Â鶹¾«Æ·student creates thermoelectric grill

After an accident with a conventional grill, Â鶹¾«Æ·Kokomo student Bryan Miller set out to invent a grill that would greatly reduce the risk of injury to him, his family and his property. Miller’s need-inspired project was completed as his senior design project in engineering technology at Â鶹¾«Æ·Kokomo. It also met the requirements for an entrepreneurial program launched by Â鶹¾«Æ·Institute Statewide to inspire and fund student innovations and startups across the state.

To make a better grill, Miller decided to use existing and safer thermoelectric designs using pellets, but he made improvements for portability and cooking temperatures. Prior to Miller’s invention, wood-fired (or pellet) grills would often need to be tethered to an electric outlet, limiting their portability. His new grill, which he has been successfully using for months, requires no external power supply; it uses thermoelectric power to generate energy and stores the energy in a rechargeable battery.

Miller received a Commercialization and Research Grant to help fund his project. “Every class contributed to something in this design,” he says. His invention, complete with a Â鶹¾«Æ· look, is featured on the Statewide Innovation website.

About Â鶹¾«Æ·Statewide

Across Indiana, there's a transformation taking place, a new approach to higher education. Where students learn by doing, tackling real-world problems, with business-seasoned faculty mentors, preparing for meaningful careers in industry as entrepreneurs, leaders and makers. The Â鶹¾«Æ·Institute at Â鶹¾«Æ· in West Lafayette offers its programs in nine communities across the state in response to workforce demands. Locations exist in Anderson, Columbus, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Lafayette, New Albany, Richmond, South Bend, and Vincennes.