Virtual roommate
Virtual roommate
Kevin – smart virtual roommate for improved home security
Kevin is a smart device for burglary prevention that realistically simulates the presence of people using light, shadow, and sound effects, thereby deterring potential intruders.
Arendi handled the complete development of Mitipi’s burglary‑prevention device Kevin – from industrial design to hardware and LED/audio components, all the way to the firmware and secure cloud connectivity – enabling the startup to successfully realize a market‑ready product despite lacking prior technical expertise.
Initial situation, goals & challenges
The core idea of the startup Mitipi was to develop an innovative burglary‑prevention device, but the company had no in‑house expertise in electronics or software. The goal was to create an entirely new product that deters intruders using light, shadow, and sound effects, while being cost‑effective to produce in large quantities. The challenge lay in developing a technically sophisticated device to the point of industrial‑production readiness – with demanding requirements in electronics, communication, lighting, and audio technology.
Project results & customer benefits
Thanks to Arendi AG’s development work, Mitipi was able to realize a technically complex product without needing its own specialized expertise in electronics and software. Together with a partner company specializing in industrial design, Arendi developed the product to full series maturity. The result is a market‑ready, scalable security device that combines high functionality with simple manufacturability, enabling the startup to successfully enter the market. Mitipi later took over industrialization and subsequent production itself, together with a partner in the Far East.
Implemented solution
BOM‑optimized hardware design based on an ESP32 platform, featuring dual‑mode Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi.
- Integration of the A2DP profile for stereo audio
- GATT service for Wi‑Fi provisioning
- LED driver with cooling
- Audio amplifier and player for sound simulation
- LED pattern generator for light simulations
- Secure cloud access to AWS Cloud
- Cloud communication using MQTT and SSL/TCP encryption
- Demo app for Wi‑Fi provisioning
Competencies
- Bootloader
- Communication stacks & protocols
- Firmware architecture
- Firmware update over the air (FOTA)
- Hardware interfaces and drivers
- Lean embedded firmware
- RTOS and cooperative schedulers
- Small to medium-sized uP systems
- Digital design
- RF design
- Schematics & layout
- Software design in C
- Wireless technologies
- Cloud protocols and interfaces
- Audio design
- Cyber security
Competence areas
- Embedded systems & firmware
- Hardware & design
- Software & architecture
- Wireless, IoT & cloud
- Signal processing & audio
- Digital innovation
Technologies
- Bluetooth Classic (BR/EDR)
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
- Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11)
- Amazon AWS
- FreeRTOS
- TCP/IP
- UDP
- TLS
Services
- Requirements management
- Product development
- Product design
- Project management
Industry
Smart home
Customer
Mitipi 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
- Small to medium-sized uP systems
- Digital design
- RF design
- Schematics & layout
- Software design in C
- Wireless technologies
- Cloud protocols and interfaces
- Audio design
- Cyber security
Competence areas
- Embedded systems & firmware
- Hardware & design
- Software & architecture
- Wireless, IoT & cloud
- Signal processing & audio
- Digital innovation
Technologies
- Bluetooth Classic (BR/EDR)
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
- Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11)
- Amazon AWS
- FreeRTOS
- TCP/IP
- UDP
- TLS
Services
- Requirements management
- Product development
- Product design
- Project management
Industry
Smart home
Customer
Mitipi 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
- Small to medium-sized uP systems
- Digital design
- RF design
- Schematics & layout
- Software design in C
- Wireless technologies
- Cloud protocols and interfaces
- Audio design
- Cyber security
Competence areas
- Embedded systems & firmware
- Hardware & design
- Software & architecture
- Wireless, IoT & cloud
- Signal processing & audio
- Digital innovation
Technologies
- Bluetooth Classic (BR/EDR)
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
- Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11)
- Amazon AWS
- FreeRTOS
- TCP/IP
- UDP
- TLS
Services
- Requirements management
- Product development
- Product design
- Project management
Industry
Smart home
Customer
Mitipi AG