BlueVortex, LLC

We are a fast-paced innovative think tank designed to get a solution to your problem into the field as quickly as possible.  Our employees come from a diverse set of backgrounds – whether it be autonomous robotics, aerospace, or green energy solutions, we have the team to help you reach your goals.

We have a passion for excellence and believe in empowering our employees.  We firmly believe that diversity enhances innovation and that good ideas come from an integrated, cross-functional team.

We are devoted to customer satisfaction.  We believe that every project deserves the same level of engineering excellence regardless of size.  In addition to our outstanding engineering solutions, we strive to develop and maintain great customer relationships through responsive service, professionalism, and above all integrity.

Our goals are to maintain a culture that encourages entrepreneurial freedom, collaboration, and creativity.  We seek to employ people with the highest skill, flexibility, dedication, and determination.  We want employees that wish to expand their horizons, are never done learning, and have a passion for life and its mysteries.

Sascha Calkins, CEO
MBA, University of California Irvine, The Paul Merage School of Business, expected 2013
BS, Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology 2002

Sascha Calkins is a Manager with experience in mechanical, electrical, and control system design.  To date, Sascha has managed a variety of SBIR projects providing the needed expertise to successfully lead bid and proposal efforts as well as awarded programs.  Past Phase I SBIR topic areas Sascha has lead have included suspension solutions for both tracked and wheeled vehicles, alternative / secondary mobility solutions for tracked vehicles, exportable power, hybrid vehicle power, and ergonomic man-machine interface controllers.  Phase II topic areas include a Vehicle Based Exportable Power SBIR focused on managing power export from an ad-hoc microgrid of ground vehicles as well as a Phase II SBIR related to retrofitting an M2 Bradley with a semi-active Magneto-Rheological Fluid Active Damper Suspension and Control System to improve vehicle performance and minimize occupant fatigue.  Sascha has also been involved in the Future Combat Systems (FCS).  FCS/BCT responsibilities included managing electrical, mechanical, and software development of the shoulder controller that articulates the arms of the Multifunctional Utility/Logistics and Equipment Vehicle (MULE) Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV).

Amy Min, CTO/Lead Modeling & Simulation Engineer
MS, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology 2001
BS, Applied Mathematics, Southern Polytechnic State University 1998

While at Georgia Tech, Amy studied guidance navigation & control, and played an active role in the development of a simulation for autonomous UAV landing.  Amy has extensive experience with the design of Kalman filter and Neural Network-based controllers, using MATLAB/Simulink and C/C++.  Before joining MillenWorks, Amy worked as a GN&C engineering the Georgia Tech Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Lab.  Amy also participated in SAE Competition of a cargo airplane design.  Amy’s previously was the Modeling and Simulation IPT Lead Engineer, working on suspension and mobility modeling as well as controls algorithm development for the FCS UGV MULE program.  This includes investigation into coupling effects of arm articulation and hub motor output as well as novel clutch damping.  Amy was also the Lead Simulation Engineer on a Tire-Soil Interaction Modeling (TSIM) Phase II SBIR, successfully applying Neural Networks to tire monitoring systems to predict when a tire failure is imminent prior to a potentially catastrophic tire failure and enhance vehicle performance via real-time response to varying terrains.

Rick Bautista, CMO
MBA, University of California Irvine, The Paul Merage School of Business 2013
BA, Marketing and Management Informations Systems, California State University at Fullerton 1999

Rick is a performance driven global business leader experienced in international trade and consumer goods product development.  Rick has over 10 years of progressive accomplishments leading sales & marketing, operations, and project management divisions for a diverse set of corporations.  Rick has commercialized over 50 products in a wide range of retail categories including fitness equipment, cleaning supplies, solar lighting, medical devices, and architectural coatings.  Rick has designed and developed innovative products for mass-market retailers such as Walmart, Sears and The Home Depot and possesses a keen eye for product branding and design.