Purdue-based startup develops Internet of Things software to reduce operational costs, increase security of sensors

October 21, 2014  


WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Officials of a software startup based on Purdue University innovations say their company could reduce the operational cost and increase the reliability and security of the software that drives sensors.

Vinai Sundaram, co-founder and CEO of SensorHound LLC, said sensors gather data from an environment and share it electronically. These sensors form the foundational element of the Internet of Things (IoT) and could be used in the future to control power grids and other large systems.

"Reliability and security are paramount to next-generation IoT applications like smart grids, smart buildings and smart manufacturing," said Sundaram, who earned his Ph.D. in Purdue's School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. "However, companies around the world must spend a significant amount of money and effort to handle security violations and failures because there is a lack of effective and efficient tools."

The Purdue researchers who founded SensorHound developed IoT-specific software products and services that reduce developmental and operational costs for large networked sensor systems. The technology has been licensed through the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization. More than 20 startups based on Purdue intellectual property were launched in the 2014 fiscal year. A video about SensorHound is available at http://youtu.be/HivLOiCJ7JE.

Patrick Eugster, associate professor in Purdue's Department of Computer Science, developed the technology with Sundaram and Matthew Tan Creti, a doctoral student in electrical and computer engineering. Eugster is SensorHound's chief science officer, and Tan Creti is its chief technology officer.

"SensorHound specializes in making these sensor networks reliable through our pure software solutions," Eugster said. "Our specialized software can be loaded onto sensors by the manufacturers. It provides software health and performance information to a developer or system administrator while monitoring the sensors, and it can raise an alarm should something go wrong."

SensorHound received a $150,000 grant from the National Science Foundation and was chosen to participate in the Alchemist Accelerator's IOT program and the FOUNDER.org Class of 2015.

"We have developed laboratory-tested prototypes, and the NSF SBIR grant has helped to create commercial prototypes of our flagship product, adding new features to the original research," Sundaram said. "Alchemist Accelerator and FOUNDER.org have provided strategic mentoring and networking connections. All of this could lead to our first commercial product being available in the market by mid-2015."

For information on other Purdue intellectual property ready for licensing and commercialization, visit http://www.otc-prf.org. For more information about available leadership positions, investing in a Purdue startup or licensing a Purdue innovation, visit http://www.purduefoundry.com.

About SensorHound

SensorHound™ offers Internet of Things (IoT) specific software products and services that significantly reduce development and operational costs of the IoT. Our software products automatically detect failures, security vulnerabilities and performance issues in the field as well as provide detailed information to quickly diagnose the root cause. Our solutions are based on award-winning and patent-pending technology developed over 10 years by leading IoT researchers.

About Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization

The Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology-transfer programs among leading research universities in the United States. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2014 Incubator Network of the Year from the National Business Incubation Association for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org  

Purdue Research Foundation contact: Steve Martin, 765-588-3342, sgmartin@prf.org

Sources: Vinai Sundaram, vinai@sensorhound.com

Patrick Eugster, patrick@sensorhound.com

Note to journalists: Here is a link for a video that accompanies this story: http://youtu.be/HivLOiCJ7JE

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