A vehicle’s blind spot is the area of a vehicle that cannot be observed by the operator. If you have driven any vehicle that is remotely sporty you will encounter these pesky blind spots. 14-year-old Alaina Gassler has designed a technology to remedy the blindspot issue that drivers encounter. Gassler uses pico projectors to cast images of what’s really behind the vehicle on the interior pillars!

The use of these pico projectors isn’t just for behind the car, but also for the front, as this projector technology also projects live footage of pedestrians crossing! Gassler’s projector base blindspot technology project was her entry for the Society for Science and the Public’s Broadcom science and engineering competition. Not only did this project win first place, but it also got Gassler the $25,000 grand prize!

The micro projector is just part of Gassler’s initial prototype. The next iteration of her blind spot invention will use liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors, similar to those used in your TV. Gassler says this will allow the brightness to change according to the weather and time of day. With her $25,000 winnings, Gassler says that she finally has the money to make the next version a reality!