Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to page-level navigation Go to the Disability Resource Centre Website Go to the DRC Booking Accommodation Portal Go to the Inclusive Technology Lab Website
The University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia Okanagan campus
Faculty of Applied ScienceSchool of Engineering
  • Programs & Admissions
    • Civil Engineering (BASc)
    • Computer Engineering (BASc)
    • Electrical Engineering (BASc)
    • Manufacturing Engineering (BASc)
    • Mechanical Engineering (BASc)
    • Graduate Degrees
    • Micro-credentials
    • Transfers
    • Outreach & Community Programs
  • Student Resources
    • Undergraduate Students
    • Graduate Resources
    • Undergraduate Capstone
    • Clubs & Associations
    • Professional Development
    • Student Feedback System
  • Research
    • Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
    • Advanced Systems & Data Analytics
    • Clean Technology & Environmental Systems
    • Health Technologies
    • Urban Infrastructure & Green Construction
    • Research Chairs & Directors
    • Postdoctoral Research Fellow Listings
    • Labs & Facilities
  • About
    • Careers
    • Contact & People
    • School Of Engineering Forms
    • Inclusion
    • Lab & Facility Safety
    • News & Events
    • Strategic Plan & Annual Reports
  • Prospective Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Apply to UBC
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
  • Contact & People
  • Donor & Alumni
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Current Students
  • Prospective Students
Home / 2019 / February / 21 / UBC Okanagan alumnus takes flight

About

Careers
Contact & People
Lab & Facility Safety
School Of Engineering Forms
Strategic Plan & Annual Reports
News & Events

UBC Okanagan alumnus takes flight

February 21, 2019

A passion for programming and aviation evolved while Ephraim Nowak attended UBC Okanagan.

After graduating with a Masters of Applied Science last year, Nowak started a company called Percept Systems Inc. that develops industrial computer vision systems for aircraft.  The genesis of the company emerged in the Advanced Control and Intelligent Systems (ACIS) Laboratory where Nowak was a researcher under the guidance of School of Engineering professor Homayoun Najjaran.

“My experiences developing computer vision autopilots for UAVs propelled me towards building safety solutions specifically focused on emergency management” explains Nowak.

The company has already developed multiple solutions for thermal imaging and aerial mapping of wildfires.  Nowak’s most recent development is called SkyVU, a lightweight flight data recording system for small commercial aircraft.

The idea for SkyVU originated from his experiences as a BC Search & Rescue volunteer.  “Back in 2016, we attended a plane crash involving a small commercial aircraft, which reinforced for me the need for data recorders in all aircraft” says Nowak.

He partnered with a local helicopter company and spent 4-months testing their proposed solution.  The product has literally taken off from there. It earned a place in the entrepreneurship@UBCO program, and advanced to the semi-finals at the recent OKGN Angel Investors’ Summit.

Recognizing his roots, Nowak and Percept Systems are sponsoring two computer science capstone student teams who are tasked with advancing the product’s image processing software.

Clearly, the sky is the limit for Ephraim Nowak and Percept Systems.

“We are really excited about our current momentum, and are looking forward to what lies ahead.”

Learn more about Percept Systems by visiting www.perceptsystems.ca.

Posted in Research | Tagged Alumnus, Aviation, Nowak, Percept, school of engineering

School of Engineering
Faculty of Applied Science
Okanagan Campus
EME4242 - 1137 Alumni Ave
Kelowna, BC Canada V1V 1V7
Find us on
     
Back to top
The University of British Columbia
  • Emergency Procedures |
  • Terms of Use |
  • Copyright |
  • Accessibility