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53At 650 metres, could a sea mammal about to swim into danger
0:07:53 > 0:07:56hear the warning sound and turn away?
0:07:56 > 0:08:01To find out, they drop the listening device into the water...and wait.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03WAILING
0:08:03 > 0:08:05- You can hear that. - Wow. Even I can hear that.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07For the sea mammals, that would be a really useful distance,
0:08:07 > 0:08:08to be able to protect them.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11At nearly three-quarters of a kilometre away,
0:08:11 > 0:08:13the whale sound can be heard loud and clear.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16- It's a great result. - I think it's really amazing
0:08:16 > 0:08:18that we can hear from here so clearly.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21Yeah, I'm surprised myself that it's working so well.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24I think the next step now would be to try and
0:08:24 > 0:08:27do some experiments with real animals in the wild.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33So, Emily, how did you find your day out at sea?
0:08:33 > 0:08:35I found it really exciting, because it was...
0:08:35 > 0:08:39really up close to the animals. It really made me feel for them
0:08:39 > 0:08:43and realise how important it actually is to me to save them.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47So, a great day for Emily.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50If she could develop her idea further, she might make an important
0:08:50 > 0:08:54contribution towards conserving sea mammals in the future.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58Next to put their idea to the test in the real world is Karampreet.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03Karampreet wants to invent the next generation of renewable energy
0:09:03 > 0:09:06by launching a satellite into space, to capture the powerful rays
0:09:06 > 0:09:10of the sun, and then beam this super solar energy back to Earth.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Glyndwr University are leaders in solar energy research
0:09:14 > 0:09:17and technology. They're housed in a building that has
0:09:17 > 0:09:20the largest solar panel of its kind in the whole of Europe.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24This wall produces 85 kilowatts of power,
0:09:24 > 0:09:26enough to power 15 houses for a year.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30So this is the perfect place to test Karampreet's invention.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Karampreet, talk to us about who's going to benefit from this.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37I think there's already areas where they don't have enough energy,
0:09:37 > 0:09:39but I think even more developed countries like the UK,
0:09:39 > 0:09:43in a few years, we could face an energy crisis. So I think it would be
0:09:43 > 0:09:46- helpful all over the world.- I think it's time to meet Dr Douglas,
0:09:46 > 0:09:49- your expert, shall we?- Let's go.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54Dr Douglas Halliday has brought along the solar panel
0:09:54 > 0:09:56that could make Karampreet's invention work,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59and possibly win him that place in the final.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01The first part of the real-world test
0:10:01 > 0:10:03is to show why putting solar panels in space
0:10:03 > 0:10:06is more efficient than using them here on planet Earth.
0:10:06 > 0:10:11In space, you're not limited by climatic radiations and cloud cover.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Down here, we've got some artificial cloud.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18The idea is, we're going to cover our panel with pretend cloud
0:10:18 > 0:10:21and look at the impact on the power that's being produced.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24The voltmeter reading is around 32 vaults.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26What happens when we put on our fake cloud?
0:10:26 > 0:10:28Karampreet, if you'd like to go
0:10:28 > 0:10:31and look at the voltmeter and tell us what the meeting is.
0:10:31 > 0:10:36- It's around 28 volts.- OK, so we've had a drop in the voltage output
0:10:36 > 0:10:38of over four volts from this panel,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41which would obviously reduce the amount of power it produces.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44One of the key benefits of installing this panel in space
0:10:44 > 0:10:47is that it's not limited in this way.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49I'm really encouraged by this, and it does show that it would make
0:10:49 > 0:10:52- a big difference is space, making it worthwhile.- What a great start.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54Yeah, I'm really happy with this.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59So, we've shown how much more solar energy can be collected
0:10:59 > 0:11:01without the problem of cloud cover. Now, we've got to think about
0:11:01 > 0:11:05how that solar energy collected up in space can be transmitted
0:11:05 > 0:11:08back here on Earth, to be used as an alternative energy source.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13You need to transmit the energy from the solar panel back down to Earth.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17One of the ways you can think about doing that is with microwaves.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21Dr Halliday has set up a demonstration to show how the energy
0:11:21 > 0:11:25from space could be transferred to Earth using microwave beams.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28On the left, we have space, which will transmit the microwaves
0:11:28 > 0:11:31to the antenna on the right, planet Earth.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34The amount of power received is displayed on this meter.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37Right, there's another problem and challenge we have to overcome.
