In February, EagleHawk co-Founder & CEO Patrick Walsh spoke at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s (RIT) American Society of Mechanical Engineer’s Student Night and Senior Student Seminar for Mechanical Engineers. Patrick spoke to about 50 students and faculty about his time as an RIT engineering student, his career background, current and future drone regulations, the science, technology and applications behind EagleHawk’s drone-enabled inspections, and how to best navigate life’s hardships.

“I felt very honored and privileged to have the opportunity to come back to RIT and speak about my time there as well as how the great education and experience I received established a strong foundation for my career,” said Patrick. “I also shared my story of the tragic loss of my son James, who died from an accident on Thanksgiving Day in 2018. I told the story because a University at Buffalo student committed suicide last semester during exams and it broke my heart. I wanted the students to know of my hardship and to encourage them not to lose hope during their own times of hardship. I felt it was important for them to hear that it’s okay to seek help or counseling if you’re feeling stressed, worried, or overwhelmed. There is no shame in getting help for mental health. With the current situation of the COVID-19 health crisis, we are navigating unprecedented times. Now is the time to lean on and support each other while also expanding our education and knowledge as the situation will hopefully start to stabilize over the coming weeks so that as a community we can work together to make the best of our current circumstances.”

“Patrick shared some great methods on how to approach and apply existing technology to create an enhanced service in a field that has not changed much over time,” said Nick Koziol, development and alumni relations at RIT. “He gave students, faculty and the community insights on how his RIT education, work experiences and creativity brought ideas to reality. Eaglehawk’s use of drone technology, infrared cameras, and basic scientific principles has created a business that provides quicker, safer, more detailed and cost-effective inspections of roof systems and other building infrastructure. His focus on helping our students look at technology, business, and their lives from all angles is a great gift to our next generation of RIT alumni.”

EagleHawk is the leading provider of information services using drones and thermal imaging technology. We specialize in delivering full-service inspection solutions for governments and municipalities, public and private colleges and universities, medical institutions, large retail developments, and property management companies across the U.S. Protective asset inspections deliver insights that enable our clients to better control costs, improve safety, reduce energy waste, and extend the useful life of their assets. Our approach leverages proven technology to improve upon traditional inspection methods, which are often ineffective and expensive, resulting in the most cost-effective way to accurately assess the condition of these assets on a regular basis.