Karman Partnered With Legrand for AI Power Controls
The collaboration integrates AI-driven power orchestration into data center distribution hardware starting in mid-2027.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Data Centers
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Karman has partnered with power distribution manufacturer Legrand to embed its AI-based orchestration platform into data center rack PDUs and power shelves. This hardware-level integration aims to improve utility for GPU-intensive workloads by optimizing power consumption.
Why it matters
Data centers often maintain large amounts of unused contracted power that can be better utilized for intensive AI operations. By embedding intelligence directly into power infrastructure, operators may significantly increase compute output within existing power constraints.
The Karman platform utilizes a custom NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano, a compact edge AI module, to enable microsecond-level power visibility and predictive load control. This system provides the granular data necessary to manage real-time power budgets across server racks.
The players
Karman
A technology firm providing embedded AI platforms for power infrastructure management.
Legrand
A multinational manufacturer of electrical infrastructure for data centers, including the Raritan, Server Technology, and ZPE Systems brands.
The details
The integration embeds Karman's software directly into Legrand's AC rack PDUs—power distribution units that manage electrical current to server rows—and DC power shelves. By monitoring power at the hardware level, the system enables operators to dynamically schedule tasks based on available energy. This mechanism allows facilities to tap into idle power reserves that would otherwise remain dormant, effectively increasing the AI workload density per watt.
Timeline
2025: Legrand recorded 9.5 billion euros in annual sales.
October 6, 2026: Karman and Legrand announced their partnership.
Mid-2027: The first Karman-enabled Legrand products will be available.
The Tech Race
As data centers face critical power constraints, this partnership attempts to solve capacity limits through software-defined hardware rather than physical grid expansion. It places Legrand ahead of traditional hardware vendors by transitioning standard power distribution units into intelligent nodes capable of real-time AI load orchestration.
Data center operators can expect the first AI-enabled hardware to reach the market by mid-2027. Once deployed, the platform promises to lower the price per GPU hour by allowing for higher token generation density within the same power footprint.
The takeaway
This partnership shifts the focus of energy efficiency from consumption reduction to intelligent load optimization. Operators should monitor the mid-2027 product release to determine if these gains in token generation hold up under real-world, full-scale GPU cluster deployments.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Data Centers.
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