Thomas David Petite facts for kids

Thomas David Petite (born May 30, 1956) is an American inventor. He is Native American and a member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa tribe. He also started a group called the Native American Intellectual Property Enterprise Council. This group helps Native American inventors and their communities.

David Petite has invented many things! He has over 100 patents related to wireless networks. These are like special ways for devices to talk to each other without wires. People see him as a smart scientist and engineer. He has a special talent for seeing how technology will grow and be useful in business.

Early Life and Heritage

David Petite was born in Atlanta, Georgia. His father, Robert Eugene Petite, was from the Fond du Lac Chippewa tribe. His mother was Helen Ruth Byrd.

David was raised in Atlanta by his father. His father was a Native American Chief of the Chippewa tribe in Wisconsin. He taught David a lot about the Chippewa culture. This helped David feel very proud of his heritage.

Amazing Inventions

David Petite is most famous for his work with wireless mesh technology. This technology lets many devices connect and talk to each other. It's like a team of devices working together wirelessly.

His inventions help with many things. For example, he created an early personal security system. This system allowed someone to carry a small device. If they needed help, they could press a button. The device would then send out information about them.

The Smart Grid and Smart Meters

David Petite played a big part in creating "Smart meters." These meters can be monitored and controlled from far away. This led to what we now call the "Smart Grid."

Imagine a power grid that is super smart. It allows many different systems to work together. This is similar to how the internet works today. David's main contribution was making it possible for many devices to work on one low-power network. This means each device has its own identity. They can work alone or as part of a huge group of devices.

His Career Journey

In the late 1990s, David Petite helped start a company called StatSignal Systems, Inc. This company was one of the first to get patents for wireless mesh technology. They called their system "SMART CLOUD." It was used in the power and healthcare industries. However, the company eventually ran out of money.

In 2003, David Petite and his partners started a new company called SIPCO. SIPCO creates technology for wireless networks that can organize themselves. This is known as Wireless Mesh. SIPCO works with another company, IntusIQ. IntusIQ helps license David's and other inventors' patents to different industries.

In 2012, big companies like GE and MPEGLA bought a small part of SIPCO.

Awards and Recognition

David Petite has received many honors for his work.

• In 2010, the Georgia State Senate honored him. They recognized his amazing work in wireless technology. They also praised his career as an engineer and inventor.
• Also in 2010, Legal Zoom named him the 4th most successful Native American entrepreneur.
• In September 2011, he was invited to a special event. This was when the "America Invents Act" was signed into law. This act helps inventors protect their ideas.
• In September 2011, Georgia's Governor Nathan Deal appointed David Petite to the Georgia Council on American Indian Concerns. This group helps protect Native American graves and artifacts. It is the only state group focused on helping Georgia's American Indians.

Media Spotlight

In 2011, David Petite was featured by CNN. He appeared in their series called "In America." This showed his story to a wide audience.