Mike Sutton: Starting a Company, Digital Image Correlation, and the Power of Perseverance

09/20/19 • 27 min

UofSC Mechanical Engineering Distinguished Professor Mike Sutton joins Host Abe Danaher to tell the story of how the now international company Correlated Solutions Incorporated began and about the digital image correlation technology that he helped create. Mike begins with how NASA and UofSC didn't want to patent his technology (2:45), which forced him to start Correlated Solutions in 1997 (4:03). Then, Mike explains what it was like to start the company in Columbia, South Carolina (10:47). Next, Mike explains where the digital image correlation technology is going (19:10) before emphasizing the importance of perseverance in all aspects of life (21:04). Lastly, Abe does the "Beyond the CV" segment and gets a really interesting answer from Mike about his favorite hobby, terrascaping (24:04).
The music for this episode was graciously provided by Columbia's own, "No Way Jose!"

Previous Episode

Roger Dougal: The History of Our Energy Grid, The Argument for a DC Energy Renaissance, and Sailing

Host Abe Danaher is joined by UofSC Electrical Engineering Department Chair Roger Dougal to talk about the state of America's energy grid and the benefits of switching to direct current power. First, Abe tells a story about the history of DC and AC energy, providing the framework for the rest of their discussion (1:02). Then, Roger explains why now is the time to change to DC energy (4:23) and why the change should occur (6:58). Next, Roger explains why DC energy would make renewable energy production more efficient (11:52) before giving a prediction about when we could expect to see a change to DC energy (18:08). Then, Abe does the first "Beyond the CV" segment and asks Roger about his past as a nationally ranked sailor (19:14).
The music for this episode was graciously provided by Columbia's own, "No Way Jose!"

Next Episode

Nicole Berge: Hydrothermal Carbonization, Working with Trash, and Making Energy from Waste

UofSC Civil and Environmental Engineering Associate Professor Nicole Berge joins Host Abe Danaher to tell how her research on hydrothermal carbonization is allowing for waste to be converted into energy and fertilizers. Nicole begins by sharing how she got into researching landfills as an undergraduate (2:01), before explaining what her current research on trash aims to do (4:10). Next, she explains how close we are to using her technology widely in the US (7:25) and the reactions of her students when they hear they have to work with waste (9:34). Lastly, Abe does the "Beyond the CV" segment and learns all about Nicole's three dogs (11:41).
The music for this episode was graciously provided by Columbia's own, "No Way Jose!"