Petter Muren
Petter, born in 1961, has 20 years of experience as an R&D engineer and holds a Master of Science degree from the Norwegian Institute of Technology. Very multidisciplinary with a broad experience covering mechanics, micro mechanics, aero/hydro-dynamics, electronics, real-time software, video cameras, fiber-epoxy composite, industrial design, prototyping and low cost serial production.
Founder and Managing Director of two small companies; Prox ANS doing technical consultant work and Proxflyer AS developing micro sized helicopters and toy helicopters. Invented the passively stable “Proxflyer” rotor system, designed the highly successful Bladerunner series of RC toy helicopters and the iFly series of micro ornithopters. Designed and built the 4 smallest remotely operated helicopters in the world. Holds several Norwegian and international patents.
Professional Experience
2002-2008 Proxflyer AS
Proxflyer is a small company developing new micro helicopter concepts, designing and building prototypes and assisting in the industrialization of high volume RC toy helicopters. Doing consultant work for Universities and for the UAV industry (DARPA).
Position: Founder and Managing Director, working part time.
Duties: Start up, organize and run the business, different engineering and development tasks.
1995-2001 Prox ANS
Prox is a small company doing technical consultant work for the electronic and micro mechanical industry and offering project management in the field of civil engineering.
Position: Founder and Managing Director, working part time.
Duties: Organize and run the business, doing technical consultant work.
1993-2007 Tandberg ASA
Tandberg is a world leader in video conferencing equipment and solutions.
Position: Manager Design & Mechanical Development.
Duties: Organize and manage a team of 20 engineers responsible for all the industrial design and mechanical development. Additional responsibility for new concepts, prototypes, video cameras, system integration and optimization for serial production.
1990-1993 Tronrud Engineering AS
Tronrud Engineering develops, builds and exports production lines for the industry.
Position: Project Manager and Head of the Electronic department.
Duties: Design and built special machines, robots and equipment for industrial production. Organize and manage the Electronic department developing both electronics and software for real-time control of the machines. Involved in micro mechanic projects and in the design and development of carbon fiber-epoxy composites.
1987-1989 Data Optics AS
Data Optics delivers camera and computer based real time quality inspection systems.
Position: Development Engineer.
Duties: Responsibility for both high and low level real time software development, camera and sensor technology as well as installing and support of systems.
1986-1987 Marintek
Marintek is one of Europe’s leading marine technology science organizations.
Position: Scientist, working part time.
Duties: Consultant for Department of Hydrodynamics, working with drag, wake and vortex-shedding and under-water measurement systems.
Education
1988-2006 Different in-house education, covering: Leadership training, marketing, 3D CAD, software development for microprocessor (Intel) and microcontrollers (mostly real-time systems), optical sensor technology, practical use of fiber composites.
1992 Pilots license for single engine helicopter. Check-out on Huges 300 and basic training on MD-500 jet turbine helicopter.
1982-1986 Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH), University of Trondheim, Norway.
Department for Marine Technology. Concentrated on hydro and aerodynamics, mechanical design, computer science and electronics. Final degree: Master of Science.
1980-1981 Norwegian Coast Guard under-officer school.
Main topics were air-defense, leadership and teacher training.
1978 Glider license (solo flight), Oslo flyklubb, Notodden
Patents (inventor)
1997-2007 9 issued patents ranging from an electronic loom, drug destruction and video conferencing related inventions to helicopter and ornithopter patents. 5 applications under examination.
Special projects (private and professional)
2005-2007 Consultant work for a US company in support of DARPA’s Nano Air Vehicle program.
2006 Invented the direction control system used in the iFly series of RC toy ornithopters.
2003-2006 Designed and built the 4 smallest remotely operated helicopters in the world including the “Nanoflyer” at 85 mm / 2.7 grams and the “Picoflyer” at 60 mm / 3.3 grams.
2000-2004 Invented the Proxflyer rotor system enabling a helicopter to become passively stable. Designed and supervised the production of the Bladerunner series of indoor RC toy helicopters, so far being manufactured in a volume of about 2.000.000.