Robot operates 3-D printers at Ford | CA company moves to Ann Arbor
Robots at Ford
DEARBORN, MI–As part of its industry-first process, Ford Motor Co. is using a robot to operate the company’s 3-D printers completely on its own. The robot, called Javier, provides Ford with feedback and significantly reduces margins of error. Ford has filed several patents related to the overall process, communication interfaces, and precise positioning of the robot.
CA company relocates to Fast Future Country
ANN ARBOR, MI—San Francisco-based software company ADASTEC has chosen to locate its U.S. headquarters in the SPARK Central Innovation Center as the company looks for a permanent location in the region. ADASTEC chose Ann Arbor because of the incredible amount of mobility innovation happening there and the support for future growth available throughout its robust tech ecosystem.
Wichita State adds cities to in-state tuition rates
WICHITA, KS—Wichita State University has added 11 new cities to its Shocker City Partnership, meaning eligible students from those cities will be offered in-state tuition rates to attend the university. Those new cities include Chicago; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Pueblo, Colo.; Grand Island, Neb.; Lincoln, Neb.; Omaha, Neb.; Des Moines, Iowa; Ames, Iowa; and Fayetteville, Fort Smith, and Little Rock, Ark.
Mobile app for hunger relief
ST. LOUIS, MO—A food technology startup is working to address hunger in the St. Louis region with its mobile app, GiftAMeal. Patrons download the free app, snap a photo of their meal and upload it. For each photo, GiftAMeal donates money to Operation Food Search.
Wind tunnel facility opens in Ohio
CENTRAL OHIO–Honda has opened a new $124 million wind tunnel facility at the independent Transportation Research Center in central Ohio. The automaker calls it the most advanced wind tunnel on earth and it will work on aerodynamics for both race and road cars, and with researchers to study the increasingly important field of aeroacoustics.
Wugen expands in Cortex
ST. LOUIS, MO—In a press release, the Cortex Innovation Community announced that Wugen, Inc., a St. Louis-based clinical-stage biotechnology company, will be expanding its St. Louis presence. Wugen’s new space will allow the company to advance the development of its next-generation oncology cell therapies and continue to grow its workforce.