An IOT Automated Window System Designed for Sonrex Systems

Home automated sash window prototype based on the Internet Of things (IOT). It is controlled either through a remote or a smartphone app and is linked to a cloud server via a home router.
The system is fully automated with sensors for rain, temperature and even noisy flight paths (linked to a plane app) giving in built intelligence and control by the user. An internal actuator is controlled by a bespoke Zigbee controller lifting and closing the windows as required. Even opening and closing to preset levels away from the home or checking the status.
This is shown in the video with full Alexa control and has been integrated to the Nest and Google Home applications. It is a one of a kind and available in the following months.

Product design
Circuit design
Network design
Circuit testing

Heads Up Display (HUD)

As part of the development of one of the most advanced electric motorbikes we provided advisory and design solutions for the helmet’s interactive graphics display providing real-time data inputs to a Google glass application within the visor alongside the electronics and data transmission. This provided amongst other things Sat Nav, Rear view Camera, radio, mobile and real time engine data in an interactive colour display.

We also provided solutions for the on board electric charging management and Haptic comms for surrounding object alarms.
Electronics integration
Product planning

Smart Toy – Dreembee

DreemBee is an extremely user-friendly children’s video toy device in the shape of a Bee created for Paul Kuznecovs, a father, a businessman and a generally very busy person. 
The main purpose of DreemBee is to enable parents who often work away from home or spend a lot of time on the road, the ability to connect with their children in a unique, and fun way.
Parents, relatives or friends can upload individually tailored video content via a website or an app that will be sent to DreemBee device.
Whether you would like to read your child a bed time story, or sing them a lullaby, or send a video message – DreemBee’s intuitive design makes things simple and fun!
Electronic forensics

RBS Head Office Forensic Electronics Investigation

The Royal Bank of Scotland’s climate control systems at its Head Office (housing several thousand staff over 50 floors) was intermittently failing in a large number of areas within its London buildings. Over a two year period the Product Manufacturer had visited and investigated but could not find the cause or able to remedy these failures.

Ricco Associates was employed to evaluate the core electronics of the Manufacturers’ product and provide a detailed technical report inclusive of possible solutions to these issues.


The root cause of failure was found and two options were given to provide a solution for RBS and the Product Manufacturer. This was undertaken (saving over a million pounds!) and to date these failures have not repeated themselves.
Test jigs

Design and Development of Test Jigs to Support Mass Volume Production

A leading Manufacture in the Fenestration Industry had invented an electronics device and required the design and development of a number of automated Test jigs to add to their production lines in order to reduce manual unit testing costs whilst speeding up the needed 250,000 cycle product tests annually. The requirements where to automate the loading of the necessary firmware and to test the operation of the integrated circuits in a simulated environment in line with their “zero failure” tolerance. 
Concept design

Concept Design and Development of 4G/WIFI Oil Monitoring System

A client within the Oil Industry required working prototypes to provide telematics to over 100,000 of their sites in order to monitor the oil levels within individual storage units.

We developed an ultrasonic measuring device capable of working over the 3G/4G cellular network and with a “snap-in” unit gave the ability to add Wifi capability where required.


This in turn was designed with an App and we also developed an IOT Cloud Based solution based on the IBM Watson platform for the monitoring and reporting of this ecosystem of devices. 
Testing equipment

Automotive Testing Equipment

Jaguar Land Rover required a robust handheld device to monitor and test various electronic systems on their Production Lines.


We provided detailed designs for a robust electronics testing unit that was much quicker and easier to use helping speed up operations.
Hydration packs

Electronics monitoring of Hydration Bladder/reservoir back packs

Within the sports, hiking, camping and training fields water/liquid is sometimes stored within a back pack giving users a convenient and easy way to rehydrate themselves during exercise.

For an International Company we designed and developed a small electronic monitoring device based on complex algorithms to measure and report (via APP, Cloud) the liquid consumed and liquid remaining within an individual reservoir.

This IOT product is planned to be deployed in both the civil and military environments where via the “Cloud” instant monitoring and comparisons can be available.
Vapour sampling

Vapour Sampling System

A large Vaping retailer within the UK wished to provide a point of sale product where customers can easily test individual flavours prior to purchase. 


