Inventor and CEO of Buffalo Automation
Thiru Vikram (born July 25, 1995) is an inventor , engineer and entrepreneur , who is the CEO of Buffalo Automation , a technology company headquartered in Buffalo, New York , that provides autonomous navigation technology for commercial ships and recreational boats .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 4]
Early life and career
Vikram attended the Lawrence School, Lovedale , in Ootacamund , Tamil Nadu , India .[ 5] Head Boy and a member of the Robotics Club at Lovedale .[ 6]
He studied computer science and electrical engineering at the University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences , where he founded Buffalo Automation with fellow students.[ 7] [ 8] artificial intelligence system called AutoMate that enables ships and boats to self-navigate.[ 9] [ 10] University at Buffalo to focus on the company full-time.[ 11] [ 12] [ 13] [ 14]
Vikram is a Dravidian Indian-American originally from the state of Tamil Nadu in South India and is a Hindu .[ 15] [ 16]
Vikram served in the US Army Reserve as a combat engineer .[ 17]
Awards
Vikram was awarded first place in the 2018 Entrepreneurs' Organization Global Student Entrepreneurship Awards Western NY Competition.[ 18]
In 2021, Vikram was recognized as a distinguished alumnus by the University at Buffalo .[ 19]
In 2022, Vikram was featured as one of the United States’ 18 Top CEOs in the Assistive Technology Startup Space and among the Top 44 in Navigation by Boardroom Media.[ 20] [ 21]
Inventions
Vikram is listed as an inventor in a few patents, including:
A sensor system for maritime vessels.[ 22]
A deep learning intelligent sensing system integration.[ 23]
Training a deep learning system for maritime applications.[ 24]
A deep learning intelligent sensing system for port operations.[ 25]
A lane and object detection systems and methods.[ 26]
References
^ Bratek, Kim (16 November 2018). "43North — Founder Friday: Thiru Vikram, Buffalo Automation" . 43North . Retrieved 2019-10-02 . ^ Caya, Chris (2017-10-16). "Are self-navigating boats on the horizon?" . WBFO . Retrieved 2019-10-02 . ^ "Forget Robo-Cars and Hit the Water on an Autonomous Boat" . Wired . ISSN 1059-1028 . Retrieved 2019-10-02 .^ Lindeman, Tracey (2018-04-19). "Autonomous Boats Will Be On the Market Sooner Than Self-Driving Cars" . Vice . Retrieved 2019-10-02 . ^ Nadu, Tamil (2012-04-05). "Country needs honest people: AVM Rai" . The Hindu . ^ "Robotic Club of Lovedale wins championship" . The Hindu . 2011-02-10. ISSN 0971-751X . Retrieved 2021-05-11 .^ Caya, Chris. "Are self-navigating boats on the horizon?" . news.wbfo.org . Retrieved 2020-11-24 . ^ "Launch NY, Z80 back self-piloting ship startup" . www.bizjournals.com . Retrieved 2020-11-24 .^ "Streamlining process of detecting fevers" . www.buffalo.edu . Retrieved 2020-11-24 .^ Telford, William (2020-04-16). "Robot water taxis to be trialled by US tech giants in Plymouth" . PlymouthLive . Retrieved 2020-11-24 . ^ Lehman, Joel (April 27, 2018). "The journey to funding: Buffalo Automation's story" . UpstartNY . Retrieved 2019-10-02 . ^ "Thiru Vikram-led Startup Wins University of Buffalo Entrepreneur Competition" . India West . 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2019-10-02 .^ "Safer sailing with predictive technology" . OceanHub . Retrieved 2019-10-02 .^ Miner, Dan (2016-04-14). "Self-navigating ship startup wins prestigious Panasci prize" . Buffalo Business Journal . Retrieved 2019-10-02 . ^ "Robotics startup wins Panasci competition" . The Buffalo News . 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2019-10-02 .^ Lehman, Joel (April 27, 2018). "The journey to funding: Buffalo Automation's story" . UpstartNY . Retrieved 2020-11-24 . ^ "Europe's first commercial robotaxi service is a yellow ferry that takes you to a Dutch golf course" . AI Business . Retrieved 2022-06-21 .^ "Global Student Entrepreneur Awards!" . Buffalo Tech Jobs . 2018-11-09. Retrieved 2019-10-02 .^ "CSE Alumni and Friends Award Recipients" . engineering.buffalo.edu . Retrieved 2022-06-21 .^ "Meet United States's 18 Top CEO's in the Assistive Technology Startup Space" . CEO . 2022-08-04. Retrieved 2022-09-05 .^ "Meet United States's 44 Top CEO's in the Navigation Space" . CEO . 2022-08-08. Retrieved 2022-11-21 .^ "Patent Images" . pdfpiw.uspto.gov . Retrieved 2021-02-11 .^ "Patent Images" . pdfpiw.uspto.gov . Retrieved 2021-02-11 .^ "Patent Images" . pdfpiw.uspto.gov . Retrieved 2021-03-06 .^ "Patent Images" . pdfpiw.uspto.gov . Retrieved 2021-02-11 .^ "Patent Images" . pdfaiw.uspto.gov . Retrieved 2022-06-21 .
