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engineering
advisor who's been with Itron for 12 years. Although his vast
experience lies in research and problem-solving for various
industries-he previously worked with Stanford Research Institute-it's
his drive to apply research to real-life applications that
brings Itron batteries to the forefront.
"For
utilities deploying automated meter reading, battery longevity
and frequency of required change-outs can make a dramatic
difference in the costs of the system deployment and operation,"
says Bhakta. "My greatest accomplishment lies in increasing
battery life, but at the same time jettisoning their cost."
Working
out of Itron's Waseca, Minn., manufacturing plant, Bhakta
also leads the Battery Field Monitoring Program at Itron.
Initiated in 1997, this program works to buy back functional
meter modules from selected utilities and applies a scientific
model to accurately predict battery life. The testing takes
into account such variables as product type, battery type,
location and climate, and the type of data collection technology
used. The Battery Field Monitoring Program enables Bhakta
and others to further check, verify and refine Itron's battery
life prediction model against "real-world" data.
The results
and implications solidify Itron's authority in terms of battery
comprehension; Itron even works with battery vendors to help
improve their capacities. Itron customers can use this data
to manage their AMR system cost-effectively and time the change-outs
of their applicable ERTs.
Bhakta's
work accomplishments truly lie in looking after the heart
of Itron's meter modules, but at the end of the day Bhakta
takes some time to look after his own heart. Running an average
of six miles nightly, Bhakta has completed three marathons-some
pretty great personal accomplishments to complement all his
professional achievements.
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