Isotruss, Inc. — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase II: 8.6

Description

PROJECT SUMMARYIsoTruss Inc.Title: Versatile network access through lightweight and durable IsoTruss mobile cell sitesPI: Jensen David W. Institution: IsoTruss Inc.Versatility is an important feature for rural broadband solutions aiming to close thedigital divide and better support the needs of rural communities. Mobile cell sites or cell-on- wheels (COWs) provide temporary connectivity for a host of potential scenarios includingemergency situations tourist attractions and temporary needs such as when a networkexperiences an outage or is in process of being installed or updated.Building on successes supported by the USDA and industry partners IsoTruss Inc.proposes to design test and produce mobile towers using its patented IsoTruss geometry andcomposites expertise. Depending on customer needs IsoTruss composite solutions can eitherdecrease weight by 1/12 making transportation and setup easier or increase loading capacity upto 10x increasing the potential use cases for mobile applications. IsoTruss products also extendproduct lifetime up to 5x which significantly reduces the carbon footprint and total cost ofownership.The overall purpose of the proposed Phase II project is to develop the technology fromPhase I feasibility success into a commercially viable product. IsoTruss will accomplish this goalthrough three main objectives: 1) Prototype and test IsoTruss tubes focusing on designs thatreduce transportation cost through light-weighting and reduced space requirements. 2) Developdesign procedures and tooling to produce guyed IsoTruss towers and 3) Demonstrate and assesthe developed technology with a partner-customer. Dr. David W. Jensen inventor of thefoundational IsoTruss geometry will lead the team as Principal Investigator. This project willallow IsoTruss to transition its technology from research and development into sales anddeployments.