Menlo Microsystems announced Monday it has completed the keyTask 4 milestone in the US Navy’s 10 megawatt Advanced Circuit Breaker Development Program, which it said demonstrates the company is a trusted partner for provisioning defense applications like nuclear-powered ships as well as AI data centers and industrial robots where power is distributed across multiple sensors.
Menlo added the milestone validates its scalable MEMS power switching leadership through its Ideal Switch technology, which is designed to reliably handle 0.5 MW of power across various systems. The power industry has been challenged to provide circuit breakers that work in systems that are high density—like AI data centers -- but also are fast, reliable and energy efficient.
As a refresher, circuit breakers in computer systems work by blocking requests when a certain power threshold is reached. MEMS circuit breakers use tiny mechanical switches based on electrostatic or magnetic forces to open and close electrical paths in milliseconds. They offer superior speed and compactness when compared to traditional mechanical breakers.
The Task 4 milestone showcases a 1000V/500A panel system built from four 1000V/125A modules that can be productized for defense and other applications, Menlo officials said. “Our Ideal Switch meets demanding real-world requirements,”said Russ Garcia, CEO of Menlo Micro.
The Ideal Switch with half a megawatt capacity offers a scalable building block with modules the size of about 1 x 1 inch,said Menlo Micro CTO Chris Keimel, in an interview with Fierce. “We’ve demonstrated protection systems for data center racks and power distribution to power nuclear ships and protect robotics,” he added. “Distributed power of autonomous factories will proliferate with AI and that’s where power control and sensors need to converge with robotics.”
Garcia said Menlo Micro has been working with the Navy for 18 months on the advanced circuit breaker tech. “Our work with the Navy puts us in position for validation in 2027,” he added.
Menlo Micro, based in Irvine, Calif., employs about 75 staff and has raised three rounds of private capital since being spun out from GE in 2016. Garcia said the company has experienced strong revenue growth since 2023. In addition to the Ideal Switch application developed with the Navy, Menlo Micro is involved in designing other high performance electronic switches across RF and quantum.
Recently, the company announced a strategic partnership with Rosenberger to jointly develop a multichannel ultra-low power switch module for quantum computing. The partnership will combine Menlo Micro’s Ideal Switch MEMS with Rosenberger’s precision high-density Multichannel WSMP RF connector and its industrialization expertise.