Students Exposed to Military Technology
By: Chris Veech
Updated: June 8, 2012
Some USI students are learning how to use military technology in the real world. This morning, students involved in the USI Technology Commercialization Academy made final public presentations to local community leaders, businesses, and investors.
For 5 weeks, 12 Engineering and Business students developed ideas and business strategies around commercialization of several Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division patents. Students used Smart Skin technology, a sensor that can pin point where damage occurs. Some of the presentations included Smart targets, pressure, and temperature sensitive hospital beds.
"It was a blast," said student Thor Hogberg. "There were a couple of times where I had to tell people 'yeah I have to go to work in the morning,' and I'd stop myself and say 'well I can't really call it work.' We come in at 9:00 a.m. We joke around, have a good time, and at the same time we still get everything we need to get done."
Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville came up with the academy idea. It was made possible through a Lilly Endowment sustaining grant.
