Airtrek Robotics, a rising startup backed by the University of Cincinnati's Venture Lab, is set to showcase its innovative technology at the South by Southwest (SXSW) pitch competition in Austin, Texas, in early March, according to the Cincinnati Business Courier. Co-founders Chris Kyoochul Lee, Jon Taylor and Huzefa Dossaji developed an autonomous robot that leverages advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to detect and remove debris from airport grounds, earning it the nickname "runway Roomba."
The Airtrek team participated in and graduated from the 1819 Innovation Hub's Venture Lab pre-accelerator. The program helps individuals like Lee develop their ideas, technology and products to create business plans before pairing them with mentors, investors and resources to eventually launch startups.
Airtrek's technology evolved with access to the UC Ground Floor Makerspace inside the Hub. An improved prototype was demonstrated for Spectrum News. It showcased its ability to increase safety for both aircraft and personnel by addressing foreign object debris (FOD), a costly and dangerous issue for the aviation industry.
Items as small as a zipper or a luggage tag can impale workers or damage aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration estimates that FOD damage costs the global aviation sector approximately $22.7 billion annually.
Looking ahead, Airtrek Robotics hopes to make a clean sweep and leave the SXSW event with additional funding to advance product development and scale its operations.
