Flying start after winning Techport Challenge
Artificial Controlled Technology (ACT) is the winner of the Techport Challenge. The Techport Challenge is part of GO!-NH Accelerator. ACT applies artificially intelligent and self-learning software that keeps track of the status of (wearable) equipment, can make predictions on failure and take action for self-maintenance and preventive maintenance of technical equipment in a wide area. Here the focus is on maritime and wind turbine industry.
Han van Blanken is one of the start-up's shareholders: "I got in touch with one of the guys because he wanted to put a new coffee machine at our place. He told me that the coffee machine has software that allows it to maintain itself. Something that in the maritime world, in which I work, could offer enormous opportunities. I seized this opportunity. I added a few more people and our new company was a reality. The idea was born in November 2019 and now a company with four shareholders stands. We are now trying to get grants and then we want to make a test setup as soon as possible."
The system is a combination of hardware and software with an algorithm. Han: "It's a smart combination that allows you to save a lot of fuel and therefore emissions. In addition, the system also checks on board what is unnecessary and therefore where you can save. For example, you get a message that a lamp at a certain place is on all day. This is done with apps and with a dashboard. This also allows the shipping company to watch immediately."
Winning the Techport Challenge has given the company access to a large network. "We have been adopted into a broad and professional network of GO!NH and Techport. This allowed us to get off to a flying start and then accelerate tremendously. We now also have contacts with the wind turbine industry. Of course, it costs a lot of time and money to maintain a windmill. By installing our system in a wind turbine, you get timely notification should something need to be replaced. This allows you to send the right people to a notification at the right time."
The new way of entertaining also means something for education. Han: "The current education system does not yet have this kind of technology in its educational offerings. We expect people who are in school now to be smart, but do not yet offer the education of the future. That is why we are now looking at integrating the new techniques into an education. All four of us are extremely energized by the developments we are going through now. It is also nice that it costs almost nothing because it pays for itself immediately. The maritime sector is not included in the Paris climate objectives. In this way we can have a huge impact on saving fuel and therefore emissions and therefore we are making a positive contribution to the climate goals."
GO!-NH Accelerator
GO!-NH is a collaboration between the province of North Holland and Innomics. Want to know more? Then click here.