0:11:37 > 0:11:42If you sit down between the two antenna, we can demonstrate here.
0:11:42 > 0:11:47What you'll notice is that the power level has dropped, almost to zero.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50That indicates the issues that happen
0:11:50 > 0:11:52- when the signal is interrupted. - What kind of interruptions
0:11:52 > 0:11:55would we get when we transmit this microwave beam back to Earth?
0:11:55 > 0:11:58First of all, there's cloud cover, such as we have today.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01There's also the possibility of aircraft,
0:12:01 > 0:12:06or even migrating birds that may get in the way of the microwave beam.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09One of the other issues is that the solar satellite
0:12:09 > 0:12:12will be 25,000 miles away from Earth.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14In order to demonstrate the difficulties of transmitting
0:12:14 > 0:12:18over a large distance, Karampreet, if you could pick up the antenna
0:12:18 > 0:12:19and just walk down there with it.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22You can see that as he's walking away,
0:12:22 > 0:12:25the signal is dropping almost to zero, because of the extra distance
0:12:25 > 0:12:27involved between the antenna.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30A major stumbling block, where do we go from here?
0:12:30 > 0:12:35One stage going forward would be to think about using a satellite dish,
0:12:35 > 0:12:39which would focus and direct the energy in a specific direction.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42But that wouldn't necessarily overcome the distance that
0:12:42 > 0:12:45we've been talking about - 25,000 miles
0:12:45 > 0:12:47from the solar panels to the Earth.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49I'm feeling confident that we can overcome this.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Karampreet may still be confident,
0:12:51 > 0:12:53but if he's any chance of making it to the final,
0:12:53 > 0:12:55he'll have to think of a better way to transmit the energy
0:12:55 > 0:12:57before he reports back to Tom.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00It is a bit disheartening that there are new issues to overcome,
0:13:00 > 0:13:03but as an inventor, you have to keep going and keep trying.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06I think one of the important things is never to lose hope.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10Karampreet's got a great idea on his hands, but it's an ambitious one.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13There are problems with transmitting all that energy
0:13:13 > 0:13:17from the solar panel 25,000 miles away to here on Earth. Next up,
0:13:17 > 0:13:19I'm off to hang out with Oliver.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Oliver's invention was inspired by his mum, who doesn't like walking on
0:13:23 > 0:13:26their muddy garden to hang out the washing.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29The line moves around, which means users don't have to step in mud.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32It also comes with an alarm to tell you when it's dry.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37To test Oliver's washing line out, I've roped in some extras
0:13:37 > 0:13:40who love really muddy places. We're here at a pig farm to see if
0:13:40 > 0:13:43we can hang out the washing without treading in the mud.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Come on then, girls, ready for your close-up.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51So, Oliver, we're here with your family at a pig farm.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55- Are you as messy as these guys at home?- Probably.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59- Is he, Mum?- Yes, he definitely is. - So I guess you're hoping that
0:13:59 > 0:14:02- Oliver's invention comes to reality? - Yes, I definitely am,
0:14:02 > 0:14:04because I hate going out with muddy feet
0:14:04 > 0:14:06in my garden to hang my washing out.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Let's see if we can solve this problem.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10It's time to meet your expert. Come on, let's go.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17Oliver's expert, Lee Russell, has built a prototype of his invention.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20- Right, Lee, what have we got here? - Oliver wanted his washing line
0:14:20 > 0:14:23to be able to move along so his mum didn't have to get in the mud.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25That's one of the first things we're going to show.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28What we've definitely got here is mud today. We're going to try
0:14:28 > 0:14:30to keep out of that as much as we can. After that,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33we're going to test to see if we can tell when the washing's dry.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36We're ready for the first part of the test, Oliver.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38What do you want me to do?
