Innovation Pipeline
Bob Finnerty
Chief Communications Officer
@BobFinnerty
Innovation News
- Autonomous Humanoid Robot Platform Housed at RIT
- Live from New York: It’s Metaproject
- Imagine RIT exhibits honored
- RIT Players Imagines ‘Peanuts’ Characters All Grown Up
- Workshop Assembles Leading Industry, Academic Experts on Engineering Globalization
- Professor dt ogilvie Named Dean of RIT’s E. Philip Saunders College of Business
RIT in the News
- Sensors determine effects of explosions on military personnel
- Energy: Power to the people
- Innovative internships: Designing careers for youth
- Deputy Secretary of Labor Seth Harris visiting Rochester today
- Abandoned beauty: Making art from America’s past
- Venture Forum aids first impressions
Related Links
Welcome to “Innovation Pipeline,” an online newsletter updated regularly, highlighting innovation and entrepreneurial activity by RIT students, faculty and staff–as well as companies of RIT’s Venture Creations. If you have a story idea for “Innovation Pipeline,” please submit it to Bob Finnerty at refuns@rit.edu.
Swarm of tiny autonomous robots invades RIT Even days before the Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity Festival, we know what will be some of the most popular exhibits of the day. That’s because the “Plan your Day” function on the festival website tallies favorite exhibits into itineraries created by visitors.
Among this year’s top picks: Swarm of tiny autonomous robots. Swarm robotics is an emerging field that is making major waves in everything from nanotechnology to space exploration, according to the exhibitors. The exhibit description goes on to say: “Visitors will see a complete system for developing, simulating, debugging and deploying swarm algorithms in real time. Learn about building robots from the ground up, designing decentralized algorithms to accomplish common objectives, the steps involved in creating a communication network, and industrial design practices used to give our robots unique personalities.”
Put it down as a must-see on May 5. You can’t find that at the Lilac, Corn Hill or Park Avenue festivals.
Innovating with the ‘Democrat and Chronicle’ The Democrat and Chronicle has launched a new website focused on innovation, entrepreneurship and small business: RocNext. The newspaper called on RIT’s expertise to assist.
“The site will be a place to talk about innovations happening in Rochester, focusing on incubators, spin-off companies, new companies and emerging technologies,” says Jane Sutter, editor of community partnerships and niche content at the Democrat and Chronicle. “As the Rochester economy continues to evolve, we plan to discuss challenges and opportunities with entrepreneurs.”
RIT guest bloggers include Chance Glenn, associate dean, graduate studies; Lorraine Justice, dean, College of Imaging Arts and Sciences; Richard Notargiacomo, manager of business development at RIT’s Venture Creations; and Ryne Raffaelle, vice president of research and associate provost.
Innovative Challenge at RIT Dubai Academic trivia, engineering new car prototypes and an ingenious plan to market bottled water were all part of the day at the third annual RIT Dubai Challenge held recently in the United Arab Emirates. More than 250 high school students in the UAE competed in the competition where scholarship money was awarded.
“RIT Dubai is privileged to share strong relationships with high schools across the region,” says Luther Troell, acting president of RIT Dubai. “The UAE fosters the shaping of bright young minds and we contribute to this vision in a challenging yet fun way that encourages the cultivation of an innovative thought process and education.”
To learn more about the challenge, go to http://www.ameinfo.com/third-annual-rit-dubai-university-challenge-298494.
Strong-arming the national competition – yet again The dynamic duo of Justin Hillery and Sean Petterson did it again. The co-founders of Strong Arm Technologies Inc. have scored additional recognition for their entrepreneurial muscle as the grand-prize winners of the 2012 New York State Business Plan Competition.
For their efforts, Hillery and Petterson have been awarded $50,000 in cash and $20,000 worth of in-kind services. You will recall they already won $25,000 for grand prize at the 2012 Rochester Regional Business Plan Contest.
“Their success has spurred RIT students to apply for National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance funding,” says Carl Lundgren, professor of manufacturing and mechanical engineering technology and an advisor to Hillery and Petterson. “They are influential role models a year before graduation.”
For more on their latest winnings, go to http://www.rit.edu/news/story.php?id=49111.
