ANN ARBOR – Fascinating and great fun ? that’s how gForce Technologies president and mathematician, Kurt Kleinsorge, describes the company he co-founded 12 years ago and operates with his brother, Jeff Kleinsorge, chief operating officer.
Ann Arbor-based, the company has $4 million in revenue and 15 people, most of whom work out of its second-floor loft offices above Main Street.
gForce?s beginnings were rooted in automotive engineering simulations. Today, in addition to its automotive-related projects, the company sells simulation components including 3-D geo-specific worlds, steering control loaders that mimic the feel of all types of steering wheels, and motion devices that simulate the shakes, rattles, and rolls of different vehicles.
They also sell vehicle dynamics for simulation applications ? including those used by the army and marines to determine grade and load balances for military vehicle training.
In pursuit of simulation perfection, Kurt and Jeff have walked miles of subway track in New York City, entered burning buildings in California, and de-iced jets in Canada. They?re on the look out for like-minded simulation perfectionists to expand their team.
?We look for smart, motivated people interested in and curious about simulation applications. Our work draws from an array of disciplines including physics, mathematics, art, engineering and sound/visual technologies,? reports Jeff.
gForce came about after Kurt, a Michigan Tech undergrad and Michigan State grad student in mathematics, spent a few years working on weapon simulations for the military in the United States and Germany.
Returning to Michigan in 1992, Kurt founded Image Space to develop computer games with members of his weapons-simulation team from Germany. Leaving the development of games to Image Space, Kurt soon moved on to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) where his interest turned to driving simulations. There, he met consultant, John Michalowicz, a leading expert in real-world vehicle dynamics ? predicting how cars will drive before you build them.
Kurt and John joined forces to help Chrysler answer a burning question: Can simulations be valuable tools to gain insight for automotive engineering?
The answer was a resounding ?Yes? and became the backbone of their new business.
One of their first projects was to develop a complete, state-of-the-art driving simulator. This led to the construction of simulation domes that surround the user with realistic sights, sounds and motion. These domes are standard in the automobile industry today.
Another Chrysler project included identifying the optimal seat position for riders in the front passenger seat of Town and Country minivans. Taking into account the extremes of height between tall men and petite women, gForce?s work resulted in Chrysler changing the seat height by one-half inch ? and materially increasing rider satisfaction.
gForce simulations save Chrysler time and money by identifying potential problems in the earliest design stages and predicting test results without expensive prototypes and demo cars. With simulations, Chrysler can determine the actual cost and potential benefits of any vehicle design change.
A growth area for gForce simulations is in Ramp Operations training for airport personnel. Ramp operations include all aspects of airport procedures handled at and around the gate, including de-icing, cargo and baggage loading and unloading, passenger boarding, push-back and emergency procedures. Turnover is high in the low-paying jobs associated with ramp operations ? so training is a constant challenge.
Working with major equipment manufacturers such as FMC and Vestergaard, as well as prominent airport services providers such as Penauille Servisair at the Toronto Airport, gForce has developed a simulator that prepares operators to expertly handle the expensive equipment and chemicals used in the de-icing process. This training increases passenger safety and eliminates the expense of grounding in-service aircraft and waiting for ideal weather conditions.
gForce envisions an exciting future developing simulations for a growing number of applications. To learn more about gForce, its products and employment opportunities, check out the web site at gForcetech.Com
