This article outlines a rapid prototyping project for a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) sports wearable using a commercially available smart button. Firmware was developed swiftly to repurpose an existing healthcare-focused device, enabling a sports technology client to validate their product concept efficiently and cost-effectively.
Introduction
Sports technology often requires discreet and efficient wearable devices to enhance the performance of officials by managing critical timing and interactions during events. Our client, aiming to validate their innovative wearable concept swiftly, needed a solution to prototype, test, and refine their idea before committing to full-scale development.
Client Requirements
The sports technology client required a discreet wearable that could:
- Notify sports officials of critical timing events without distraction.
- Enable seamless interactions through intuitive button presses.
- Allow for rapid demonstration and usability testing.
Given the client’s desire to rapidly prototype at a minimal cost, an off-the-shelf smart button, originally designed for healthcare and elderly assistance, was selected as a prototyping platform.
Wolff Electronic Design Solution
Wolff Electronic Design was tasked with firmware development tailored to the client’s requirements. The chosen smart button featured a Nordic Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) System on Chip (SoC), vibration notification, and a rugged, compact design, making it ideal for the intended sports application.
Firmware Development
Key contributions in firmware development included:
- Hardware Adaptation: Added Serial Wire Debug (SWD/JTAG) headers for efficient debugging and programming of the device.
- Custom BLE Service: Implemented robust BLE communications, creating a custom BLE service dedicated to controlling buzzer patterns and clock interactions.
- Power Optimization: Optimized the firmware to enhance battery life, essential for prolonged sports events.
- OTA Firmware Updates: Enabled firmware updates via Bluetooth, streamlining iterative improvements based on user feedback.
Outcome and Impact
Within a few weeks and with minimal investment, Wolff Electronic Design successfully enabled the client to present a fully functional prototype to potential end users. This rapid approach facilitated valuable user testing and feedback sessions, clearly highlighting critical improvement areas including ergonomics, notification intensity, and timing precision.
Leveraging existing hardware substantially reduced development risks and costs, empowering the client with robust validation of their product concept and enabling confident decision-making for subsequent design refinements and production planning.
The resulting product is the PINTV Tapper Watch—used by wrestling refs to accurately sync start and stop times with the PINTV Mobile Scoreboards, enhancing accuracy and scoring.
Images: courtesty of PINTV
Conclusion
Rapid prototyping using existing BLE-enabled hardware and custom firmware development proved highly effective for this sports wearable project. It validated the client’s innovative wearable concept swiftly and economically, providing a reliable foundation for future product development.
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