Penguin Automated Systems Inc. has received a grant from FedNor that will allow it to develop prototype robots designed to inspect and map wastewater pipes.
The Sudbury-area company received $400,000 through the federal funding agency. Once the prototypes have been successfully field tested, the robots will be produced in Northern Ontario, commercialized, and sold to national and international clients. Eighteen full-time jobs are expected from the development.
During last summer’s partial roof collapse at the Algo Centre Mall in Elliot Lake, Penguin robots were commissioned to take photos of the rubble to determine how to continue the recovery process.
The funding was part of a nearly $2.2-million windfall for Sudbury.
The Northern Water Sports Centre was allotted $1 million towards construction costs. The 16,000-square-foot facility is slated for construction adjacent to Science North and will be designed to host regional, provincial, national and international water sports events.
It will include boat and equipment storage, year-round training facilities, office and conference space, training and meeting rooms, a staging area and launching docks, and a finishing tower and timing system that will complete a 1,000-metre race course for hosting major water sport tourism events.
FedNor also provided $795,000 to the Nickel Basin Federal Development Corp. to provide capital to small and medium-sized businesses through repayable loans, equity and loan guarantees.