Series 18 – Episode 1 – the future of battery management

At Embedded World 2025, Dukosi’s contactless Cell Monitoring System (DKCMS) received the Electronics Excellence Award for its innovative approach to battery management. With increasing pressure on the battery industry to deliver on performance, safety, and sustainability, Dukosi’s system has emerged as a solution poised to reshape how battery packs are built, monitored, and reused.

DKCMS is designed around a core idea: move intelligence directly to the cell. It uses a chip-on-cell architecture that enables precise measurement of voltage and temperature at each individual cell. Notaro explained: “We put a cell monitor on each series cell in a battery pack… it also does all the diagnostics and the cell balancing functionality.”

Unlike traditional battery management systems (BMS) that rely on wired or far-field wireless communication, DKCMS employs a proprietary near-field communication protocol called C-Synq. This enables synchronous, secure data transmission and electrical isolation, simplifying system design and enhancing safety.

“C-Synq is our patented protocol,” Notaro added. “It delivers deterministic latency and synchronised measurements from each cell, which is key for accurate state-of-charge and health estimates.”

This granular and time-aligned data provides the BMS with a real-time, high-fidelity snapshot of every cell in a pack. Notaro likened it to imaging technology: “It’s like the difference between a rolling shutter and a global shutter. We’re taking a snapshot of all the cells at the same time, even in dynamic conditions.”

By avoiding complex wiring harnesses and enabling direct-on-cell monitoring, the DKCMS also improves scalability. It suits a wide range of applications – from electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESS) to airport ground service equipment, marine vessels, forklifts, and heavy-duty machinery.

But perhaps most significantly, DKCMS addresses the growing demand for sustainability and end-of-life traceability. With on-chip memory included in every cell monitor, the system stores vital cell-level data throughout a battery’s life. This supports compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks such as the EU’s battery passport.

“As long as the cell monitor is attached, you have that information,” said Notaro. “It allows for reuse and recycling – enabling second life in a more feasible way.”

Looking ahead, Dukosi aims to evolve its offering further.

“We didn’t want to just iterate on legacy designs used in laptops or phones,” said Notaro. “We took a step back and asked: what does the industry need for the next 10 years?”

By delivering synchronised, secure, and high-resolution data at cell level, DKCMS supports not only current requirements but also the needs of future battery platforms, including those built around centralised computing and software-defined architectures.

Reflecting on the Electronics Excellence Award, Notaro said: “It’s a validation milestone. To be recognised by experts – especially when competing against a major industry player – confirms that we’re on the right path. And this is only the beginning.”

With a roadmap focused on improving cost, safety, and sustainability, Dukosi’s DKCMS is positioning itself as a cornerstone technology in next-generation battery systems.

To hear more from Joseph Notaro, you can listen to Electronic Specifier’s interview on Spotify or Apple podcasts.