WVU engineering senior wins state innovation award

Samantha Melroy

A senior fromWest Virginia University'sStatler College of Engineering and Mineral Resourcesrecently captured top honors for creating a device that uses electromagnetic waves to detect underground objects, including utility lines, landmines or other metallic or non-metallic objects.

Samantha Melroy, amechanical engineeringmajor from Lincoln, Nebraska, was named Student Innovator of the Year by TechConnect West Virginia, a statewide economic development organization that works to foster and promote innovation-based business and entrepreneurial activities. The Spirit of Innovation Awards are designed to celebrate success and showcase innovation in the state.

Melroy cited deaths related to landmine excavation as the impetus for her creation.

"Over half the people injured or killed from landmines are children under the age of 18," Melroy said. "This technology will be light enough to be placed on something like a quad copter and other various objects to detect underground landmines, allowing for safe excavation while keeping the technology intact."

Melroy added that the technology can also be used to find underground utilities, which are oftentimes incorrectly mapped, leading to millions of dollars in damage. It could also be used in exploring other planets.

Through her startup company, Terra Response, LLC, Melroy is working on a lightweight prototype for her device that will be easy to use and comfortable to carry and hopes to have the product to market in the next few years.

Melroy is quick to credit her mentors from WVU, includingJames E. Smith, who nominated her for the award, and Andrew Lowery, as well as the opportunity to work with West Virginia NASA Space Grant Consortium, which provided funding for the development of this technology, for their assistance.

"I was honored just to be nominated not to mention being awarded with the TechConnect Student Innovator of the Year award," said Melroy. "This will help with many future endeavors here at West Virginia University as well as opportunities outside of the University for Terra Response and future innovations."

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