Vortex IoT, founded in 2017, is a leading clean technologies company that develops products that support the development of smart cities and transportation infrastructure. They use a combination of intelligent sensors, Internet of Things (IoT) learning, artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and unique low-power mesh networks, to ensure their products provide rich, real-time data. This data monitors air quality in hazardous environments and large venues like football stadiums, detect intrusions or obstructions to critical transportation infrastructure, and enable the development of new urban revenue models.
Since the start, Vortex implemented the SOLIDWORKS® 3D design system to design and engineer its products. With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the innovative start-up needed to find a way to continue advancing sensor and product development across its design team during the subsequent pandemic-induced lockdowns. The Senior Product Design Engineer, Bryce Davey notes; “We were already looking at doing product development on a cloud-based platform to remain on the cutting edge of innovation when COVID hit.” “When that happened, a cloud-based system suddenly became vital to keeping product design on track and on schedule.
Davey recalls, “SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD seamlessly connects with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, making SOLIDWORKS CAD data accessible to team members working and collaborating from home,… and the platform provides automated revision control and the ability to work in the cloud without the need for server infrastructure.” “Once we made the decision to implement the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, we were up and running within a matter of days and able to maintain our development efficiency and accelerate product development despite the limitations imposed by the pandemic.”
Since implementing 3DEXPERIENCE Works cloud-based solutions, Vortex has been able to continue development of the next-generation sensor for its Air Quality Monitoring (AQM) system, which the firm was transitioning into mass production in 2021. “3DEXPERIENCE Works solutions not only enabled us to keep working remotely during pandemic lockdowns, the cloud-based platform also provides the product development foundation that we need to support growth and expansion,” Davey points out.
