WiSAR Engineer Chris McDaid at work in the CoLab.
A research company based at the Letterkenny Institute of Technology is literally pedaling its own way to success.
The WiSAR Lab is now collaborating with the Northern Ireland Technology Centre (NITC) at Queen’s University Belfast to deliver a novel cycling product for Coleraine based start-up company Innovative Inventions Ltd.
The project, which is being part-funded by Invest NI under its Grant for R&D programme, is aiming to develop an innovative product to enhance safety for the cyclist.
The WiSAR Lab will be utilising its knowledge and capabilities in wireless and embedded systems and collaborating with the NITC, who are delivering the product design expertise, to provide a prototype solution for the Co. Derry based company.
The WISER Lab team meet Enterprise Ireland Board. Photo Clive Wasson
Speaking on the announcement of the project Fergal Tuffy, manager of the WiSAR Lab, said when Innovative Inventions Ltd approached them, they were delighted to be able to partner with the NITC at Queen’s.
“The NITC are widely recognised as leaders in design, engineering and manufacturing. They are one of Queen’s University Belfast’s primary links with industry and have a strong international reputation. It speaks volumes of the capabilities that exist here at LYIT when we were asked to partner on this project and we are excited about the project that lies ahead.”
The WiSAR Lab is an Enterprise Ireland funded Technology Gateway based at the LYIT’s CoLab facility.
It uses its knowledge of wireless sensors, embedded systems and electronics prototyping to assist companies with research and development projects across various sectors in systems such as health monitoring, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and the optimisation of industrial processes.
Fergal continued, ”In the current climate it is important for start-up and established companies to continue to innovate and enhance their products. John and the team at Innovative Inventions Ltd have a series of products that they hope to bring to the market so we hope that this will be the beginning of a long standing relationship.”
John Milligan, Principal Inventor with Innovative Inventions, was delighted to be able to make the announcement.
He said, “We have identified a market niche which we feel can tap into the growing cycling market. Cycling is the biggest single category in the worldwide sport market and was estimated at €38.5 billion in 2013. With government incentive schemes such as cycle to work and highly successful staging of the Giro d’Italia on both sides of the Irish border, the number of people taking up cycling is on the rise.
“It really is a growth market and one which we feel could have great potential for us with our novel idea.” He concluded, “We feel we have chosen the best research and development expertise to develop our product and with the assistance of WiSAR and the NITC we hope to make it a real success.”
To find out more about the WiSAR Lab visit www.wisar.ie or contact Fergal directly at the WiSAR Lab on 074 918 6462 or email wisar@lyit.ie.
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