Once a thing of science fiction now creeping onto roadways across the U.S., autonomous vehicles are incorporating into driving norms.

And Jenelle King, UCI graduate student in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering, plans to drive her startup SpikePen to success emulating the concept behind self-driving cars for building structures like bridges, buildings and dams.

“I’m creating robots that are beneficial for engineers so they can use them to 3D or 2D map different terrains,” said King. “So civil engineers, land architects and land surveyors would use this.”

Even though King spent her undergrad at UCI studying autonomous vehicles, King says she was more interested in ways to translate this science into her civil engineering interests.

“There’s not a lot of technology in the field of land surveying, they use a lot of manual equipment, and it takes a long time,” said King. “I want to cut down on that time and make the data more precise and reliable.”

The specific robot King is constructing is autonomous where the user enters information into an app about the area they want surveyed and the robot creates a 2D or 3D map of the surrounding elevation and landscape.

King took her idea to the ANTrepreneur Center where she met Jaune Odombrown, who helped her create a business plan and informed her about the Student Startup Fund, a program available through UCI Beall Applied Innovation that helps bridge a funding gap by providing micro-grants to students who participate in UCI’s entrepreneurial programs. The Student Startup Fund helped King pay for the materials to build her prototype.

King is also working with students from the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, who are helping her build code for the app and the robot. Through the Office of Inclusive Excellence, King also utilized UCI’s Black Thriving Initiative, which harnesses research and teaching to accelerate the understanding of the Black experience and drivers of well-being. King was president of the National Society of Black Engineers at UCI and worked closely with this organization.

“When I was president, we partnered with the Black Thriving Initiative and we were able to hold a few events with them, especially during the Black Lives Matter movement and last year’s Black History Month,” said King. “They’ve been really helpful and make sure members have the resources they need to succeed in their journey at UCI.”

As she drives SpikePen down the next path, King hopes to build onto her product and become a consultant for large companies while seeking out investment for her startup.

Learn more about Applied Innovation’s funding resources.

Main Graphic: Kate Wokowsky