Within a short space of time, Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences has secured its second start-up grant. Following the initial funding for the ‘Ringelbox’ start-up idea, Giridhar Vitta Bukka, a graduate of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences’ Mechanical Engineering degree programme, is now also delighted to have been awarded the start-up grant.
The NRW Start-up Grant supports innovative start-up ideas, including, most recently, that of a university graduate from the Lower Rhine region: Giridhar Vitta Bukka is working with Intelligent Robotic Services (IRS) on novel functions for the rapid and regular maintenance of wind turbine rotor blades, such as autonomous visual inspections and conductivity tests. The aim is to carry out visual inspections entirely autonomously using the latest computer vision algorithms. This approach opens up the possibility of managing the visual inspection process for the rotor blades of an entire wind farm via a graphical user interface. “Service robots can support people working in hazardous environments. Our start-up idea, IRS, has the vision of utilising advancing robotics technology to deliver safety, productivity and intelligence for wind farm operators and other industrial maintenance and service providers. The start-up grant will help me to further develop this start-up idea,” said Bukka.
Whilst working as a student trainee at ISIS IC GmbH, Bukka was involved in the INTERREG-funded project “SPECTORS” (sensor products for companies to create technological opportunities in aerial remote sensing). Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences was also a project partner in this initiative. In this project, he was initially involved in the assembly and configuration of drones. Later, he designed and developed prototypes of peripheral components that can be used as payloads for the drones. Driven by his enthusiasm for the development of robot software, he decided to focus his Master’s thesis on motion planning algorithms. Drawing on his experience and expertise in robot software development, and with the support of ISIS IC GmbH and the university’s StartGlocal team, he will drive forward innovations in the field of IRS.
Further information
www.startglocal.de/de/projekte/intelligent-robotic-services
About StartGlocal
The StartGlocal project – Global Spirit for Local Start-ups – supports start-ups and business ventures at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. The aim of StartGlocal is to establish a vibrant and active start-up culture at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences and to promote research-based start-ups and business ventures by its students, staff and alumni. StartGlocal also aims to strengthen local knowledge and technology transfer, as well as the joint economic and social development of the region. The “StartGlocal – Global Spirit for Local Start-ups” project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as part of the EXIST programme. For further information, please contact startglocal@hochschule-rhein-waal.de.
