January Employee Spotlight: Caleb Olson – Innovative Flight and Ground Solutions
At SteerBridge, we celebrate creativity, bold thinking, and solutions that push boundaries. Our January Employee Spotlight, Caleb Olson, exemplifies these values. As a recently promoted Software Architect, Caleb has consistently demonstrated an innovative approach to problem-solving, both in his professional role and in his personal projects—most notably, the Poopcopter.
The Poopcopter is an ingenious invention designed to automate the otherwise tedious task of picking up dog poop. Its combination of software engineering, machine learning, and mechanical design has attracted international media attention and become a symbol of practical innovation. Caleb’s journey with the Poopcopter offers valuable lessons on perseverance, creativity, and balancing work with passion.
Engineering Ingenuity: How the Poopcopter Came to Life
The Poopcopter project began with a simple idea: to make picking up after dogs easier. What followed was an iterative process of engineering, problem-solving, and prototyping. Caleb’s initial solution used computer vision to detect waste and guide a laser to its location. But recognizing that picking up the waste was the hardest part, he set out to build an autonomous system capable of handling the task entirely.
The final version of the Poopcopter is a quadcopter with a custom 3D-printed pickup mechanism that detects and collects waste using a precision landing system and real-time object detection. Caleb went through 30 iterations of 3D designs before perfecting the current version.
For a detailed look at Caleb’s work and project updates, check out his LinkedIn post introducing the Poopcopter and his presentation at Minnedemo40.
Media Spotlight: A Viral Invention
Caleb’s Poopcopter captured widespread media attention following his live demonstration at Minnedemo40. The project gained traction on social media and was soon featured in local and international news outlets, including a live interview on The Morning Show: Australia and an article in The New York Post. His story even inspired a humorous take from other professionals, as seen in this light-hearted LinkedIn post by Lauren Hannon.
For more updates and Caleb’s thoughts on the media coverage, you can view his posts on Minnesota Inventors and his Lino Lakes feature.
Parallels Between Personal Projects and Professional Success
Caleb’s ability to balance innovation with practicality has been instrumental in his success at SteerBridge. As a Software Architect, he applies the same mindset of iterative problem-solving and creative thinking to develop solutions for SteerBridge’s government clients. He credits his time at SteerBridge with refining his approach to value-driven results, noting that, “At SteerBridge, the focus is always on delivering what’s most valuable to the project at any given time.”
His leadership role at SteerBridge reflects a commitment to fostering innovation and supporting team creativity. He emphasizes the importance of trust and autonomy in the workplace—values that SteerBridge prioritizes across all its teams.
Future Aspirations: Beyond the Poopcopter
Although Caleb is currently taking a break from active development on the Poopcopter, he envisions potential future applications for similar drone technologies, including environmental cleanup and city sanitation solutions. He has also expressed interest in continuing to innovate in both personal and professional capacities, leveraging the skills he’s honed at SteerBridge.
A Word from Leadership
Rob Schroder, SteerBridge’s CEO, praised Caleb’s contributions: “Caleb embodies the spirit of innovation and perseverance that defines SteerBridge. His work on the Poopcopter demonstrates how creativity, paired with technical expertise, can solve even the most unconventional problems. I like to think his SteerBridge work supporting Marine Aviation inspired him to look to the skies for innovation in many forms! We are proud to have him leading key initiatives at SteerBridge.”
Join Our Team
SteerBridge is always looking for creative thinkers and problem solvers who are ready to tackle complex challenges and create meaningful solutions. If you’re inspired by Caleb’s story and want to be part of an innovative team, explore our career opportunities.