Founded by the legendary Dave Welch, AttoTude is emerging as a disruptive force in DC connectivity. The startup draws heavily on Welch’s pioneering research into photonics, enabling the startup to develop breakthrough solutions. The move is intended to position the company to better meet increasing demands for high-efficiency, high-reliability data transmission in data center environments. By taking advantage of newly available technology, AttoTude is creating innovations that stand to provide superior connectivity, with fewer losses over shorter runs.
Founded with a goal of advancing data center connectivity, AttoTude has already garnered a lot of buzz from the tech community. As it stands, with Molex as lead investor of the company’s recent $55 million venture round, that doesn’t seem like much to stop this runaway company. This funding support will accelerate the production of AttoTude’s pioneering optical technologies. Their goal is to connect the classically established world of electrical connections with the most recent advancements in the exciting space of photonics.
Overcoming Engineering Challenges
Both Nvidia and Broadcom have overcome major engineering hurdles in taking their respective co-packaged optics systems to market. They have a strong focus on delivering robust and manufacturable products. AttoTude’s technology doesn’t cut corners – it puts science behind these issues head on. It provides a powerful yet simple solution that ensures data integrity across 10 to 20-meter distances.
Dave Welch explains how crucial reliability is when it comes to data transmission. He notes the inherent advantages of electronics over optics, stating, “Electronics have been demonstrated to be inherently more reliable than optics.” This view absolutely highlights AttoTude’s mission to make scalable solutions that can choose the most rigorous demands of today’s cutting-edge data centers.
For too many years, copper traditional connections have ruled the landscape. Yet, companies such as Credo are doing important work to further innovations in connectivity space. Don Barnetson, senior vice president and chief product officer at Credo, celebrates a major technological breakthrough. His company has developed an Active Electrical Cable (AEC) that can carry 800 Gb/s over very long distances, up to 7 meters. This further underscores how cutthroat the industry is, as companies race to the literal limits of what we can transmit.
Components and Technology
AttoTude’s system is composed of various essential components, which work together harmoniously to improve data transfer. The new engendered setup engages a radical digital component that connects directly with graphics processor units (GPUs). In addition, it has a terahertz-frequency generator and a mixer that encodes the data onto the terahertz signal. All of these elements combine to create a highly reliable and efficient system for moving data.
Welch predicts that AttoTude’s waveguide technology should allow data transmission over distances of as much as 20 meters. On the ground, the startup has demonstrated transmission of signals across 4 meters at a record-setting frequency of 970 GHz. This groundbreaking accomplishment reflects the enormous promise of their creative approach.
AttoTude’s industrial production method is particularly remarkable in its capabilities. Its operation on radio frequency (RF) levels means the production can be done in common silicon foundries. This seamless fit with current manufacturing infrastructure is a key aspect to scaling the technology that is vital to continued cost competitiveness.
Addressing Industry Concerns
Even with the advances in photonics technology, there are still hurdles AttoTude needs to jump over. The first major challenge has to do with attaining the micrometer-precision manufacturing required for competing with today’s photonics chips. It’s extremely important to be able to channel light into and out of these chips with precision. First, it guarantees a high level of performance at every moment.
Welch notes the sentiment prevalent among customers regarding photonics: “Customers love fiber. But what they hate is the photonics.” This statement is indicative of the common concern about the complications tied to integrating photonic systems into current infrastructures. To fight against this perception, AttoTude is all about creating a user-friendly experience with its technology, while providing scientific/technical high-performance results.
AttoTude’s mission is about more than just improving existing data transmission technologies. Email us at tips@ycict.com The company is focused on providing pluggable connections and eventually creating radio transceivers that can be co-packaged with processors. This ambition is a major step in the right direction, lessening the impact data centers have on future energy decisions and the grid.