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Embedded electronics design

Our Embedded Electronics design process is built to forge even a very vague idea into a functional electronic product. During that process we create multiple functional prototype iterations. With the final working prototype on hand, we work with the manufacturing team to ensure a flawless production process.

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The process begins with either a brief of a project’s scope or a client's need for us to help prepare one. Either way our first steps are brainstorming and extensive interviews which help us gather as much data as we need to judge our scope of work and to prepare cost and timeline estimates.

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We start the pre-design process by listening to your company's story. During the initial meetings, we determine the scope of cooperation, your project requirements and gather as much information as possible to create a comprehensible brief that will serve as a reference for our embedded team in later stages.

TASKS:

  • Essential workshops 1 - 3h.
  • Collecting information on the project.
  • Confirmation or development of new tech specs for product and hardware.
  • Confirmation of the functionality of the product in relation to its end-user (user stories).
  • Determining the expected technologies TRL level.
  • Comparison of the project’s guidelines vs the initial assumptions 
    initial market research & competition analysis (8-40h).
  • Confirmation of the desired/possible product dimensions.

End Result: A comprehensible project brief for our embedded team.

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Our Embedded Electronics team prepares the circuit diagrams and estimates PCB dimensions and a work-in-progress dev board is created, confirming the project’s core assumptions.

TASKS:

  • BOM discovery in search of compatible components with project assumptions.
  • Block diagram of the device.
  • Selection of key components + validation.
  • Electrical diagram.
  • PCB development (design of printed circuits) + generating gerber files.
  • Bill of Materials (full list of components and modules used).
  • Ordering necessary components and making the first physical prototype.
  • Basic firmware for microcontrollers and testing.

End result: A first internal prototype verifying the project assumptions and component selection (dev board). Any ideas, changes & optimisation suggestions will result in dev board revision (going back to start).

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A first internal prototype verifying the project's assumptions and component selection (dev board). Any ideas, changes & optimisation suggestions will result in dev board revision (going back to start).

TASKS:

  • Revision of the block diagram of the device.
  • Revision of the selection of key components + validation.
  • Revision of the electrical diagram.
  • Revision of the PCB development (design of printed circuits) + generating gerber files.
  • Revision of the Bill of Materials (full list of components and modules used).
  • Revision of the Basic firmware for microcontroller + Testing.
  • External lab validation tests & end report ( pre-certification).

End result: A targeted prototype aiming at verifying the design assumptions and component selection (after several iterations). Any ideas, changes & optimisation suggestions will result in dev board revision (going back to start).

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At this stage, firmware, the software responsible for the system’s low-level functions (e.g. lighting a diode, etc.) is created and uploaded to the device. Additional software may be needed on top of firmware for more complex functions, but this is usually provided by the customer or an external company.

TASKS:

  • Firmware development (control software).
  • Software documentation.

End result: Working firmware on a previously developed prototype and software documentation. At t his stage the product is not yet ready for mass production.

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This stage serves to adapt the project to mass production. As part of this stage, we create complete production documentation - we also consult with the companies responsible for the production to ensure the production process will be up to specification.

TASKS:

  • Documenting the device’s electronics.
  • Preparing for final certification.
  • Running lab tests.
  • Hardware revision and implementation of required modifications.
  • External lab validation tests and end report.

End result: Full documentation allowing manufacturing in any EMS (Electronics Manufacturing Services).

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Thanks to nearly two decades of experience, internal production capabilities and our vast network of verified partners from around the globe, you will be given the opportunity to manufacture your first production batch through manufacturing methods that best suit your company's needs.

TASKS: Tasks performed in this stage are dependent on the project's specs and our clients’ expectations.

Production supervision or high volume prototyping:

  • Selecting the most suited manufacturers for the project.
  • Consulting with manufacturers/subcontractors.
  • Overlooking the production on behalf of our partner.
  • Developing an automated PCB tester and programming.

End result: This stage is a continuous process that lasts throughout the entire production process. Our customer is guaranteed that production is properly supervised.

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The final stage is a store shelf ready product. If a project makes it to this stage we often assist our clients with preparing iterations of the design for consecutive production batches.

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The Embedded Electronics team is a group of closely cooperating electronics engineers and programmers who design with a professional mindset and passion.

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Industrial design is about scale. If you don’t have a tested industrial design process for developing a product and communicating with stakeholders, you will soon find out that even miniscule issues can turn out disastrous in effect when put into scale.

A process is needed for industrial design for several reasons. First and foremost, it helps ensure that the end product meets the desired design and functional requirements.

By following a well-defined process, designers can identify potential problems early in the development cycle and make necessary changes to avoid costly mistakes later on.

With industrial design, you are either thinking of large production volumes or fewer, more costly units. In either case, if you don’t have a process in place and you don’t emphasize communication in your workflow, even slightly miscalculated decisions at the beginning of the process may wreak havoc in later stages of product development. Imagine saving $1 per unit. With 500.000 units, that’s half a million dollars you didn’t earn.

Additionally, a process can help ensure that the design is produced efficiently and cost-effectively, while meeting important performance and quality standards. 

Finally, a process can help ensure that all stakeholders are aligned and informed throughout the design and development cycle, leading to a more successful outcome. 

We have developed the Mindsailors Product Development Process through years of working with clients on product development in the medical, industrial, and consumer fields. We emphasize communication and expectation management throughout the whole process, which brings us as close as possible to being sure we do everything we can to have each project go as smoothly as possible.

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