Waterford Today

A forward mobility initiative called PlanetM run by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. has awarded more than $280,000 in grant funding to five companies who have created solutions to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The organization is involved in the testing and development of next-generation transportation technology.

One of the five recipients receiving a cash award for their anti-pandemic inventions is GHSP in Grand Haven. The company designed and created an ultraviolet light that can kill the coronavirus in a few minutes.

“It’s been awesome,” Cathy Stewart, an engineer with the company, told Wood TV 8. “When we first plugged them all in and we are taking the readings and how quickly the germs are being removed is very exciting.”

Stewart said the UV lights are being tested now in ambulances and other first-responders based in Grand Rapids and neighboring communities, also may be tested by ride-hailing companies.

“It’s endless. Wherever you feel the UV-C can go into, you can put it there,” Stewart said.

Grant funding has been awarded for other purposes to deal with the pandemic.

Another company, Pratt Miller, located near Farmington Hills, created a robot device using multi-head spray nozzles to apply disinfectant the report said will be used to cleanse facilities at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport near Grand Rapids. Locations with hand sanitizers will also be increased in the airport terminal and plastic barriers erected to separate travelers and employees.  

Yet another company praised for its work to develop an pandemic-fighting device is Penske Vehicle Services, located in Troy. The company is designing a safety partition allowing a buffer of protection between ride-sharing drivers and passengers. A firm titled RCO Engineering based in Pontiac is developing a similar partition for pilots. 

Gatik, a software company in Palo Alto, California, has created a self-driving delivery truck. The truck will reportedly be used to serve routes in Grand Rapids and Rochester, performing human contact-free deliveries.