Think your car might have a mind of its
own? JADI is working on technology that might
make that possible one day.The Troy-based robotics firm is working on
system that will allow people to track and control an autonomous robotic
vehicle (think NASA's Mars Rover)
for the U.S. Department of Defense. It's also working on variations of that
technology for the commercial market.
"We have spent the last four years
developing this technology and we hope to bring it to the market soon,"
says Jerry Atkinson, CEO of JADI.
The Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund has
awarded JADI $250,000 to help make that happen. Add that on top of $3.5 million
the company has received from the Department of Defense and it's understandable
why the firm has grown to seven employees with plans to add as many as a half
dozen more by 2009.
JADI was the first business admitted to Oakland University's SmartZone Business Incubator and is a
member of Automation Alley.
The Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund is part
of Michigan's
21st Century Jobs Fund and is administered by the Michigan
Economic Development Corporation. Money awarded from the Pre-Seed Capital
Fund must accompany matching private funds or federal grants. Companies
receiving investments from this fund must obtain matching equity funds from
outside investors or federal grants.
Source: Jerry Atkinson, CEO of JADI
Writer: Jon Zemke
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