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David Dvorak How the Space Grant program helped spawn a ND tech company
David Dvorak
How the Space Grant program
helped spawn a ND tech company
Field of View
What we do
UAS payload-autopilot-
airframe integration
Technology & process
development
Training & education services
Sell multispectral cameras
and interface systems
Tetracam Inc.
Field of View Working towards
Agricultural aerial imaging
service using unmanned aircraft
How it got started
2007: ME Sophomore at UND
Special topic lecture in ME 201
Dr. Semke: UAV payload design
Job opening following semester
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Engineering (UASE) Lab
“Precision Ag” payload
Corporate partners’ UAS
Flew and collected data
http://cloudcaptech.com/whatsnew_archive.shtm
All dressed up and no where to go
Neat project and data but…
Summer was over
Other projects
Fear of payload rotting
Efforts would go no where
Did not live up to its name
Space Grant to the Rescue
Saw the posting
Talked with my advisor
Put together a proposal “will investigate using a low-cost UAV
and multispectral camera to study
methods of image interpretation that can
provide a complete Precision Agriculture
solution”
Met with Suezette
Research 101
Learned…
How much I didn’t know
Imperfect results are ok
Deadlines produce results
Abstract time
AUVSI 2008
Got accepted
Started a Trend
Undergrad Conference Publications Using Small UAS to Capture Multispectral Imagery for use in Precision
Agriculture (AUVSI 2008)
Optimizing UAS Multispectral Data Collection and Post Processing
Techniques (AIAA 2009)
Grad Conference Publications Evaluating the Performance of a UAS based Precision Agriculture
Imaging Payload (AIAA 2010)
Lessons Learned: Development and Demonstration of an UAS Based
Agricultural Imaging Payload (AUVSI 2010)
Using an Unmanned Aircraft to Collect Multispectral Imagery during a
Landsat 5 Pass and Comparing the Results to a Ground-Based
Multispectral Radiometer (ND GIS 2011)
Lets get to Business
Proved technical viability
Innovate ND 2010
Ag aerial imaging as a service
Top 20, but did not win
Alternative sources of funding
Alerus Entrepreneurship Challenge - $1000
Center for Innovation Mueller Internship - $1500
Faculty entrepreneurship grant - $15,000
ND Ag Products Utilization Commission - $25,000
Innovate ND 2011 - $15,000 *BTW, did we mention that NASA Space Grant funds contributed to the research this company is based on!
Now What?
Deliver on APUC grant
Experience with the propose and deliver model
Had to learn how to manage funds
Sent in report yesterday
Figure out to be self-sustaining
Consultation
Re-selling cameras
Product development
Education
Service
Passing on the Experience
Opportunity to teach ME 201
Summer Faculty Fellowship
Design new project
Design and build quadrotors
Introduction to UAS
Systems engineering
http://www.rchelicopter.com/category/rc-helicopter-construction-design/rc-helicopter-quad-rotor-design/
http://defenseupdate.com/20110830_shrike_vtol_sp2s_aerovironment.html
Summary
What the Space Grant Provided
Significant and flexible dollars
Did not have to have a part time job during school
Extra motivation to continue with research/education
Student loan paid off = realistic to attempt a business
Opportunities outside research
Expand education – Stanford energy summer school
Student competition – ASME Old Guard Oral Comp.
Hired colleagues that otherwise would not have been
Deadlines & credibility
Opportunity to give back
Field of View wouldn’t exist w/o Space Grant
Winning Combination
NASA Space Grant
Dollars
Deadlines
Great advisors
Guidance
Connections
Business resources
Partners
Mentors
Competitions
Grants
David Dvorak – CEO
Jonathan Alme – COO
fieldofviewllc.com
701-610-3482
