Incubator client testing prototype for Flight Data Tracker
Fredonia Technology Incubator client Advanced Data Research Lab has taken steps this summer to validate its technology. Its founder, Dr. Junaid Zubairi, and intern Inderdeep Singh Bajwa, have spent this summer testing a prototype of its patented Flight Data Tracker (FDT) system using radio transceivers and a flight data recorder. The test equipment was made possible through grants from SUNY Fredonia and SUNY Research Foundation.
“The recent mishaps in aviation have highlighted the need to monitor, track and control the flights as much in real-time as possible,” said Dr. Zubairi. “I am encouraged by the successful testing to date of the Flight Data Tracker prototype.”
FDT (Flight Data Tracker), a patented technology designed at SUNY Fredonia, is a real time system for tracking and saving flight data on the ground servers that is otherwise only stored in a plane’s Flight Data Recorder. Interviews conducted with aviation safety and communications experts showed promise that FDT would solve a problem of filling the gap between the Flight Data Recorder and the real-time analysis and usage of the flight safety data. The U.S. patent awarded in August 2017 uses a novel radio routing feature to keep the transmission cost down.
“With the support of the SUNY Research Foundation and the Incubator, Dr. Zubairi has been taking the steps toward the commercialization of his research,” said Incubator Director Chuck Cornell. “It’s exciting to see this startup advance.”
SUNY Fredonia senior Inderdeep Bajwa has been working through a summer internship with radio systems to help build the FDT prototype. He has also worked on interviewing potential customers through the SUNY Research Foundation Office of Research and Economic Development’s SUNY Summer Startup School. “I am enjoying the awesome blend of aerospace, software and hardware engineering, and entrepreneurship,” said Bajwa. “This has been an exciting opportunity and great learning experience at the Incubator.”
The Fredonia Technology Incubator is an economic development program of SUNY Fredonia. FTI promotes economic growth by supporting entrepreneurship and the development of new, innovative companies into successful business ventures. The incubator provides administrative and business services, mentoring, networking, professional consulting, educational opportunities, and access to capital and work ready space.