Packet Digital

Last updated
Packet Digital LLC
Industry Semiconductors
Unmanned aerial systems
Founded2003 [1]
Headquarters
Fargo, North Dakota
,
U.S. [2]
Key people
Terri Zimmerman, CEO
Andrew Paulsen, Chief Technology Officer
Website packetdigital.com

Packet Digital LLC, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota, provides engineering services with expertise in power management, system integration, and product development. Packet Digital offers custom battery and charger design and assembly in the United States. In addition, Packet Digital provides solar integration and custom mechanical engineering to its customers. Packet Digital developed an autonomous power management system to achieve significant power savings. Their architecture is flexible and portable across multiple applications. Packet Digital currently has two locations in Fargo — their corporate headquarters and a 25,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. The company is also building a battery cell factory in Fargo, which would be their third location. The factory would be the first of its kind in North Dakota and provide the means to manufacture battery cells for their power systems in the U.S.

Contents

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

Packet Digital designs circuitry for solar-powered UAS to more efficiently use electrical output from solar panels on the aircraft wings and fuselage to power avionics and charge batteries, to increase flight times. With the opening of their manufacturing facility in December 2023, Packet Digital is now assembling all of their printed circuit boards in-house with the use of a surface-mount technology line.

Packet Digital is designing power electronics to be used conjointly with advanced photovoltaics being developed by the United States Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., with the aim of producing solar-powered UAS with unlimited flight time. [3] [4] The circuitry will use power tracking algorithms to accommodate movements of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or clouds that could change how much sunlight is available to the solar cells. [5]

Packet Digital announced in June 2015 that it would create Botlink LLC as a joint venture with drone app developer Aerobotic Innovations LLC. Botlink will develop and market a hardware-software platform combining Packet Digital's power management circuits for improved drone endurance and Aerobotic Innovation's Internet cloud-based operations platform for safety, communications, data processing and control of a drone from a drag-and-drop app on a tablet or smartphone—a feature known as "Drag. Drop. Drone." [6]

In 2021, Packet Digital and the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) announced the successful first test flight of their jointly developed long-endurance UAS. The fixed-wing, hybrid UAS utilized solar panels installed on the wings, autonomous soaring algorithms, and hydrogen fuel cell technology to create a new class of small UAS with the ability to stay in flight for over two days. The fixed-wing drone successfully completed the first phase of operational testing at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland in late November. [7]

Additionally in 2021, Packet Digital was awarded a supplier agreement with Lockheed Martin to supply high energy density, lithium batteries for Lockheed Martin's cutting-edge Indago 4 drone. Packet Digital's Indago 4 battery has significantly better performance and functionality than earlier Indago batteries. The battery management system enhances the safety and longevity of the battery, reducing cost of ownership. Packet Digital has also developed a multi-pack field charger that can be operated on either AC or DC. [8]

In 2022, Packet Digital was awarded an $8.5 million contract to develop UAS smart batteries, chargers and power systems for the U.S. Navy. The company is responsible for designing and manufacturing high-performance UAS battery systems for the next generation of Navy maritime logistics UAS. Additionally, the battery design will enable the Navy UAS fleet to share a standard set of features and construction techniques so that battery variants can be produced quickly with minimal resource requirements. [9]

Space power systems

In 2021, Packet Digital was awarded a US$7,999,913 contract by the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop highly-efficient and reliable space power components for future U.S. space missions. Work began in July 2021, and is expected to be completed in 2024. Packet Digital's development focuses on replacing current spacecraft power system hardware, which is reaching its technological limit in regards to power density and efficiency. Power system hardware size and weight can be dramatically reduced by implementing advanced technologies. [10]

Leadership

In February 2015, it was announced Peter Lindgren, president and CEO of Otter Products, and Linda Pancratz, retired chairman of the board and CEO of TDL Infomedia Limited in the United Kingdom, joined the Packet Digital board of directors. [11]

As of 2023 Packet Digital was led by Terri Zimmerman (CEO), who was named CEO in 2013. CTO Andrew Paulsen joined Packet Digital in 2005. [12]

Accolades

Packet Digital was named the Electronics and Overall Innovation Challenge Winner at Aviation Week 2012 in Washington, D.C. [13] Gartner named Packet Digital in its 2014 Cool Vendors in Semiconductors report. [14] Inc. listed the company number 468 among its 500 Fastest Growing Companies in 2008. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DARPA</span> Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is a research and development agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unmanned aerial vehicle</span> Aircraft without any human pilot on board

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs were originally developed through the twentieth century for military missions too "dull, dirty or dangerous" for humans, and by the twenty-first, they had become essential assets to most militaries. As control technologies improved and costs fell, their use expanded to many non-military applications. These include aerial photography, area coverage, precision agriculture, forest fire monitoring, river monitoring, environmental monitoring, policing and surveillance, infrastructure inspections, smuggling, product deliveries, entertainment, and drone racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NASA Pathfinder</span> Unmanned solar powered aircraft

The NASA Pathfinder and NASA Pathfinder Plus were the first two aircraft developed as part of an evolutionary series of solar- and fuel-cell-system-powered unmanned aerial vehicles. AeroVironment, Inc. developed the vehicles under NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) program. They were built to develop the technologies that would allow long-term, high-altitude aircraft to serve as atmospheric satellites, to perform atmospheric research tasks as well as serve as communications platforms. They were developed further into the NASA Centurion and NASA Helios aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar vehicle</span> Electric vehicle powered by solar energy

A solar vehicle or solar electric vehicle is an electric vehicle powered completely or significantly by direct solar energy. Usually, photovoltaic (PV) cells contained in solar panels convert the sun's energy directly into electric energy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AeroVironment</span> American unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturer

AeroVironment, Inc. is an American defense contractor headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, that designs and manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Paul B. MacCready Jr., a designer of human-powered aircraft, founded the company in 1971. The company is best known for its lightweight human-powered and solar-powered vehicles. The company is the US military's top supplier of small drones —notably the Raven, Switchblade, Wasp and Puma models.

