A startup composed of Cal Poly alumni and faculty advisors was recently awarded a $150,000 grant for their company: Perch Sensing Inc.
The team includes Dominic Gaiero (Electrical Engineering, ‘21), Brooke Randolph (Business, ’21) and Nathan Wang (Electrical Engineering, ‘21); students Mckenna Reed (Software Engineering); and Electrical Engineering professors Dr. Majid Poshtan and Dr. Taufik and Computer Engineering Professor Dr. Joseph Callenes-Sloan. Their startup is developing sensors for power lines that can detect if a wildfire is prone to starting in the area and shut off power to those affected lines before the fire can begin.
The Perch sensing system contains a power line-mounted sensor that collects an array of environmental indicators such as temperature, humidity and how much a power line is sagging to determine if there is danger of a wildfire starting in the area. Shutting off the power to those lines helps to prevent both the ignition and spread of wildfires, potentially saving millions in damages and countless lives.
“I think the key to success for our project comes down to two things. One of them is the device’s ability to get energy from already-existing power transmission lines, so it doesn’t require an external power supply, which is sometimes a problem when you are outside of a city or in remote areas. The second is the low operating and installation costs. These two make the product less expensive and more feasible for remote, rural areas, where natural wildfires are more prone to starting,” said Poshtan.
In true Learn by Doing fashion, the opportunity for the group to build a project like this straight out of college is a testament to Cal Poly’s success.
“Programs like the Hothouse downtown helped give us the ability to build prototypes and carry out initial research,” said Randolph. “We had access to 3D printers and engineering facilities as well, which laid a really nice foundation for us. I’m very thankful for the relationship that we built with Cal Poly.”
The California Sustainable Energy Entrepreneur Development (CalSEED) grant is given to a select group of applicants in California to build sustainable power infrastructure. As one of the winning groups, the $150,000 grant will expand the company with hopes of bringing the Perch system to market.
“So far, we have been very successful in recruiting good, talented students, and getting the funding we need, and hopefully, we will see more support coming to this and other projects,” said Poshtan. “Graduation is not the end of the relationship between the faculty and students at Cal Poly. The opportunities students have even after they graduate are a significant value that Cal Poly adds. Like with Perch Sensing, we the faculty are trying to help them stand up, have their own company and follow their dreams.”
Students wishing to get involved with Perch Sensing can reach out at jobs@web.perchsensing.com.