0:14:38 > 0:14:42First of all, I'd like you to hang out the washing.
0:14:42 > 0:14:43No worries, Oliver.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45I do this all the time at home.
0:14:48 > 0:14:54Right, OK. That's on there. OK, Oliver. Three, two, one...
0:14:54 > 0:14:55Press the button!
0:14:56 > 0:14:58- Yes!- Yes!
0:14:58 > 0:15:01- You've done it.- Yay! - 'So, the first part of the test
0:15:01 > 0:15:04'was a massive success for Oliver, but now, they've got to see whether
0:15:04 > 0:15:07'that line can send a signal to Oliver's mum
0:15:07 > 0:15:08'and let her know when the clothes are dry,
0:15:08 > 0:15:12'meaning Oliver could breeze into that final spot.'
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Right, Lee, how are we going to work the second part of the test?
0:15:15 > 0:15:16We've got this little system here.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18It's kind of like a mobile phone.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21It will receive a signal from the unit on the washing line,
0:15:21 > 0:15:25and when the washing's dry, it will receive a little message saying
0:15:25 > 0:15:28- "washing dry" and that buzzer will go off.- Right, I'll hang this up.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31The science behind the alarm system
0:15:31 > 0:15:34is to measure the wet clothes over a period of time.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37As clothes dry, the water in them evaporates and they become lighter.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41So, once the weight stops changing, the washing should be dry.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45For our real-world test, we're using dry clothes to check the alarm
0:15:45 > 0:15:47so, if it works, it should go off more or less straightaway
0:15:47 > 0:15:51once we've hung the clothes out. It's all riding on this.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54In theory, when I plug this receiver in,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57it should send a message to Oliver and his mum.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59So, let's join them now.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03Oliver, I'll let you do the honours.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05Plug the battery in.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08We're hoping we get a message that says...the washing is done.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12Lee's system weighs the washing every five minutes
0:16:12 > 0:16:15and then decides whether to send a signal.
0:16:15 > 0:16:16So, we waited...
0:16:17 > 0:16:19..and waited...
0:16:19 > 0:16:21PIG GRUNTS
0:16:21 > 0:16:23..and, just as we were about to give up...
0:16:23 > 0:16:28- BUZZING - Yes!- Yes!
0:16:29 > 0:16:30Washing dry!
0:16:32 > 0:16:35Oliver, what a success! Both parts of the test worked today.
0:16:35 > 0:16:41I'm feeling really great. It's just a brilliant day,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44and I hope to get through to the final with this idea.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46Although it's been a success,
0:16:46 > 0:16:49expert Lee has spotted a problem - the wind.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52When the wind blows, the clothes will tug on the line and could give
0:16:52 > 0:16:55a false reading to the sensor, showing they're changing weight.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00So, Oliver, how did you find your day at the pig farm?
0:17:00 > 0:17:02It was really good.
0:17:02 > 0:17:07I loved learning about my idea and how I could venture forward from it.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09- You've got lots to think about, haven't you?- Yep.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13- But overall, happy? Thumbs up? - Yeah.- Yes!
0:17:13 > 0:17:16We've seen how Oliver's idea might actually work, although they didn't
0:17:16 > 0:17:19take into account the elements - how will the wind affect his line?
0:17:19 > 0:17:24Overall though, the skies look blue for Oliver and his genius idea.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28With the real-world tests completed, they've each thrown up
0:17:28 > 0:17:31different results for the young inventors. Emily's been able
0:17:31 > 0:17:34to test the technology that will make her idea work.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38Karampreet has to solve the difficult problem of transferring
0:17:38 > 0:17:42the energy back to Earth. And Oliver's seen his line work,
0:17:42 > 0:17:44but needs to ensure the weighing mechanism -
0:17:44 > 0:17:47to tell when the clothes are dry - remains accurate when it's windy.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51But who can impress Tom the most with their overall results
0:17:51 > 0:17:53and win themselves that place in the final?
