Imagine a world where your connected devices recharge spontaneously, without the need for wires or plugs. That's the dream of Dracula Technologie, a French start-up that's reinventing energy. Founded in 2012 in Valence, it focuses on the development of innovative solar panels for the Internet of Things (IoT).

The brand stands out for its innovative technology: organic photovoltaic cells printed on an extremely thin plastic film. These cells are capable of capturing even weak light, thus generating electricity. This innovation promises to transform our everyday devices.

Dracula Technologie recently unveiled its LAYERVault solution at CES 2023, demonstrating its potential for low-power devices. With its "Green MicroPower Factory", Europe's largest printing plant for organic photovoltaic cells, the company aims to produce 150 million cm² of devices per year.

Key points to remember

  • Ultrafine organic photovoltaic cell technology
  • Efficient operation even in low light
  • Annual production of 150 million cm² of devices
  • Environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional batteries
  • Applications in IoT and wearable medical devices
  • Strategic partnership with Semtech, leader in IoT connectivity

The revolutionary evolution of connected objects

The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming our world at breakneck speed. This technological revolution touches every aspect of our lives, from industry to our homes. Experts in the field are unanimous: the IoT will continue to grow exponentially in the years to come.

The meteoric growth of the IoT

Jean-Luc Audigier, IoT expert at Orange Business, highlights the importance of IoT in improving industrial safety and productivity. The figures speak for themselves: from 1 billion devices in 2010, 30 to 50 billion are expected by 2025. This explosion requires appropriate infrastructures, such as the private 5G networks developed by Baptiste Brasset, Director at Orange Business.

Impact on our daily lives

The IoT is revolutionizing our everyday lives. Christophe Brunschweiler, manager at Smile, works on embedded systems that make our objects more intelligent. We're seeing innovations like the Dracula Power Ultralight, a lightweight USB solar panel for hikers, or Play & Connect, an interactive tennis racket from Movea and Babolat. These objects often incorporate automatic natural language processing and voice recognition technologies for more natural interaction.

Current energy challenges

The proliferation of connected objects poses major energy challenges. Marc Bringuier, Director of Augmented Reality at Sphere Technology, is working on integrating AR into IoT solutions, which requires efficient energy management. At the same time, cybersecurity expert Yosra Barbier is looking after the security of these devices, a crucial aspect in the evolution of the IoT. These challenges stimulate innovation, as demonstrated by the Spine VPD 2.0 Airbag Vest, a connected ski jacket that combines safety and technology.

Introducing Dracula Technologie

Founded in 2012 in Valence, France, Dracula Technologies is revolutionizing the connected objects sector. This pioneering company develops organic photovoltaic modules. They are capable of converting even low light levels into electricity. Their innovation, called "Layer", transforms light into energy to power IoT devices. It aims to replace traditional lithium-ion batteries.

History and creation of the company

Dracula Technologies was born of a bold vision: to offer a sustainable alternative to conventional batteries. The company quickly gained international recognition. It won prestigious awards such as I-Nov, CES and the Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge. These successes have established Dracula Technologies as a leader in energy innovation.

Innovative mission and vision

Dracula Technologies' mission is simple: to revolutionize the power supply of connected objects. Their flagship product, LAYER®Vault, combines OPV mini-modules and flexible storage film. This improves the autonomy of connected devices. This technology captures natural and artificial light, producing 45 µw/cm² under indoor lighting conditions of 1000 lux.

The team and its expertise

The Dracula Technologies team has a wide range of expertise, from speech synthesis to machine translation for IoT devices. Their technology, covered by eight patents, targets home automation applications. It integrates with SemTech's LoRa® communication protocol for IoT applications. Thanks to their expertise, Dracula Technologies is paving the way for a greener, smarter energy future.

Layer technology: a major innovation

Layer technology, developed by Dracula Technologie, is revolutionizing the connected object sector. It transforms light into energy, enabling everyday devices to be powered without the need for traditional batteries. This innovation marks a significant turning point.

Layer uses environmental light energy, suitable for indoor IoT devices. A single cell can generate 3 V, 210 µA and 609 µW, enough to power low-consumption devices, even in limited lighting conditions.

