Sometimes all that’s needed to get a great idea off the ground is a little support.
With a push from a couple Purdue University entrepreneurship programs, a former engineering student of the school has founded a company that aims to improve equipment monitoring at construction sites.
The technology was developed while Joseph Louis was still working on his doctoral research under the guidance of his professor, Phillip Dunston. The two have since founded SAMCRO Technologies LLC, short for Simulation Analysis Monitoring and ContRol of Operations, following interactions with Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization and the Purdue Foundry.
Though still in early stages, the founders are already in talks with a company interested in licensing their technology. The support of the Purdue Foundry has enabled the founders to meet potential customers and other construction technology professionals who have helped them move the company forward.
"The Purdue Foundry helped us significantly," Louis said. "Our entrepreneur-in-residence has given us invaluable advice on the path forward on talking to investors or others who might be interested."
SAMCRO aims to put sensor data from a worksite into the context of the operations, allowing the manager to monitor progress, make data-driven tactical decisions in real time and automate the worksite at an operational level.
"Conventional software tools provide managers only a high-level view by specifying what work is to be done, but not how and not in real time. Our technology allows for the analysis, monitoring and control of operations," Dunston said.
"By having the required level of detail in the operational model, it then becomes possible to specify and automate exactly how the work gets done."
The technology is especially useful for large scale sites, where resources are spread across a wide area, and require complex communications to keep everyone up to date.
Other student engineering initiatives are also looking to improve the operation and safety of construction sites. Combinations of sensors, software and IIoT cloud connections may be the key to improving both the operations and efficiency of a site.
Programs like the Purdue Foundry can help turn student ideas into commercial reality – making your education a more direct link to your future career path than you expected.
For more information, visit the Purdue University Office of Technology Commercialization, and the Purdue Foundry to see some of the other companies that they have supported.