JADI becomes iTrack, plans to Auburn Hills

metromode, 6/25/2009

What was once JADI is turning into iTrack, taking in a nice tax incentive and planning to begin a big growth move next year.

"We are projected to grow to 25-30 people within five years," says Jerry Atkinson, CEO of iTrack.

The robotics firm got its start in Troy as JADI in 2004. It made the jump to Oakland University's SmartZone Business Incubator (OU INCubator) last year with the help of $250,000 from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund.

The company is working with a $3.5 million U.S. Department of Defense grant to develop a system that will allow people to track and control an autonomous robotic vehicle, like NASA's Mars Rover. Options are also being explored on the commercial market.

It made the change to iTrack earlier this year when it joined Oakland County's Emerging Sectors Program. It also formed a partnership that brought in a large state tax incentive to finish product development by next year. When that happens, it plans to leave the incubator and set up shop in Auburn Hills.

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

Robotics