Sound System for Hybrid Cars
New hybrid and electric cars must emit an artificial sound as from 2020 as a safety measure. This new regulation motivated Toyota’s team to find if Acoustic Vehicle Alert Systems could contribute to the environment besides being functional.
Global research on how noise affects plants shows that they react to specific waveform spectrum vibrations. When exposed to a specific range of frequencies, plants show better growth and absorption of nutrients. With this information in mind, we've developed The Hy Project, the first AVAS sound that benefits the environment.
Focus’ team worked alongside sound synthetization experts and Toyota’s engineering team in order to develop a device oriented to implement Hy in any vehicle. Its microprocessor is capable of dynamically change the sound of the car to match its speed.
The developed device runs a Linux embedded distribution. It can read different variables from the CAN bus of the vehicle and use this information to modify the output of a sound synthesizer algorithm that runs on the device.
The team of Focus developed an innovative physical implementation of the device envisioned by The Electric Factory and AYAX, making a key collaboration to this awarded project
UPM Firmware development
Critical applications, such as waste management, oil, gas, or nuclear facilities, require to be fully operational 24/7. In order to do so, they need to count on reliable sensors and instruments that enable them to measure all kinds of parameters. However, over time, these sensors tend to fail, lose accuracy, or be discontinued by their manufacturers. Otek Corporation is an instrumentation manufacturer that specializes in the development of replacements for analog and digital meters, specifically retrofitting any format and function.
Focus worked alongside Otek in the development of the firmware for their Universal Panel Meter, a digital panel instrument designed to perform as a counter, timer, clock, frequency meter, or several other operation modes to complement the unit’s analog input function allowing users to use one unit for multiple applications without making any other change than selecting the proper command via the serial port. The team of engineers from both companies designed a modular firmware architecture that enables the device to perform several operations simultaneously in a reliable and efficient way.
Focus worked with us and was very accommodating to changes just to meet our expectations
WiFi for Public Transportation
CUTCSA (Compañía Única de Transportes Colectivos SA) is the biggest Uruguayan public transportation company. With more than 1100 daily active buses they serve 620.000 clients each day, so their operational management is vital for the capital city.
In 2018 a project oriented to equip the bus fleet with a WiFi internet service based on LTE technology was proposed, with the objective of providing passengers with a free internet connection. This service is associated to a smartphone app designed to give passengers information about bus frequencies.
Focus developed a custom firmware for the system routers, implementing custom functionalities which allow to manage user access control as well as to obtain anonymous traffic statistics. This information is used to improve the bus service that thousands of people use every day.
The developed firmware is based on a custom Linux kernel provided by the hardware manufacturer. Being a system composed of several different components it required a very rigorous management, since any delay would affect the other teams.
Our project had the additional difficulty of requiring the coordination between multiple actors, from the bus company to the ISP and the other developer teams.
Focus not only offered first level technical solutions, but also collaborated with the project management, contributing to its success.
Risk Prevention System for Construction Zones
Seglico is a company that provides an accident prevention system meant to be used at dangerous work environments. Their system monitors the usage of safety gear for every worker in a construction zone and sends alerts to a central server in case of an anomaly. Additionally, it provides a way to call for help in case of an emergency.
Focus designed three hardware devices in order to implement this system. The first one consists of a little sensor meant to be installed in every safety item so that it can detect if the worker is using the item or not, reporting its state wirelessly. The second one is a belt accessory that centralizes the status of each safety gear node and sends it through a LPWAN. Finally, the third device is a LPWAN gateway designed to upload all the information to a cloud server. All the elements were designed with the objective of maximizing battery life while minimizing cost and size.
When we contacted Focus we needed to go from an idea to a functional prototype, ready to be deployed. Their services enabled us to incorporate several functionalities that add value to our system.
Accelband
Our team has taken on the full responsibility of creating the hardware and firmware for a wearable device, including the stimulation circuit, impedance measurement circuit, and calibration circuit. Despite the challenges presented by the signal requirements and the channel count, our team has successfully overcome them to bring the device design to feasibility.
On the embedded software side, we have implemented an event-driven, active object design pattern-based architecture using FreeRTOS as the operating system and programming in C++ for maximum flexibility and scalability. Additionally, we are working on the development of Python scripts for reliability testing and continuous integration.
CARSS Neuromodulation Platform
We are responsible for the electronic design and testing of the Hornet CARSS project, an innovative open-source AIMD initiative sponsored by the NIH. This collaborative effort involves Medipace, USC, and Med-Ally. The project encompasses the development of an IPG platform and associated peripherals, featuring advanced sensing and stimulation functionalities. Currently, the project is in progress, with pre-clinical trials slated for H2 2024.
A key motivation for Focus in the development of this platform is its aim to be an extensible system, adaptable to various therapies and usage configurations. The IPG under development offers 8 stimulation channels for SCS and VNS applications. Its sensing capabilities include ENG, EGG, ECG, along with an interface for external digital sensors. Additionally, the platform features WPT charging and BLE communication capabilities. Focus has taken the lead in system integration, developing automated test capabilities for the project's DVT execution.
SuperNova Host Adapter
We worked closely with Binho in the design, development, and fabrication of the SuperNova Host adapter. The Supernova is an all-in-one solution that supports I3C, I2C, and SPI protocols in both controller and peripheral modes, plus UART and GPIOs. This adapter dramatically simplifies device orchestration during embedded system development and testing.
Together with the SuperNova adapter, we also implemented the world's first and most complete I3C high-level and low-level analyzers (HLA and LLA) as plugins for the Saleae Logic Software. All this accumulated experience transformed Binho and Focus into some of the most proficient companies in the world in the I3C communication protocol.
City Mapping
For this project we implemented a system for city mapping comparable to Google Street View, but with a transformative edge. We provide revolutionary features, allowing our clients to measure distances and automatically recognize intricate details like street signals, sidewalk curves, storm drains, and trees.
At the core of this project are three powerful Lidar sensors, including the Velodyne VLP-16 and 2 Sick LMS 511 Pro, coupled with a Ladybug 5+ 360 camera and Applanix POS LVX positioning system. The project's workflow is a testament to efficiency, divided into two crucial stages. First, during the data gathering process, sensors are strategically mounted on a van that navigates the city, diligently collecting and organizing data. This meticulous approach guarantees the efficient allocation of information within drives. Subsequently, the gathered data undergoes a transformative journey in the post-processing stage.
Complex algorithms and techniques refine the raw information, enabling visualization through software like Orbit GT. Crucially, the project leverages ROS Melodic, the Robot Operating System, to streamline the development process, emphasizing efficiency and standardization.
Smart Dumbell
Kabata is an immersive workout platform that aims to reinvent dumbells. The company offers a set of BLE-connected dumbells with embedded sensors and haptic drivers, that interact with the user in a unique way. Kabata’s dumbbells capture a range of metrics, from reps, sets, and time under tension, to velocity, volume, power, and calories, and then run AI and analytics on those metrics to understand how users are training and generate customized workouts.
Focus designed the whole system, from the electrical design of the dumbbell controller and the charging dock to the firmware of all components and the communication protocol that defines the interactions with the associated app. Our team is still part of the development team, directly interacting with one of the best mechanical engineering teams in the world.