Robotics firm JADI looks to add a dozen employees by year’s end

Think your car might have a mind of its own? JADI is working on technology that might make that possible one day.

The Troy-based robotics firm is working on system that will allow people to track and control an autonomous robotic vehicle (think NASA’s Mars Rover) for the U.S. Department of Defense. It’s also working on variations of that technology for the commercial market.

“We have spent the last four years developing this technology and we hope to bring it to the market soon,” says Jerry Atkinson, CEO of JADI.

The Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund has awarded JADI $250,000 to help make that happen. Add that on top of $3.5 million the company has received from the Department of Defense and it’s understandable why the firm has grown to seven employees with plans to add as many as a half dozen more by 2009.

JADI was the first business admitted to Oakland University‘s SmartZone Business Incubator and is a member of Automation Alley.

The Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund is part of Michigan’s 21st Century Jobs Fund and is administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Money awarded from the Pre-Seed Capital Fund must accompany matching private funds or federal grants. Companies receiving investments from this fund must obtain matching equity funds from outside investors or federal grants.

Source: Jerry Atkinson, CEO of JADI
Writer: Jon Zemke