Late last year I tasked with the Charopy team with one objective more important than any other: "No new features for a while, just improve the resilience of our technology so clients can have the utmost confidence in our product." The results have exceeded my expectations and I am very pleased to announce here all of the changes we have been working on.
We had a bit of fun with the video below trying to illustrate the point that our entire objective was to make the printed circuit board (PCB) and the firmware residing on the chip on this PCB as bulletproof as possible.
Today Charopy is officially launching a brand new in-house designed printed circuit board, in-house developed completely rewritten firmware, plus a raft of other improvements, the vast majority of which are not outwardly visible, but which take our technology to an entirely new level of performance and reliability. All new shipments to customers from this point forward will fully benefit from this work. Here is what we have done:
Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) to ensure a responsive user experience under all conditions. One goal of an RTOS is ensuring that certain processes are finished within strict deadlines, making it perfect for situations where timing is critical. Our firmware is now a true multi-threaded system which has the benefit of significantly improving uptime and fault tolerance within our bins.
Modular platform offering both Wi-Fi and Cellular connectivity options, with smart logic to select the best mode of connectivity for the operating environment, including optional failover from one method of online connection to the alternative during an outage.
Support for future additional connectivity options including IoT networks and host-system connectivity
Smart power management plus efficient switch-mode DC power supplies on-board, particularly beneficial for battery and solar powered installations.
Configurable container database with incremental updates to save bandwidth and eliminate the chance of database corruption.
Support for algorithmic item validation, either on-bin or in the cloud, in addition to fixed barcode and/or QR code lists.
Additional telemetry to monitor the status and condition of each bin in real time. This facilitates automatic system tests and automated self-recovery to maintain reliable operation when the bin detects a potential issue. This significantly reduces the need for human intervention as the bin is smart enough to reboot and fix itself if it detects anything unusual.
A single platform that supports multiple use cases including Container Deposit Scheme, takeaway container reuse and coffee cup reuse with all future improvements applied to all use cases. In the past we had multiple firmware versions for each use case, but now this is purely a configuration file.
Expansion capacity for additional system functions and peripherals like sensors, readers, power systems and host applications. We can't always predict the future, but at least we can be a little more ready for it.
Now, maybe it's time once again for some flashy new features! That said, the best ideas always come from clients, so we look forward to hearing your ideas for how you see the new improved Charopy technology delivering results within your organisation.
Commentaires