Ingenuity, Inventions, Intellect

Wayne State’s Technology Commercialization office honored over 100 faculty members and staff inventors today for their ingenuity that has led to inventions, new intellectual property, licenses with industry and start-up companies. These innovations help improve quality of life, strengthen US businesses, create jobs and tax revenue, and enhance the reputation of Wayne State. During the past two years, WSU inventions have resulted in 38 patents and 28 license agreements with industry.

According to Fred Reinhart, assistant vice president for Research and Technology Commercialization, “These innovative researchers are a part of an impressive national effort at hundreds of universities to make our world a better place through discoveries which benefit society and make our economy stronger and more diversified. Their dedication to the invention process creates opportunities once thought not possible.”

Dr. Sean Wu, distinguished professor of Mechanical Engineering at Wayne State University’s College of Engineering was honored with Wayne State’s Invention of the Year Award. Dr. Wu of Troy, Michigan, holds eight U.S. patents, which has led to the creation of a company, SenSound, LLC, with Wu as its Chief Technical Officer. Dr. Wu and his team of scientists and students have come up with the perfect tool to help quiet the noise that surrounds our daily lives; a hardware and software system that can “see” sound. “This software tool makes it possible to pinpoint the exact source of noise in a wide range of products, from automobile brakes and door panels to washing machines, vacuums and other consumer appliances,” said Dr. Wu. “It allows the user to see the origin of the unwanted sound and watch it travel through space and time.”

Wayne State University is one of the nation’s pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world.