0:17:55 > 0:17:57So, Tom, we've just seen the real tests there.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59Anything that caught your eye?
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Yeah, it's all great.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05In particular, it's good to see even Karampreet perhaps becoming aware of
0:18:05 > 0:18:08how big his idea is and some of the hurdles
0:18:08 > 0:18:10he's going to face in making it a reality.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12So, yeah, that's the point of the real-world tests -
0:18:12 > 0:18:15to discover things that you couldn't do in theory.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Is it exciting for you to see these ideas
0:18:17 > 0:18:20kind of start to become more real?
0:18:20 > 0:18:22It is. I'm not even the one who's developing them.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26So, yeah, it's great to be sat back and seeing what they're developing.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29- Really good.- I know we've got three very excited and pretty nervous
0:18:29 > 0:18:32young inventors waiting to chat with you and talk you through
0:18:32 > 0:18:36- their ideas. I'll leave you to make some final preparations.- Thanks.
0:18:36 > 0:18:42OK. You know what time it is, don't you? It's time to speak to Tom...
0:18:42 > 0:18:44'All three of our budding inventors
0:18:44 > 0:18:46'now have to pitch to Tom for a place in the final.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48'First up, it's...'
0:18:48 > 0:18:51- Oliver. Are you ready?- Yeah. - Are you prepared?- Yeah.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53Bring it on. Off you go. Good luck!
0:18:53 > 0:18:56To impress Tom, Oliver will need to remember all the technology
0:18:56 > 0:18:58behind his idea, as well as proving that his invention
0:18:58 > 0:19:02still has the potential to work. Will Tom be convinced
0:19:02 > 0:19:03that he should win a place in the final?
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Hi, Oliver, lovely to see you. I understand you've been testing
0:19:07 > 0:19:12your wireless washing-line on a farm with some pigs. How did it go?
0:19:12 > 0:19:16- It went really well.- In particular, what aspects went well?
0:19:16 > 0:19:19- The washing line went forwards and backwards...- Yes.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21..first time, so that was really good.
0:19:21 > 0:19:28And the alarm went off at the right time, and when it went off,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31we all jumped and cheered, so it was really good.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34Did any problems arise during this test?
0:19:34 > 0:19:39We thought about the problems and I've got two.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43The pulley system must allow pegs to go round it.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46If the pegs can't go around the pulley system,
0:19:46 > 0:19:49- it's just going to go forwards and backwards.- Right, OK.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53And then you're not going to be able to get the far clothing to you, etc.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56You mentioned that you had two problems. What was the other?
0:19:56 > 0:20:00The sensor must go off at the right time.
0:20:00 > 0:20:05Lee, my expert, says that the sensor must be adapted, so the wind
0:20:05 > 0:20:10- doesn't interfere, so it sends the alarm just at the right time.- OK.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14It pulls the weight of the clothes down and makes them appear heavier?
0:20:14 > 0:20:18- Yeah.- Listen, thank you very much for answering all my questions
0:20:18 > 0:20:20and for another presentation.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23I think you've done really well. You seem to have learned a lot
0:20:23 > 0:20:28and seem to relish the challenge of overcoming another problem and...
0:20:28 > 0:20:30- well done.- Thank you. - Thank you, Oliver.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33I think it went really well today.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37It's all dependent on what he decides.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42Next up, it's Karampreet. Has he come up with a solution
0:20:42 > 0:20:46to transfer the power from his solar space panels back to Earth
0:20:46 > 0:20:49that will persuade Tom he's worthy of a place in the final?
0:20:49 > 0:20:51Hi, Karampreet. It's great to see you again.
0:20:51 > 0:20:56I understand you've been researching your solar space panels
0:20:56 > 0:20:59further by visiting the largest solar wall in Europe.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01- How did that go? - That went really well.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05I made a few slight modifications to my idea whilst I was there.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08OK. Interesting, I look forward to learning about that.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10What aspects of the test that you went through worked well?