Layer's durability is impressive, with a 10-year indoor life and resistance from -30°C to 40°C. The company forecasts annual production of 10 million modules by the end of 2023. This advance meets the challenges of the IoT, with a forecast 75 billion devices by 2025.

Layer's energy efficiency improves by 15%. A new aesthetic coating facilitates integration into various products. Silver conductor bars increase active surface area and energy production.

This technology is perfectly aligned with advances in sentiment analysis and semantic search engines. It paves the way for more intelligent and autonomous connected objects.

How organic photovoltaic modules work

Dracula Technologie's organic photovoltaic modules mark a significant step forward in solar energy. They are characterized by their ability to transform light into electricity, even at low intensity. This radically transforms the approach to autonomous conversational agents.

Energy conversion principle

Unlike conventional solar panels, these modules do not require silicon or rare earths. Instead, they use organic materials for energy conversion. This flexible, environmentally-friendly method relies on machine learning to improve efficiency.

Performance in low-light conditions

Their remarkable efficiency in low light is a major asset. They can operate as low as 5 lux, almost in the dark. This makes them ideal for powering sensors and conversational agent systems in a variety of environments.

Sustainability and life cycle

The durability of these modules is impressive. Dracula Technologie's factory, the largest in the world, produces 150 million cm² per year. Designed for low-power applications, they reduce energy consumption by 50% when combined with ultra-low-power microcontrollers.

Applications and target markets

Dracula technology is revolutionizing various sectors by offering innovative power solutions. It replaces traditional batteries with a sustainable energy source. This breakthrough can be found in many everyday objects.

In the retail sector, electronic price tags benefit from this advance. Supermarkets can now display dynamic prices without worrying about device autonomy. Product-integrated logistics tracking systems gain in efficiency thanks to this technology.

Industry is also adopting dracula technology for its IoT sensors and automation systems. These modules, designed for indoor use, maintain their efficiency even in low light conditions (50 lux). With a lifespan in excess of 10 years, they offer a reliable, cost-effective solution.

  • Battery-free remote controls and smoke detectors
  • Autonomous cameras for stock management in refrigerators
  • Livestock geolocation systems
  • Smart cards for transport and identification

Artificial intelligence combines with dracula technology to optimize the energy management of these devices. It paves the way for a future where connected objects are truly autonomous and sustainable.

Environmental benefits and sustainability

Dracula Technologie's technology transforms automatic natural language processing and offers major ecological benefits. It also influences speech recognition, where energy efficiency is paramount.

Reduced environmental impact

Dracula Technologie's organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules are made from recyclable materials. They significantly reduce the environmental footprint, avoiding the use of toxic heavy metals. This environmentally-friendly approach is perfectly in line with sustainability objectives in automatic natural language processing.

Component recyclability

Recyclability is essential in the design of OPV modules. With a lifespan of over ten years, they represent a sustainable alternative to disposable batteries. This longevity significantly reduces electronic waste, a crucial issue in the speech recognition and related technologies industry.

Energy saving

The Green MicroPower Factory, Europe's largest OPV production plant, produces up to 150 million cm² of modules a year. These Dracula solar panels reduce dependence on fossil fuels, promoting a more sustainable future. Their 15-year warranty underlines their long-term reliability, guaranteeing continuous energy savings in fields ranging from automatic natural language processing to voice recognition systems.

Production and industrialization

Dracula Technologies is revolutionizing the production of organic photovoltaic modules with its new factory. Called the Green MicroPower Factory, this high-tech facility is designed for large-scale production. Advanced automation optimizes every step, from cell printing to final quality control.

Impressive production capacity

The plant is aiming for annual production of 4 to 5 million modules in the next six months. This colossal capacity represents a significant leap from the current 100,000 units. To achieve this goal, Dracula Technologies is relying on strategic partnerships with MGI Digital Technology and ISRA Cards.

An innovative manufacturing process

LAYER® technology uses a special printing technique. Four conductive layers are printed on a recyclable PET substrate. This innovative process requires just one gram of material per square meter of panel, considerably reducing environmental impact.

Rigorous quality control

Quality is at the heart of the production process. Tools are used to assess energy consumption and lighting conditions. Characterization benches are used to optimize each solution. The integration of BIOVIA ensures the chemical formulation and durability of materials.

