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Case Study - Brink Bionics Inc.

1/20/2022

Introduction
The gaming industry is a dynamic landscape of constantly changing and improving technology. When competing digitally, success can hinge on laser focus and split-second reaction time. Brink Bionics wanted to help gamers achieve their best, and have developed the Impulse Neuro-Controller to improve click speed.

The Impulse Neuro-Controller is a fingerless glove with sensors that detect the first neural impulse that goes into the finger. This detection then reduces the time between intent to act and execution. Brink Bionics had a 3D-printed proof of concept and were beginning to plan for production when they were introduced to Berlin KraftWorks (BKW). As a new company they were advised to have a design review, and review of their electronics to set themselves up for scalable manufacturing.

Challenge
Having a working proof of concept is excellent, but it does not mean that your product is ready for production. There are a lot of factors that go into a design which will allow it to be manufactured at scale. Prototype design takes that conceptual design and determines: how best to fabricate custom parts; what purchased components are suitable, available and at what cost; and how to assemble, package, ship and service the product. BKW was able to assist Brink Bionics with this to ensure that the plastic and electronic components were designed for manufacturing. Before starting production, the design also needed to go through testing to receive all necessary safety certifications.

Brink Bionic was also working with a Contract Manufacturer, MicroArt Services Inc., to produce parts for the Controller. BKW was able to work with both MicroArt and Brink Bionics to ensure the parts would be correct and function as intended.

Results
The goal of the project was to ensure that the Neuro-Impulse Controller was ready for production to fulfill orders received through Kickstarter. While working on the design revisions, BKW also assisted with supply chain management. Various components needed to be sourced including some long lead items affected by the chip shortages, and relationships needed to be established with vendors. There was also planning required for shipping, logistics, and customs to ensure all orders would be efficiently delivered worldwide.

Brink Bionics’ Kickstarter campaign was a success, selling 320 units. “The BKW team was instrumental in ensuring that the Neuro-Impulse Controller prototype was ready for production. We were able to manufacture and ship the first units to our customers on time and on budget,” Erik Lloyd, Co-Founder & CEO, Brink Bionics.

Future Plans
Now that the Kickstarter orders have been produced, Brink Bionics is working on improvements for both the hardware and software. This will include another design revision and advanced features for the Neuro-Impulse Controller. The next step for hardware is to eliminate the need for a glove while simultaneously creating a one-size-fits-all version. This new style will not only fit more players, but will also reduce time during the assembly process. As for software, Brink Bionics is working to expand the number of EMG channels on the controller which will collect more detailed data from the wearer.

Featured Manufacturer - The SMART Centre

1/6/2022

Based in Cambridge, The SMART Centre supports both funded and fee-for-service collaborative applied research in manufacturing and recycling. The SMART Centre helps to develop high-performance manufacturing/recycling solutions (robotics, automation) as well as design, prototyping and testing of new mechanical, electronic and software products. The SMART Centre works with small to medium sized companies who require assistance to solve advanced manufacturing or recycling problems through applied research. Driving innovation, commercialization, productivity improvement and competitiveness for Ontario's manufacturing sector, the SMART Centre serves the following industries:

Applied Research for Advanced Manufacturing / Recycling
Automation, robotics, controls
Mechanical / electronic / software design, prototyping and testing
AI assisted machine vision and control
Digital innovation including Internet of Things, sensors, data analytics, machine learning, augmented and virtual reality

The SMART Centre works as an extension of a company's R&D team.

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Case Study - Brink Bionics Inc.

Featured Manufacturer - The SMART Centre

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Case Study - Brink Bionics Inc.

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