0:21:10 > 0:21:14In the first experiment, we allowed a 3 square metre solar panel
0:21:14 > 0:21:17to collect solar energy on what was a rather cloudy day.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21- The energy output we got was 33 Volts.- OK.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24We then obstructed some of the light coming in with an artificial cloud,
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- and the new reading came in at 27 Volts.- OK.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31- That's a reduction of around 20%. - So it's very clear
0:21:31 > 0:21:35that cloud cover affects the amount of solar energy you can collect.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39It does. Even on a sunny day, the atmosphere
0:21:39 > 0:21:42absorbs around 40% of the solar energy we'd otherwise receive.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45- Which is a huge amount.- And we're obviously limited to daytime hours.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48And these issues would be overcome by my idea.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50So these were things you discovered and you defined.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54Were there any problems that arose during your test?
0:21:54 > 0:21:55In a second experiment,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58we transmitted microwave energy through the air
0:21:58 > 0:22:00and allowed some of it to be collected by a receiver antenna.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03- OK.- The reading we got was actually extremely small
0:22:03 > 0:22:06and was next to nothing if something obstructed the path.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08- OK.- Or if we increased the distance
0:22:08 > 0:22:10from the transmitter to the receiver antenna.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13- OK.- And this showed it would be imperative to send the microwave
0:22:13 > 0:22:17energy as a focused beam, so all the energy is collected by a dish.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20I certainly credit you for thinking so big with the whole of this idea.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23A great presentation again. You've answered all my questions.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25You, of course, have researched this thoroughly,
0:22:25 > 0:22:27- so, thank you very much, Karampreet.- Thank you.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31I thought my pitch went very well.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34I did my pitch as best I could. If I don't get through,
0:22:34 > 0:22:38I won't be worried, because there's nothing else I could have done.
0:22:39 > 0:22:44Finally, it's Emily's turn to pitch her marine mammal protection system.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Tom will be judging all the young inventors on how well
0:22:46 > 0:22:48their ideas have progressed from the heats,
0:22:48 > 0:22:51and the results from the real-world tests.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54- Hi, Emily, it's a pleasure to see you again.- Hi.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58I hear that you got to see some marine mammals up close
0:22:58 > 0:23:00in the real world as part of your reward tests.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Yeah, it was really cool. We saw two seals and they were really pretty.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05How did the tests go?
0:23:05 > 0:23:06The tests went really well.
0:23:06 > 0:23:11Because we were quite far away and the sound travelled so well through
0:23:11 > 0:23:14- the water, it was really good that we could still hear it.- Yeah.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16It actually travels better than it does through the air.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20- OK.- It was really quite amazing. - Do you think if there were other
0:23:20 > 0:23:23ambient sounds that were going on - maybe lots of fishing,
0:23:23 > 0:23:24lots of boat activity -
0:23:24 > 0:23:28do you think that might affect the clarity of the sound you heard?
0:23:28 > 0:23:33When we were playing my sound, we could still hear all the boats,
0:23:33 > 0:23:35but you can still make out which sound it was
0:23:35 > 0:23:37and really clearly, so I don't think it would affect it at all.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39So, over and above the sound of the other boats,
0:23:39 > 0:23:41you could still hear the sound clearly?
0:23:41 > 0:23:43The sound you played through the hydrophone,
0:23:43 > 0:23:47was that an actual sample from a killer whale?
0:23:47 > 0:23:50Yeah. Jonathan said he'd recorded it a while back
0:23:50 > 0:23:52- and they were the real sounds. - OK, OK.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56So, it's an accurate reproduction of a recording of that sound,
0:23:56 > 0:23:58and that's what's played through the hydrophone.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02What have you identified is the primary...
0:24:02 > 0:24:06locations where this technology would be of greatest benefit?
0:24:06 > 0:24:08I was speaking with Jonathan.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10We realised...
0:24:10 > 0:24:14- that wind turbine construction is a major threat to them.- Yeah.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17It's a really big part of noise pollution.
