Captaucom: Three manufacturing prototypes

The five-year Captaucom project brought together three manufacturing companies based in the Rhône-Alpes Region (SEB-Tefal, Somfy, and NTN-SNR Bearings), two research organizations (CEA and CSEM), two centers of excellence (MIND and CETIM) and one technology network (Thésame) to work on the development of self-powered communicating sensors. The project has now reached its conclusion, and the excellent results obtained have enabled the construction of three prototype devices, each meeting the specifications laid down by the industrial partners involved in the project.

-SEB Group: Work on measurement and control devices for small items of domestic equipment has led to the development of a prototype small self-powered device for use in a domestic environment.

-NTN-SNR Bearings: Work on monitoring and diagnostics applied to rotating systems in the transportation and other industries has led to the development of a self-powered communicating monitoring system for bearings.

-Somfy: Work on sensors and control systems for opening and closing actuators and solar protection systems in the building industry (blinds, roller shutters, doors and gates) has led to the development of a self-powered safety monitoring system for automatic doors and gates.

These three manufacturers have each been able to benefit from the latest technological advances in the miniaturization and reduced power consumption of electronic components, together with the recent development of micro energy recovery devices. These innovations are opening up the path to new mass-market self-powered communicating systems.

In developing these successful prototypes, the project has made full use of the knowledge and skills available in the contributing laboratories. CEA-LETI focused on the development and construction of the energy recovery systems. CEA-LITEN was responsible for the development and construction of the electrical energy storage devices. CSEM concentrated on the development of transmission protocols, signal processing, and the recovery and processing of mechanical energy.

The project also called on the expertise of a number of centers of excellence and a technology network. The MIND center of excellence designed, developed and constructed the antennas as part of its contribution to the development of the energy recovery blocks and the assembly of the finished prototypes. The Mechanical Industries Technical Center (CETIM) provided the mechanical test systems and made available its expertise in sensor technology. It was also responsible for distributing the technological results of the project throughout the mechanical industry. The Thésame technology platform was responsible for managing and coordinating the project, and is currently ensuring that the main results from the project are widely distributed.

Certified by the Arve Industries Haute Savoie Mont Blanc competitiveness cluster, Captaucom has been
publicly funded since 2006 by the Business Competitiveness Fund (FCE), the General Directorate for Competitiveness, Industry and Services (DGCIS), and the Haute-Savoie Council. Financial assistance has also been provided by CETIM.