Do you have a special project in mind? Lets talk.
This is where we explore your ideas, concepts and specifications.
All development projects are constrained by three aspects:
Quality
This includes; features wanted vs needed, Complete product vs. minimum viable product (MVP), Materials and finish.
Schedule
How soon is a solution needed? How much schedule flexibility?
Cost
What skills/experience are needed? Who assumes development risk?
In general, you get to pick the two most important ones, and the project is at the mercy of the third. For example:
A product with a lot of features (quality) delivered against a short schedule might be more costly.
A lowest-cost project to develop an MVP might accept a longer schedule.
A time- and cost- sensitive project might be willing to prioritise product features.
Often projects have very little uncertainty and technical risk. These projects can reference existing building blocks or use-case examples. They can be easily specified and can progress directly to the development step. These types of projects tend to use standard or well known building blocks, hardware or software functions, and common manufacturing techniques and materials.
More complex projects may have new technologies, materials or concepts which require technical de-risking through a programme of research and design.
Not all projects need this step.
R&D is a process of reducing the uncertainties and technical risk associated with a project. There may be a number of aspects which are unable to be fully specified or for which there isn't currently a known working solution to implement.
It's best to think of these as separate projects which need to get to a particular performance level in order to proceed.
Developing a solution for each aspect will include; ideation and prioritisation, estimation and planning, research, prototyping, evaluation/validation, and iteration. At the end of each cycle, a decision is made to progress, try-again or give up.
All technical risk is able to be quantified, and there is a good basis for developing a solution. There will be an approved technical specification, a project plan and budget (which define Quality, Schedule, Cost).
Technical development will begin. Depending on the project, there may be
Electrical
Electronic
Embedded / Firmware
Software
Analytics
Cloud / Database
Mobile
Mechanical / Mechatronic
There may also be
Systems integration
Installation
Documentation
Compliance and other regulatory evaluation
Prototypes
DfX (Design for "all desirable attributes"... Manufacturing, Assembly, Inspection, Cost, Compliance...)
IP protection including patents
The project will be completed when we deliver what we said we would deliver, and you agree. We will hand over all outputs and documentation that we have agreed to deliver, and you'll complete any outstanding payment obligations.
Ask us about:
research findings
pre-production prototypes
acceptance testing
design documentation
production support/documentation
patent applications
We can take your development project right through to production.
We can facilitate all aspects of production.
Ask us about:
Tool making
Production pricing
Manufacturing
Assembly
Factory and process qualification
Quality control
Warranties and guarantees
Storage and logistics