Technology

The Company’s alternative energy powered platforms use three alternative power sources: solar panels, wind turbines and hydrogen fuel cells.  Each power source is designed to be integrated to provide maximum power when available.  Hydrogen cells are used as a support system in the event that the system demands additional power or the solar panels and wind turbines cannot handle the necessary load.   Based on the load sustainability calculations, Critical International designs systems to discharge the battery bank (to the point of losing the load) three times, each time relying on the hydrogen fuel cell to bring the batteries back to a sustained level of charge, when the other alternative power systems have not maintained that charge. Therefore, the load, battery amp hours and intended “return cycles” determine the backup hydrogen necessary on the platform.  The intended “return cycles” are determined by the mission of the product.

Putting the “Intelligence” in the Platform

•  Intelligent power source selection based on power requirement
•  Excess power “re-direct” to essential non-mission support
•  Status notifications of all power/device functions
•  Platform “Survival Mode” includes automatic lowering of the towers in extreme weather conditions
•  Remote controls to secure solar panels
•  Wireless PDA control of all tower functions including outrigger deployment

Technology