Case study · Robotics
Inertial Sense
Product Architect for a fully functioning robotic lawnmower prototype, then Outsourced CTO for the company that built it.
Player 1 · RedSky · Stage 4
Final score
Run for Inertial Sense
- 1 Systems integrated IMU firmware, robotic mower control, and a consumer Bluetooth app on one stack.
- 3
- 2 Device-to-cloud protocols Mower, app, Wi-Fi routers, and cloud database, all written by RedSky.
- 2-way
- 3 Role assumed post-launch RedSky was asked to stay on and build the in-house engineering team.
- CTO
- Product Architecture
- Embedded / IMU Firmware
- Mobile App Development
- Outsourced CTO
The run
Two worlds. One boss.
World 1 · Stage 1 · The vision
Become an OEM leader in IMU-empowered systems for outdoor electronic products
Advances in integrated IMUs (Inertial Measurement Units), integrated circuits that track movement along an X, Y, and/or Z axis, left Inertial Sense committed to becoming a leader in designing IMU-empowered solutions for other firms working in the outdoor products realm: an IMU-focused Original Equipment Manufacturer.
World 1 · Stage 2 · Boss · The challenge
Creating a fully integrated robotic residential lawnmower prototype for one of the oldest companies in the world
Since its founding in 1689, Husqvarna Group has become one of the oldest, continuously running enterprises on the planet. Of late it had evolved into one of the leading outdoor power products companies in the world, and it came to Inertial Sense with a challenge:
“Can you create for us a fully functioning prototype of a robotic, residential lawnmower, including a consumer-facing app that will allow homeowners to track and control all aspects of our lawnmower across all terrains?”
Into this environment, enter RedSky Engineering.
World 2
How RedSky delivered
Product Architect for the full Product Journey: IMU integration, app design and creation, and delivery of a functional product prototype.
World 2 · Stage 1
Architect
Giving consumers full control of a robotic Husqvarna mower required an IMU to track roll, pitch, and yaw across all types of lawn terrain. Choosing that IMU while architecting both the chip-level software and the consumer-facing application were not inconsequential tasks, so RedSky opened with a Design and Discovery process.
World 2 · Stage 2
Build
RedSky wrote chip- and hardware-systems code at both the IMU and the complete lawnmower levels, then designed and wrote the protocols enabling two-way communications between the robotic lawnmower, smartphone app, Wi-Fi routers, and cloud-based databases. Both the IMU-level and the AI-level robotic software were enhanced, including all protocols for off-robot communications.
World 2 · Stage 3
Deliver
RedSky developed a Proof-of-Concept smartphone app easy enough for homeowners to intuitively operate: mapping Mow and Do Not Mow areas in their yards, setting mowing start times over Bluetooth, and securely saving that data to the cloud. This also meant coding the networking software letting the lawnmowers connect securely to the app, Wi-Fi routers, and Husqvarna’s cloud database.
Boss down 3 hits · Inertial Sense cleared
The outcome
Delivery of a fully functioning robotic lawnmower prototype, and an internal I.T. team built as Outsourced CTO
Once this prototyping engagement was completed and the fully functioning robotic lawnmower prototype was delivered, RedSky Engineering was asked to step into a temporary Outsourced Chief Technology Officer position for Inertial Sense.
As its Outsourced CTO, RedSky identified personnel gaps within the existing in-house team, then recruited and hired individuals to fill those roles. Naturally, when we completed these tasks, we effectively eliminated our role at Inertial Sense.
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