Vicor Powering Innovation Podcast

Special Guest: Ted Larson, CEO of OLogic, a robotics design shop in California. Ted, a veteran of the robotics industry, has seen it grow from its infancy to today’s growth explosion.  He shares the story behind OLogic’s growth and their role in developing some of today’s most innovative robots for local and national brands. Larson shares how the company got started landing Hasbro as their first customer, and how they have risen to become one of the most trusted design shops for the most innovative new ideas. Today they design consumer electric toys, commercial robotics and scores of mobile robots.    He also explains the evolution of robotics and how they are grappling with sophisticated new electronics challenges – an influx of sensors, adding LIDAR, delivering more computing power and the impact of AI-driven ideas. His team finds solutions to the most challenging problems.

Special Guest: Soon-Suk Roh, Director of Business Development from Doosan Mobility (South Korea).  Soon-Suk shares the story behind developing the world’s first commercialized hydrogen fuel cell power pack for UAVs. Soon-Suk details the amazing duration of their UAVs and the humanitarian missions they fly providing relief to people in distress.  By more than doubling the UAV battery life using hydrogen power, Doosan is able to fly longer missions that other drones could not attempt.  This enables their drones to fly distances that would otherwise have to be traversed by helicopters or planes at much greater cost and potentially greater risk. Making this possible is their high density hydrogen fuel cell power pack and on-board electronics that reduce weight and maximize power and efficiency.  This revolutionary technology is saving lives and broadening our perception of drone use.

Podcast host Robert Gendron, Corporate Vice President, Product Development Special Guest: Jamie Hoffacker, VP of Hardware at Kodiak Robotics, in Mountainview, CA.  Kodiak is the leader in autonomous trucking.  Their mission is to carry freight forward— so people, partners, and the planet thrive. They are evangelizing autonomous trucking and believe widespread adoption of self-driving technology, ultimately saves lives, increases network efficiency, reduces costs and emissions, and enhances the quality of life of truck drivers.   It is a the future of long haul trucking, but it starts today. Hoffacker shares how Kodiak Robotics’ autonomous technology can be retrofitted into carriers’ existing fleets, and explains the rigor that has gone into making this the safest technology possible.  Their vision is inspiring and commitment to safety and the future of trucking is admirable.  Learn more about Kodiak's mission to revitalize long haul trucking

Podcast host David Krakauer, VP of Corporate Marketing and Channel StrategySpecial Guest: Richard Hatfield, founder and CEO of Lightning MotorcyclesLightning Motorcycles, located in San Jose, California, is one of the leading electric motorcycle designers in the world. Richard Hatfield, founder and CEO of Lightning Motorcycles, vision for an electric version was to design the smoothest ride in the world— one that “gives you a feeling of limitless torque, with no vibration, no noise and no heat – there is almost a magical feeling to it.” And he succeeded.“The biggest challenges we face are packaging and weight, and thermodynamics when competing with internal combustion engine (ICE) bikes,” said Hatfield. Sophisticated engineering has enabled Lightning to keep the weight of their EVs at about 200 lbs., the same as competing ICE bikes. And he has managed to keep charge times down. Lightning’s bikes and can recharge to 80 percent within 10 minutes and achieve more than 170 miles of range. Most impressive is that Lightning has engineered a bike that set the land speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats, won the Pike Peaks challenge (14,115 feet in elevation) in Denver, and delivers a world-class riding experience! It’s the triples crown of the motorcycle world!

HIRO pushes Europe to the Edge with high performance microdata centers Demystifying edge computing- what it is today and promise for tomorrow Podcast host David Krakauer, VP of Corporate Marketing and Channel Strategy Special Guest: Fred Buining CTO of HIRO-MicroDataCenters    A Dutch entrepreneurial technology company, HIRO-MicroDataCenters develops compact, high performance, reliable edge-to-edge infrastructures (hardware and software) and edge native services.  Their edge micro data centers (EMDC) drive computing technology for Smart Cities and are behind many innovative advancements in edge computing that are changing our world.  Fred Buining CTO of HIRO explains that edge computing not only reduces latency, but mitigates security breaches and easily scales. Furthermore, there is a cost and power savings with EMDCs vs large scale data centers. Installed in factories and smart hospitals and cities in Europe, HIRO’s EMDCs are powerful and efficient.  “We have a fully passive cooling solution that is gravity driven,” said Buining. “So we don't have any spinning fans or spinning pump or anything. And it's purely gravity that drives the fluid going through the servers taking out the heat. The whole cooling solution saves you 40% or more.”  Learn more about how HIRO’s micro data centers are being used in operating rooms today

