When a global pandemic eliminated any hope of the vacation they had so carefully crafted, Jérémy Maltais and Jordan Bernier turned the setback into a profitable business.
The two mechanical engineering students had planned a dream Californian adventure for the 2020 spring break, right as the COVID-19 public health crisis was taking hold in Canada and the United States. What they didn’t realize is that the caravan they purchased a few months prior to their trip would be the inspiration that led to a thriving startup called Nav Camper.
Pivoting under lockdown
“Come March 2020, the border closed and a national lockdown started. There were no classes scheduled and our academic careers were put on hold,” Maltais shares. “So, in April we bought a brand new Ford Transit and applied all of the knowledge we gained in school by developing a prototype luxury camper, with amenities that are powered by solar energy.”
They reached out to Rolf Wuthrich, associate professor in Concordia’s Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering, to share their project idea. He continues to mentor them through implementing Industry 4.0 systems into the work.
Beyond the prototype
Once the prototype was complete, Maltais and Bernier hired a few friends to create a promotional video of their creation. They uploaded it to YouTube and, before they knew it, their summer project picked up steam.
“We put a lot of work into the project that we wanted to showcase,” Bernier explains. “The van was outfitted with custom plumbing, electricity, cabinetry and solar panels. And all of these innovative designs were programmed into the van to deliver a seamless user experience.”
The prototype served as a baseline that kickstarted Nav Camper. New projects to convert camper vans came their way and allowed them to further develop functionality and design in line with Industry 4.0 goals, under the watchful eye of Wuthrich. Their innovative ideas have secured projects through to June 2022, as they look forward to completing their studies in the 2021-22 academic year.