Harness IP is pleased to share that a pro bono project led by firm Principal and patent attorney Michael Doerr has reached the next stage in an effort to protect scooter safety technology developed by a middle school robotics team. On behalf of the East Hills Middle School Great Engineering Kids of Tomorrow, also known as the GEKOT Robotics Team, Doerr recently filed a non-provisional U.S. patent application for their Collision Alert Technology for Scooters (CATS).

According to the team’s website, scooter accidents led to 40,000 injuries and 29 deaths in 2018. Combined with a rapid increase in scooter and “micro-mobility” offerings in urban areas in recent years, new safety measures were needed. CATS aims to cut down on these accidents using a combination of sensors, controls, and alerts.

CATS previously helped the GEKOT Robotics Team win the “Innovation Award” at Michigan’s 2019 State Robotics Championship. Winning the award prompted the team to consider patenting their technology, but they soon realized they would need outside help with the process. That was when East Hills Principal Jason Rubel reached out to his neighbor, Michael Doerr.

“We saw this as a great opportunity to provide guidance, education, and assistance to the GEKOT Robotics Team on the patent process and the considerations that go into protecting technology and intellectual property,” says Doerr. “Harness IP turns 100 years old next year, and we have a long history of community support, so we were happy to say ‘yes’ to this pro bono opportunity.”

Doerr worked closely with the GEKOT Robotics Team to prepare both an initial provisional patent application and a more formal version, called a non-provisional patent application, which he filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on November 23, 2020. Doerr also worked with a colleague at a Chinese law firm to file a corresponding patent application in China

According to GEKOT Robotics Team coach Dan Champoux, Razor USA has expressed an interest in CATS. Filing a patent application will allow the team to safeguard their technology while sharing a prototype and discussing it with the large scooter manufacturer.

The next stage for the GEKOT Robotics Team and their CATS technology will occur sometime in mid-2021, when the USPTO is expected to publish the patent application.

Learn more about CATS on the GEKOT Robotics Team website.

About Harness IP

Harness IP holds a #2 ranking from IAM Media for providing counsel to 44 companies with the largest portfolios of issued U.S. patents. The firm also ranks #6 for filing the most patent applications on behalf of those companies. Founded in 1921, Harness IP’s 100+ attorneys and patent agents focus exclusively on patents, trademarks, global IP management, litigation, and other IP rights. The firm has offices in Metro Dallas, Detroit, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. Visit www.harnessip.com for more information.