Velocity² Wind's Approach to Innovation, Part III

By
Brian
on August 19, 2008 TrackBacks (0) Comments (5)

When creating a new product, there are so many things that can go wrong (many of which cannot be prepared for or are completely unexpected), so it only makes sense to use existing technology or ideas in your product to increase reliability.

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Filed under: Alphonse Anderson | Ann Arbor, MI | Charles King | Competing Globally | Financing | Innovation | Renewable Energy | Start-Ups | Velocity² Wind | Wind Power

When talking to Alphonse Anderson and Charles King of Velocity² Wind I found that one of the most interesting parts of their process to create a new product of small wind turbine was how much of their product was, essentially, theirs. King said, "we try to re-invent as little as possible. Use what's out there."

What is "out there" for small wind turbines? Again, King: "We've found ourselves taking ideas from aerospace to roller coasters." Roller coasters? Sure, the aerospace industry can easily offer some design ideas to small wind turbines, but the thought to look into how roller coasters are built (presumably regarding their light-weight structure; they wouldn't comment) is marvelous.

It turns out that Anderson and King have tapped in to a historically successful business plan: don't re-invent the wheel. When creating a new product, there are so many things that can go wrong (many of which cannot be prepared for or are completely unexpected), so it only makes sense to use existing technology or ideas in your product to increase reliability.

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5 Comments

aflex on November 6, 2008 4:12 AM
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William Shaffer on October 10, 2009 1:57 AM
My name is William Shaffer and I am a student at Eastern Michigan University. I am a member of an Entrepreneurship class at Eastern Michigan University and my professor has asked us to look on this website and comment on Michigan’s Innovators new ideas and entrepreneurial opportunities. I chose the wind turbine for a number of reasons, but firstly, I am a firm believer in capturing/using “free energy.” Now I use the term “free energy” loosely because I understand, nothing is free in life and wind turbine energy is not entirely free. On the other hand, wind is a natural occurrence and the amount of energy that can be captured is amazing, and it seems silly to me that we would not take advantage of this. I go to Canada every year to go fishing and we cross the border in Sault St. Marie Michigan, when you cross the border into Canada, you see a Windmill farm of over 75 Windmills. Now I don’t understand why just across the border, they are using this technology when we could be using the same energy sources. Secondly, I think it is a genius idea to take advantage of other peoples “finds” if you will and use technology that has already been invented. As an example, looking at different industries to find better ways and materials to make your product, like using the technology of light weight materials used for roller coasters and apply that towards the light weight wind turbines. Lastly, when innovating anything, you never know the outcome and how the cards are going to fall, therefore, like you said, why not take advantage of ALL RESOURCES and use previous technology.
Dana Mattila on November 21, 2009 4:05 PM
I am in an entrepreneurship class at Eastern Michigan University and I picked the Velocity² wind turbine to comment on as part of an assignment in reviewing Michigan innovators. I find it very interesting because last year I went to Las Vegas and took a tour of the Hoover Dam. On the way to the dam, I saw that there were acres and acres of the large-scale wind turbines. There were also construction people installing more wind turbines. The use of these large wind turbines generates electricity for operating the Hoover Dam. If large wind turbines can run a dam, just think of what small turbines can do! There is a big need for this industry. If you had the land or the opportunity to use a few small wind turbines, you could generate electricity for your house or business. The fact that King and Anderson are using alternative materials and making a light-weight prototype will help this industry to be more cost efficient. Even though there are a lot of trees in Michigan, there are still large areas that have the right amount of wind for these smaller wind systems. These small wind turbines will help the environment by using the earth's natural resources. Dana Mattila
payday loans on January 26, 2010 4:06 PM
The author of michiganinnovators.org has written an excellent article. You have made your point and there is not much to argue about. It is like the following universal truth that you can not argue with: If there are at least two prople in the world interested in something there is a website about it. Thanks for the info.
GardnerCaitlin33 on March 1, 2010 10:37 PM
The home loans suppose to be useful for people, which would like to ground their business. As a fact, this is very easy to receive a short term loan.

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