This innovative industrial approach positions Dracula Technologies as a major player in the field of renewable energies. The company plans to triple its workforce by 2026, creating 30 new jobs focused on technicians and operators. This growth is part of a vision for the future in which speech synthesis and machine translation could benefit from this clean, sustainable energy.

Future prospects and development

Dracula Technologie is embarking on a visionary move, aiming to recruit 100 talents by 2026. This expansion is designed to fortify its team to meet the energy challenges of today's electronic devices. The long-term goal is to reach 250 employees by 2030, marking a major milestone in its development.

The company has reached significant heights. Its "Green Micropower Factory" is now renowned for its industrial capacity, exceeding 150 million cm² per year. This plant, the world's largest for the production of OPV modules, is an unprecedented automated achievement.

Dracula Technologie focuses on the market for low-power connected objects. Its Layer technology, compatible with STMicroelectronics STM32U0 microcontrollers, opens up unprecedented prospects for sentiment analysis and semantic search engines in the IoT.

International expansion is a cornerstone of the company's strategy, with licensing and partnership plans underway. The collaboration with Semtech, investor and strategic partner, illustrates this ambition. Winner of the French government's "Première Usine" project, Dracula Technologie has been awarded a €5 million grant to support its innovation.

Conclusion

Dracula Technologie, based in Valence, France, symbolizes the energy horizon for our electronic devices. With its Layer technology, this 30-employee company from Drôme is reinventing the way we design connected objects. This innovation is in line with an emerging trend, where the importance of conversational agents and machine learning is growing.

The company is committed to guaranteeing the conformity of its products. However, it leaves it up to the customer to determine his or her own energy requirements. This approach is reminiscent of First Solar's success in aligning its thin-film solar modules with market expectations.

Dracula Technologie's photovoltaic cells are manufactured using zinc oxide and inkjet printing. This method offers enhanced customization and efficiency. This innovation, classified under Y02E10/549, highlights its crucial role in the field of renewable energies and organic photovoltaic cells.

Dracula Technologie transforms light into the main source of energy for our appliances. It paves the way for a cleaner, smarter future. This energy revolution relies on advances in machine learning and conversational agents to improve the efficiency and interaction of connected objects.

FAQ

What is Dracula Technologie?

Founded in 2012 in Valence, France, Dracula Technologie is a French start-up. It focuses on developing an innovative technology for connected objects. This technology, called Layer, transforms light into energy to power electronic devices.

What is Layer technology?

Layer, created by Dracula Technologie, converts ambient light into energy. This energy powers connected objects, making traditional batteries obsolete.

How do Dracula Technologie's organic photovoltaic modules work?

These modules can produce energy even at low light levels (from 5 lux). They require no silicon or rare earths. Made from organic materials, they work almost in the dark.

What are the applications for this technology?

Dracula Technologie's technology has multiple applications. It is used for electronic labels in supermarkets, remote controls, industrial IoT sensors, and connected objects for the smart home. It is ideal for any application requiring an autonomous power supply.

What are the environmental benefits of this technology?

This technology is environmentally friendly. It requires little raw material (less than a gram for 1m² of device). Using organic and recyclable materials, it saves energy by replacing disposable batteries.

How does Dracula Technologie produce its modules?

Dracula Technologie has created the Green MicroPower Factory, Europe's largest plant for the production of OPV modules. This fully-automated plant has a production capacity of 150 million cm² of OPV devices per year.

What does the future hold for Dracula Technologie?

The company plans to hire 100 new talents by 2026. It continues to develop its technologies to meet the energy challenges of modern electronic devices. Its goal is to create a world where all gadgets are powered by ambient light.

What is the Internet of Things (IoT) and what is its impact?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the interconnection between the Internet and physical objects. Its impact is considerable. The number of connected devices is set to rise from 1 billion in 2010 to 30-50 billion in 2025, posing major energy challenges.

How does Dracula Technologie's technology help solve the energy challenges of the IoT?

By enabling connected objects to power themselves using ambient light, Dracula Technologie's technology offers a sustainable solution. It reduces dependence on batteries and grid power, addressing the energy challenges of the IoT.

‍