Moixa is a British cleantech company that develops software and hardware for better use of renewable energy. In the UK they are well known for producing smart batteries that are installed with solar panels on residential properties. The company also designs its GridShare Software which adds optimisation to the battery systems and can also be used to create a VPP with other batteries such as the work they do in Japan with ITOCHU. GridShare Software can also be used to add intelligence to other battery and EV Chargers to help use energy more efficiently and reduce the costs to the household. They have a team of around 70 employees in London who work on their battery hardware products and GridShare software.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miniature UAV</span> Unmanned aerial vehicle small enough to be man-portable

A miniature UAV, small UAV (SUAV), or drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle small enough to be man-portable. Smallest UAVs are called micro air vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swift Engineering</span> American Spacecraft Engineering Company

Swift Engineering is an American engineering firm that builds autonomous systems, helicopters, submarines, spacecraft, ground vehicles, robotics, and composite parts. The Chairman and CEO is Hiro Matsushita, a former racecar driver and grandson of the founder of Panasonic, Konosuke Matsushita.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric aircraft</span> Aircraft powered directly by electricity, with no other engine needed

An electric aircraft is an aircraft powered by electricity. Electric aircraft are seen as a way to reduce the environmental effects of aviation, providing zero emissions and quieter flights. Electricity may be supplied by a variety of methods, the most common being batteries. Most have electric motors driving propellers or turbines.

Astroflight, Incorporated is a manufacturer of products for electric-powered radio controlled aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), brushless industrial motors, the world's first solar-powered aircraft and the world's first practical electric radio controlled model airplane. The company is based in Irvine, California, USA.

The balance of system (BOS) encompasses all components of a photovoltaic system other than the photovoltaic panels. This includes wiring, switches, a mounting system, one or many solar inverters, a battery bank and battery charger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aurora Flight Sciences</span>

Aurora Flight Sciences (AFS) is an American aviation and aeronautics research subsidiary of Boeing that specializes in special-purpose unmanned aerial vehicles. Aurora's headquarters is at Manassas Regional Airport.

PowerLight Technologies is an American engineering firm providing power transmission via lasers. Its primary products are power-over-fiber which transmits energy in the form of laser light through an optic fiber, and "laser power beaming" in which the laser energy is transmitted through free space.

The AeroVironment Global Observer is a concept for a high-altitude, long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle, designed by AeroVironment (AV) to operate as a stratospheric geosynchronous satellite system with regional coverage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma</span> Type of aircraft

The AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma is an American unmanned aircraft system which is small, battery powered, and hand-launched. Its primary mission is surveillance and intelligence gathering using an electro-optical and infrared camera. It is produced by AeroVironment.

The Stalker was a hand-launched, electrically powered unmanned aerial vehicle designed and built by Edge Autonomy and originally sold by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works for an unspecified customer, presumably United States Special Operations Command. It was used for military applications, such as providing intelligence, surveillance, and target acquisition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regulation of unmanned aerial vehicles</span>

Regulation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) involves setting safety requirements, outlining regulations for the safe flying of drones, and enforcing action against errant users.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Applied Aeronautics</span> American drone manufacturer

Applied Aeronautics is a commercial drone manufacturer. Founded in 2014, Applied Aeronautics is headquartered in Austin, Texas. Applied Aeronautics is a manufacturer of affordable drones and drone related accessories for commercial and government customers. Their flagship product is the Albatross, an electric, long-range, fixed wing UAV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BAE Systems PHASA-35</span> Type of aircraft

The BAE Systems Persistent High Altitude Solar Aircraft (PHASA-35) is a High-Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by BAE Systems in collaboration with Prismatic. Designed as a cheaper alternative to satellites, the aircraft can be used for surveillance, border control, communications and disaster relief with a potential ability to stay airborne for up to 12 months. Developed in less than two years, the aircraft carried out its first flight in February 2020 and further trials are currently ongoing.

References

  1. 1 2 "Packet Digital - Fargo, ND". Inc. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Packet Digital - Contacts" . Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Drones may soon harness solar power". sctimes.com. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  4. ↑ "Fargo firm aims to create drones with unlimited flight time". grandforksherald.com. 2014-06-05. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  5. ↑ "UAS Magazine – The Latest News on Unmanned Aerial Systems - Packet Digital's technology could change UAS perceptions". UAS Magazine. January 28, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Botlink, Packet Digital join forces for drone platform". Fargo Forum. June 4, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "NRL's Hybrid Tiger UAV Soars at Demonstration". U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  8. ↑ "Packet Digital Chosen to Supply Lockheed Martin's Indago 4 Drone with Custom, USA Assembled Batteries and Chargers". Packet Digital. 2021-08-17. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  9. ↑ "Packet Digital Awarded an $8.5 million Contract to Develop Smart Batteries, Chargers, and Power Systems for the United States Naval Drone Fleet - Packet Digital". packetdigital.com. 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  10. ↑ "Contracts for June 11, 2021". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  11. ↑ "Packet Digital appoints board members". Prairie Business Journal. January 20, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  12. ↑ "About Us". Packet Digital. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  13. ↑ "Congratulations to the 2012 Innovation Challenge Winners!". Aviation Week. March 7, 2012. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Cool Vendors in Semiconductors, 2014". Gartner. May 7, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.