Designed for Flight, Redesigned for Your Wrist: The New Vario Watch Edition

Hello, we hope everything is okay.

Today we would like to share with you our project for the next generation vario device, which we have been working on for the last few monthsello, we hope everything is okay.

Hello, we hope everything is going well.

Today, we'd like to share with you our next-generation Vario device project, which we've been working on for the past few months. We'll cover all the key stages of the project development journey, from the technical challenges we encountered to design decisions, mistakes made, and lessons learned. Let's take a look at the details together.

As those interested in paragliding know, Vario devices, which precisely measure ascent and descent rates during flight, are a critical need. The fact that products on the market sell for around €500 and the impact of exchange rates led us to realize an idea we'd been considering for a long time: producing our own Vario device.

Today, we've developed the device for well under €100. Its battery performance provides up to 8 hours of flight time and If you look at the screen several times a day can easily last six month in watch mode. This device we're sharing has become the most efficient and compact platform among our prototypes to date, and has reached its maturity stage with its fourth version. With recent developments, the device now features a wrist-worn watch form, unlike traditional bulky Vario watches. This design provides a solution that is both ergonomic and suitable for everyday use.

Our device is powered by an ARM-based processor that offers Bluetooth support, is lightweight and has high energy efficiency. But with free-rtos on timing compatibility it has a simple and fast architecture that does not require an operating systemevice is powered by. The important features that distinguish it from standard vario devices on the market are that it can provide vibrational feedback as well as audible warnings. This feedback is adjusted according to the climbing speed, providing the user with a much more intuitive flying experience.

During the design process, we experimented extensively with the hardware and software infrastructure of four separate prototypes we had previously developed.

The first version was bulky and heavy, and was not well-received.

The second, however, presented some hardware issues.

The third, while everything else worked well, was weak regarding the display; the liquid crystal display was not compatible in sunny weather. Thanks to these acquisitions, today's version has emerged as the most successful solution both from a hardware and ergonomic point of view.

Of course, we encountered many technical problems throughout the process. When integrating into our hardware designs, we follow an approach focused on performance first, then case selection and price. Most of the time, we integrate the sensors directly into the PCB design instead of testing them before incorporating them into the projectf course, we encountered many technical problems throughout the process, then case selection and price. Most of the time, we integrate the sensors directly into the PCB design instead of testing them before incorporating them into the project. However, the fact that some sensors did not show the expected performance caused us to turn to alternative solutions quickly. For example, we recently implemented a DC-DC step-down integration without testing it by relying on datasheet; although it promised short-circuit protection, it exploded, creating a serious problem. Such cases have once again shown how critical testing and verification are in the design process.

He also reminded again the importance of strict adherence to the DRC rules of CAD software at the PCB design stage.uch cases have once again shown how critical testing and verification are in the design process.

First Project https://lnkd.in/dgF2vADE