0:24:17 > 0:24:22There's always people on patrol boats looking out for the animals.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26If they're spotted, the operation is immediately stopped
0:24:26 > 0:24:28and it can't continue until all the animals are away.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32- OK.- If we could keep them away before they got near,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35- it would save the company time and money.- Yes, OK.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39- Listen, well done, and thank you for a clear presentation.- Thank you.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45I thought it went really well. I'm really happy
0:24:45 > 0:24:49with what I said to Tom today and I hope he puts me through to the final.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55Oliver, Karampreet and Emily have tested
0:24:55 > 0:24:59their ideas in the real world and have pitched their results to Tom.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03Only one of them can win the last place in the all-important final.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Will it be Oliver and his idea for
0:25:06 > 0:25:08a wireless controlled washing line?
0:25:08 > 0:25:12Karampreet's solar panels in space?
0:25:12 > 0:25:13Or Emily's marine mammal
0:25:13 > 0:25:15protection system?
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Tom, it's the second semi-final and these decisions
0:25:18 > 0:25:20- don't get any easier, do they? - No, they don't.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23- This has been the toughest decision I've had to make so far.- Really?
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Really difficult. Weighing everything up,
0:25:25 > 0:25:29- it's been really challenging.- OK. It may have been challenging,
0:25:29 > 0:25:31but have you come to a final decision?
0:25:31 > 0:25:35- Have you decided who is going to be in the final?- I have, yes.
0:25:35 > 0:25:36OK, Thomas, if you'd like to take a seat,
0:25:36 > 0:25:39I'll welcome in our young inventors.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41It's crunch time.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45They've all spent time testing their ideas and have pitched them to Tom.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48But who has won that place in the final?
0:25:50 > 0:25:51How are you all feeling?
0:25:51 > 0:25:54- Nervous.- There's a lot of tension in the room.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57You've all done so well to get this far - to the semi-final.
0:25:57 > 0:25:58Tom has admitted this has been
0:25:58 > 0:26:01the most difficult decision he's had to make yet.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04Nevertheless, he has come to a decision.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08- So, Tom, it's over to you. - Yeah, the three of you
0:26:08 > 0:26:11have done brilliantly, to echo what Johnny said.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Oliver, you've shown a true inventive spirit
0:26:13 > 0:26:17and you constantly find solutions to all the problems you encounter,
0:26:17 > 0:26:20but I do still question whether this is the best solution
0:26:20 > 0:26:23to the problem of drying clothes.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27Karampreet, your capacity to think big is utterly inspiring.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30So too is your ability to underpin your ideas
0:26:30 > 0:26:34with intelligent thinking and hard facts. However, I still wonder if
0:26:34 > 0:26:37there are too many unknown factors that make this idea
0:26:37 > 0:26:41a fantastic area for further research.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45Emily, it's a unique idea and a very clever one too.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48But while your expert believes it will work,
0:26:48 > 0:26:51we still haven't seen it work in the wild.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54All things considered, I have come to a conclusion and...
0:26:54 > 0:26:59the young inventor that I'm going to send through to the final is...
0:27:06 > 0:27:08..Emily.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12So, Emily wins the last place in the final with her idea of
0:27:12 > 0:27:14a marine mammal protection system,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17and will go head-to-head with Tybalt and his bike bleeper.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Emily, did you think you were going to make it through?
0:27:20 > 0:27:24I thought I'd have a chance of getting through, but because
0:27:24 > 0:27:28- both the boys' ideas were really good, I wasn't sure.- Well done,
0:27:28 > 0:27:30you got through to the final!
0:27:30 > 0:27:33So, we have our second and last genius idea through to the final,
0:27:33 > 0:27:36and it was Emily's. Over these eight shows,
0:27:36 > 0:27:38we've seen some incredible ideas
0:27:38 > 0:27:41that have shown originality and creativity at their best.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44A big thank you to Karampreet and Oliver. Join us next time,
0:27:44 > 0:27:49as Emily takes on Tybalt in the My Genius Idea grand final.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:57 > 0:28:00E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk