Incubator Client Wins Grant To Advance Automation Tech
STERLING HEIGHTS -- With application assistance from the Macomb-Oakland University INCubator, Sterling Heights-based client company OmnicO AGV Inc. has been awarded $30,500 from the Business Accelerator Fund of the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center.
OmnicO AGV has developed an Automatic Guided Vehicle that greatly increases flexibility and accessibility in manufacturing and warehouse buildings. Among improvements to traditional AGV, OmnicO's AGV innovation has increased sideways and rotational mobility, includes a modular space frame system that allows for low cost fabrication and uses a proprietary navigation system that creates traction on any path.
This grant will allow OmnicO AGV to be well positioned to meet investor requirements for continued growth. Milestones include ownership of a unique IP and functionality of its four-corner transceiver technology.
"Supporting OmnicO's disruptive and innovative AGV technology is an exciting and perfect use of the Business Accelerator Funds," said Julie Gustafson, Macomb-OU INC's executive director.
Macomb-OU officials said OmnicO's innovative AGV will be attractive to any manufacturing plant that desires highly mobile, reconfigurable, cost-effective AGV platforms. OmnicO AGV has already made great strides with companies such as Dyag, an advanced systems integration provider, with a letter of intent to promote the AGV product to customers, as well as the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, with experiments at Fort Bragg using smart tracking transceivers developed by the company. In addition, OmnicO AGV is engaging in discussions with several automotive OEM's regarding its technologies.
"It was great to work with a consortium where each of the members has such deep experience and expertise in their respective disciplines. Together, this allows the OmnicO vision to become reality, and one that can really compete in the fast growing AGV market," said Mike Brennan, Macomb-OU INC's business commercialization and capital investment advisor.
The Macomb-OU INCubator is a 21st Century Jobs Fund Program managed by the MI-SBTDC in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and Michigan's network of business accelerators.
To learn more about OmnicO AGV, visit omnicoagv.com. More information about the Business Accelerator Fund is available at misbtdc.org.
More about the Macomb-OU INCubator at oakland.edu/macombouinc.