We provided a concept and designed and developed a versatile electronics based product that provided an experience to customers of replacement flavours within one integrated machine that could be rolled out to individual shops.
Product development

Home Office/ Military Equipment product development

A client required an electronics Prototype of their concept that can direct localised sound up to 1KM. The device would require GPS, video recording and instantly uploaded to a centralised storage unit.

Applications included crowd control and dispersal alongside real-time monitoring and reporting of events.

We have developed a fully working prototypes currently being tested by military and police forces around the world.

An Internet Of Things (IOT) Door Lock Monitoring System

A leading International Manufacturer of Door Locks required a solution to monitor the status of door locks within both the consumer and commercial environments.
We designed and developed a small electronic device that integrates within each standard door lock that monitors the status of the doors and connects via WI-FI to a developed AWS cloud platform that in turn provides instant information to a user’s smart phone.
Security
Security devices

Testing and Certification

  • UL Certified, FCC, ROHS Compliance
  • CE certified
Design of the core aesthetics and ergonomics of the product design best suited for their chosen Markets. The entire design of the product casing for IP54 compliance including the electronics, firmware development and the front-end software was executed in-house. The product design process included 3D modeling with Pro-E, plastic flow analysis, rapid prototyping, injection mould tool design and mass production.
Further case studies available here.

Biometric fingerprint reader

Client

A customer required their own branded fingerprint Biometric Sensor Device to be developed and manufactured to their own specification to be deployed for medical equipment storage, physical access control and wireless device connectivity.

Scope Of Work

Design of the core aesthetics and ergonomics of the product. The electronics and firmware development including one-to-one and one-to-many verification. The product design process included 3D modeling, rapid prototyping, and injection mould tooling ready for mass production.

Specifications

  • Storage of 1000 templates
  • Powered with USB
  • SENSOR technology to read dry/wet
  • >1 million finger print wear cycle
  • ROHS compliant
  • Operating temperature -40oc to +85o c
  • 15kv ESD protection

Deliverables

  • 3D files of the design,
  • 2D manufacturing drawings,
  • Electronic design & software
  • Rapid prototypes,
  • Mass production of the product

Benefits to the client

Own Branded product ready for distribution within chosen Markets, the modular design of the firmware provides bespoke client/Market applications to be readily configured providing a niche differential within this segment. Owning of the IP and manufacturing significantly reduced their unit cost.

Development of an access controller

Client

An overseas customer required their own branded Access Controller device to be developed and manufactured to their own specification

Scope Of Work

Design of the core aesthetics and ergonomics of the product design best suited for their chosen Markets. The entire design of the product casing for IP54 compliance including the electronics, firmware development and the front-end software was executed in-house. The product design process included 3D modeling with Pro-E, plastic flow analysis, rapid prototyping, injection mould tool design and mass production.

Deliverables

  • 3D files of the design,
  • 2D manufacturing drawings,
  • Electronics design & software,
  • Rapid prototypes,
  • Mass production of the product

Solution

  • In-Terminal data base manager
  • Interfaced with Camera and fingerprint scanner
  • Data logging via ethernet and GSM
  • Encryption key protection
  • Arm 9 core processor
  • Linux operating system

Benefits to the Client

Improved sales figures, providing the customer with a niche Access Control Brand within the European Market, lower warranty issues, and better functionality than the competitors’ Branded product lines and with lower Manufacturing costs per unit.
Biometric equipment
Access control

Development of RFID Tags

Client

The client is a major RFID solution provider.

Scope Of Work

To design a range of active RFID security tags to support customer
applications:

  1. Fix to high value Industrial products for enhanced security.
  2. Weapons asset tracking for the Defence Industry
  3. Retail goods item tracking

The design of these tags produced the smallest active RFID tags within the industry. These tags were also supplied with the handheld scanners with application specific electronics PCB design and software. The mechanical design of the casing was part of the scope of this project.

Deliverables

Multiple concepts of the product design, tamper-proof mechanism, PCB design, firmware, 3D models of the mechanical design, mouldflow analysis of the plastic components, injection mould tool design, rapid prototypes, mass manufacturing.

Benefits to the Client

Provision of a turnkey managed solution for the electronics and mechanical product design inclusive of the injection mould tooling and manufacturing of the RFID tags.
RFID tags
RFID tags
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