The Body Instrument
The Body Instrument
Wearable - The body instrument
The Mictic sensor wristband is an innovative wearable that detects movements in the air and converts them into digital signals – for example, to control music or interactive applications.
Arendi AG handled the complete technical implementation of a novel sensor wristband for the startup Mictic – from conception and development to industrialization. The goal was to create a wearable device that recognizes and processes movements in real time to enable creative applications such as gesture-based music control.
Initial situation, goals & challenges
The founders of Mictic approached Arendi with an initially sports-related product idea, recognizing Arendi's extensive expertise in sensors, Bluetooth, and audio. During the collaboration, the focus shifted to music: the goal was to develop a wearable device that detects body movements and converts them into music – intuitively, with zero latency, and usably on the go. The technical challenge lay in capturing complex movement sequences using only MEMS sensors, outputting these as music signals with minimal latency via a Bluetooth MIDI connection to mobile devices, and integrating all of this into a power-efficient, compact device.
Project results & customer benefits
Arendi's expertise in energy-efficient electronics in the smallest possible space and his extensive experience in industrialization enabled the successful implementation of the Mictic wristband.
Thanks to Arendi's technical leadership, the use of MEMS sensors, machine learning (EDGE AI), and a proprietary, patented Bluetooth MIDI communication system with extremely low latency, the Mictic management team, which was not particularly tech-savvy, benefited significantly. Arendi's role as co-founder and shareholder of Mictic provided additional value, resulting in a particularly dedicated project experience.
Implemented solution
The solution is based on a single-chip architecture using the Nordic nRF52832 SoC. The energy-efficient Arendi BLE platform, built on the COS real-time operating system, was used as the software platform. Various IMU sensors were considered as layout options for motion detection – ultimately, a Bosch variant was chosen.
- Optimized for minimal latency and low energy consumption
- Integration of a Bluetooth MIDI GATT service for real-time audio transmission
- Motion detection using machine learning and classical signal processing
- In-house developed, proprietary machine learning framework
- Communication libraries in Java and Swift for seamless integration into the mobile app
Competencies
- Bootloader
- Communication stacks & protocols
- Firmware architecture
- Firmware update over the air (FOTA)
- Hardware interfaces and drivers
- Lean embedded Firmware
- RTOS and cooperative schedulers
- Sensors
- Small to medium-sized uP systems
- Digital design
- Low power and battery design
- RF design
- Schematics & layout
- Java & Swift
- SDK and sample code deployment
- Rapid prototyping / PoC / MVP
- Wireless technologies
- EDGE AI
Competence areas
- Embedded systems & firmware
- Hardware & design
- Software & architecture
- Wireless, IoT & cloud
- Digital innovation
Technologies
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
Java
Swift
COS
Services
- Requirements management
- Product development
- Product design
- Industrialization
- Product life cycle management
- Project management
- Bluetooth & radio approvals
Industry
Sports & leisure products
Customer
Mictic AG
Competencies
- Bootloader
- Communication stacks & protocols
- Firmware architecture
- Firmware update over the air (FOTA)
- Hardware interfaces and drivers
- Lean embedded Firmware
- RTOS and cooperative schedulers
- Sensors
- Small to medium-sized uP systems
- Digital design
- Low power and battery design
- RF design
- Schematics & layout
- Java & Swift
- SDK and sample code deployment
- Rapid prototyping / PoC / MVP
- Wireless technologies
- EDGE AI
Competence areas
- Embedded systems & firmware
- Hardware & design
- Software & architecture
- Wireless, IoT & cloud
- Digital innovation
Technologies
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
Java
Swift
COS
Services
- Requirements management
- Product development
- Product design
- Industrialization
- Product life cycle management
- Project management
- Bluetooth & radio approvals
Industry
Sports & leisure products
Customer
Mictic AG
Competencies
- Bootloader
- Communication stacks & protocols
- Firmware architecture
- Firmware update over the air (FOTA)
- Hardware interfaces and drivers
- Lean embedded Firmware
- RTOS and cooperative schedulers
- Sensors
- Small to medium-sized uP systems
- Digital design
- Low power and battery design
- RF design
- Schematics & layout
- Java & Swift
- SDK and sample code deployment
- Rapid prototyping / PoC / MVP
- Wireless technologies
- EDGE AI
Competence areas
- Embedded systems & firmware
- Hardware & design
- Software & architecture
- Wireless, IoT & cloud
- Digital innovation
Technologies
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
Java
Swift
COS
Services
- Requirements management
- Product development
- Product design
- Industrialization
- Product life cycle management
- Project management
- Bluetooth & radio approvals
Industry
Sports & leisure products
Customer
Mictic AG