Automotive Research at OSU Leads to Advanced Marine Jet Propulsion System and Possibly the Launch of a New Industry in Central Ohio

Researchers at the OSU College of Engineering Center for Automotive Research (CAR) have been busily engaged in cutting-edge technologies for improving the performance and fuel efficiency of hybrid and alternative powered automobiles.  In fact, a team of students from the center recently won first place in the EcoCAR NeXt Challenge, a competition sponsored by the US Department of Energy, GM and others to improve automotive technology by increasing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions without compromising vehicle performance or consumer appeal. 

But the research being conducted by CAR has implications beyond the automotive industry and researchers are discovering innovations with wide-ranging application for other industries and markets.  One such example is a new marine jet propulsion system co-invented by Dr. Codrin-Gruie (CG) Cantemir, researcher and chief designer at CAR.  

Cantemir became associated with Gildo Pallanca Pastor, a well-known entrepreneur from Monaco who is involved in both motorsport and power boat racing in Europe. Together Cantemir and Pallanca Pastor began discussions about Cantemir’s research at CAR and how it could impact the performance and efficiency of jet engines for power boats. 

Current outboard and in-board motors are fuel and energy inefficient with only 20 percent of the energy from combustion being converted to power.  Such inefficiency is particularly costly when you consider that gasoline at a marina is typically priced twice as high as that available at a street level gas station.  

Together Cantemir and Pallanca Pastor developed a marine jet propulsion system utilizing basic aerospace technology that provides twice the economy over traditional in-board and outboard engines while delivering two to three times the power for the same foot print.  The new patent-pending design is half the weight of traditional engines, has fewer mechanical parts and is simple to repair and maintain.  The new motor represents a significant advancement in outboard engine design which dates back to the 1960s and has seen only incremental improvements over the past four decades.  Upon initial inquiry into the market’s interest in such an advanced re-design of marine motors, the inventors decided to pursue commercializing their new system. 

Cantemir and Pallanca Pastor brought their research and idea to the OSU Office of Technology Licensing and Commercialization (TLC) for their assistance in the process of protecting intellectual property.  Ryan Zinn, senior technology licensing associate with TLC, began patent protection and quickly recognized that these advances represented a technology platform which could serve as the basis for a commercially viable startup company within Central Ohio. 

Zinn connected with TechColumbus’ technology commercialization team and the two organizations began exploring the steps for forming a new company based on Cantemir and Pallanca Pastor’s  technology.

“This is a perfect example of the power of the triad partnership between TechColumbus, OSU’s TLC and the university’s inventors,” says Gary Rawlings, director, technology commercialization for TechColumbus.  “We as a team work to uncover emerging technologies, assess their commercial potential and help connect new businesses with early-stage capital and other resources.” 

The inventors recently received a grant from TechColumbus’ TechGenesis fund, a program supported by the Ohio Third Frontier. This proof-of-concept grant of up to $50,000 will be used to develop a working prototype of the motor and more thoroughly validate the market potential which preliminary research suggests could be as much as a $1 billion in the U.S. alone.

Once these critical proof-of-concept milestones are met, the next steps will be to explore the best way of commercially expanding this technology into the marketplace.  According to Zinn there are a number of scenarios for this roll out including the licensing of the technology to an existing manufacturer of marine engines.  But there are also many very compelling reasons for starting a facility to manufacture these engines right here in Central Ohio.
 
“The region has a strong legacy both in the tool and die industry and in the manufacture of small engines for use in everything from lawn mowers to motorcycles,” says Rawlings.  “Central Ohio is very well-versed in small motors manufacturing.” 

“When you combine this manufacturing experience and R&D capability with the region’s strong fundamentals in logistics and distribution, you have a logical choice for the start-up of a marine engine manufacturing facility in Central Ohio,” says Zinn. 

Decisions about further commercialization of the technology are pending at this point as the project undergoes the very preliminary stages of prototyping and proof-of-concept.  But still, it’s evident that the strong working partnership between the researchers at OSU, the university’s TLC office and TechColumbus has once again fostered a promising opportunity for creating jobs in the region and contributing to the economic stability of the state.