VideoRay drives underwater exploration leveraging AI and the newest technologies using Vicor power modules Podcast host David Krakauer, Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Channel Special Guest: Marcus Kolb, Chief Technology Officer and Gamini Dharmasena, Senior Electronics Engineer at VideoRay, a leading manufacturer of underwater remote operated vehicles (ROVs).  The conversation with Kolb and Dharmasena explores the rapid growth of ROVs and the challenges to safely reach remote underwater locations at extreme depths for extended periods. Demand is rapidly growing and VideoRay explains how their modular approach enables them to adapt and customize their ROVs for each mission.    Headquartered in Pennsylvania, VideoRay ROVs are built on the latest in technology and advanced power delivery networks using high density power modules.  ROVs are the safest and most effective way to maintain security, support salvage efforts and explore the depths of the ocean.  Designed for dangerous environments, the team’s software and submersibles are easy to use, portable, versatile and reliable.  Kolb and Dharmasena explain the range of underwater missions VideoRay can respond to, including search and rescue, infrastructure inspections, recovery and research.  They also offer some insight into how the market is using AI and advancing the ROV market with the latest technology.   Learn how VideoRay is responding to the demands of the this rapidly growing market

Podcast host Robert Gendron, Corporate Vice President, Product Development Special Guest: Reenst Lesemann, CEO at C-Power, in Corvallis, OR.   Columbia Power Technologies, Inc., or C-Power, is a global leader in wave energy systems.   They are helping to expand the Blue Economy by providing reliable, cost-effective energy generation and storage, as well as data and communication services for offshore applications. C-Power autonomous offshore power systems (AOPS) float in the ocean, capturing mechanical wave energy and converting it into usable power for a wide range of applications. The AOPS design, called SeaRAY, can generate 10W – 1MW from ocean waves. To achieve its goals on the lower end of the power spectrum, C-Power targeted a high power-to-weight ratio, requiring a very compact power delivery network. Lesemann explains how they are bringing power opportunities to the ocean, which is a veritable a power desert without supporting technology.  The marine economy is limited because there are not power outlets at sea, which hampers all major projects.   C-Power provide mini-grids at sea for research, exploration, data gathering and remote satellite transition. The AOPS design, called SeaRAY, can generate 10W – 1MW from ocean waves. Learn more about how C-Power’s portable, remote AOPs are powering today’s new Blue Economy

Special Guest: Dr. Will Bateman, CEO from Ccell Renewables (United Kingdom). Ccell is a remarkable company that propagates coral reefs to reverse devastating coastal erosion. By working with nature their mission is to restore a sustainable balance to coastal environments and bring lasting protection to coastal communities around the world.   Will talks about the science behind the process and the precise power needed to stimulate sustainable coral growth. The newly formed coral serves as a protective barrier for coastal communities and fosters a natural environment that attracts marine life that help maintain a healthy coral reef.   With new locations around the globe, Will discusses the successes and challenges of working with nature and using renewable sources of energy- like solar and wave power — to carefully grow coral.

Special Guest: Ed Lovelace, Chief Technology Officer of Ampaire (USA). Ampaire’s lofty mission is to reduce emissions and to be world's most trusted developer of practical, compelling and safe electrified aircraft. Ampaire currently operates flights in the Hawaiian islands and more recently took their show on the road to Scotland in 2021 to showcase their electric planes. Ed discusses the environmental benefits, battery technology and when he expects commercial flights to go electric.

Special Guest: Luke Getto, Director of Product Management at VoltServer (USA). VoltServer’s patented, "Digital Electricity" (DE) is a more efficient way to run power across long distances, using standard data cabling, with speed and power savings. They are revolutionizing the way smart buildings, stadiums and vertical farming are wired today. Digital Electricity not only is efficient, it is safer, easier and cheaper to install. Luke talks about how this is being used today and more.

Special Guest: Joe Pawelczyk, VP of operations at DPI UAV Systems (USA), a leading provider of small rotary wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). Joe explains how tethered drones can be used as communication towers, especially for remote, highly isolated environments at sea. DPI is able to increase line of site communication at sea 3x using the UMAR, enabling communications to stretch from 8 miles to nearly 30 miles, even under the most rugged, turbulent conditions.