James Madison University

ISAT Gives an Opportunity to Invent

“Never give up”. More than just advice, these words sum up Ben Thomas’ personal philosophy. During his time as an ISAT student he formed a partnership with an ISAT professor, started a company, invented a solar tracking device and applied for a patent.

Ben’s new company, Altomas Technologies, came about initially as a result of an ISAT senior thesis project. Ben had approached Dr. Karim Altaii to discuss ideas for his thesis. During their initial meeting Dr. Altaii shared his idea of using Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) for solar tracking and their partnership was born.

PHOTO: Ben and Dr. Altaii

Ben and Dr. Karim Altaii with their invention.

Their invention can be used for any application of solar energy. If a solar panel can ‘follow’ the sun throughout the day rather than remain stationary the amount of energy collected increases. Their hope is to make solar energy a more affordable option for the public. (Learn more about Ben’s invention). The process of developing a prototype taught Ben a lot about teamwork and perseverance while his relationship with Dr. Altaii grew into a friendship.

Looking back at his time Ben says, “The best memory from this project was the first time it moved. Even before we had all of the details and controls worked out, just seeing it move was very inspirational. The motion of the SMA is very smooth, and almost looks like a living organism. The most exciting moment was a different occasion. Very early in the project we accidentally caused a large capacitor to physically explode. I suppose it taught us the importance of doing some research and analysis before trial and error. Luckily, nobody was injured.”

Initially drawn to the ISAT program for the interdisciplinary framework Ben grew to appreciate the opportunity to develop hands on problem solving skills. “Taking fundamental classes in a variety of fields has given me a perspective that many others never experience”.

Currently enrolled at MIT studying mechanical engineering, Ben feels ISAT prepared him well for the challenge of graduate school. “ ISAT is a great program for a self-motivated student. I found that I was motivated by challenges, and I would encourage students to take courses that they might normally be afraid of.”

Ben credits the ISAT atmosphere for the success of this project, “… without ISAT, we (Dr. Altaii & I ) would never have been brought together, and I wouldn’t have been working on any project. It sounds superficial, but that sort of thing doesn’t happen just anywhere. Other than that, the project was a reinforcement of the ISAT spirit. The tasks were interdisciplinary and applied in nature, with motivation from the field of renewable energy.”

When asked what advice he would give to a student with an idea for an invention, Ben responds, “If you have an idea for an invention, the number one message I can give is to run with it. Even if it sounds remote, you will never know the true potential unless you follow through… Never lose sight of the big picture (even if it means scrapping previous ideas), and never give up unless you are certain that you have exhausted the possibilities. It might seem dangerous to risk the time and effort, but that is how experience is gained. Besides, knowing that you cannot is still better than wondering if you could have.”