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Millennial Net and Ferros Solutions Form Tech Partnership
By Lisa Lacy
11/3/2003
Cambridge, Mass. -- Millennial Net, a Cambridge, Mass.-based developer of hardware and software for self-organizing, wireless sensor networks, and Ferro Solutions, a developer of energy-harvesting technologies, said they formed a technology partnership to deliver battery-free wireless sensor networks.

Millennial Net's i-Beans and Ferro Solutions' Energy Harvesters will be combined to provide a battery-free i-Bean wireless sensor networking device. Applications for battery-free i-Beans include monitoring heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) systems through duct or machine-mounted sensors and wireless transmitters; powering sensor devices in automobiles and trains; and enabling remote colonies of sensors used in aircraft and ships to detect problems.

I-Beans are small, ultra-low power, self-organizing wireless sensor networking computing devices that enable sensors and other monitoring and control appliances to connect over low data-rate wireless networks.

Energy Harvesters generate electricity from vibrations barely noticeable to human touch and are based on combinations of magnetic materials and patent-pending designs.

Ferro vice president of business development Kevin O'Handley said the company is ramping its operations and business development now and decided to partner with Millennial Net because the synergy of the companies' technology led to "a wonderful marriage." He added that the demonstration of a battery-free i-Bean wireless sensor networking device at the ISA Expo -- an instrumentation, systems, and automation event in Houston that was held October 21 to 23 -- is encouraging to future customers because they proved the product works. The company is preparing to raise seed funding. Ferro has five employees and is hiring in engineering and technology.

Millennial Net raised $6 million in its Series A round of financing in December 2002. Its backers include General Catalyst Partners, Globespan Capital Partners, and Kodiak Venture Partners.

http://www.ferrosi.com
http://www.millennialnet.com