After we formed a team and started observing how the market was responding to our first product (USB wall socket), we realized we needed to get into a more niche market. This was to avoid getting caught in the “low-price” commoditization game. It was taking too much effort to defend our product differentiation for the price expected by the dealers.
We started with a single-phase energy monitoring device. This was based on the erstwhile Maxim chip. But due to that division of the business being sold to another Chinese company I could not arrange the required device units in a reasonable time (lead time > 20 months). So had to redesign the system and since we were anyway redesigning the product we made it a 3-phase device which had wider reach.
My desk at the time of putting things togetherUnexpected failures due to adhesive material used on PCBThe message format from the nodesThe circuit board design schematic – sample sheetThe first working full system prototypeRevised Visuals sample dashboard (WebApp)R & D platform on which most of the experiments were performed before implementing in the product. It included an advanced ZSoc FPGA module, Modicon PLC, Raspberry Pi based gateway, stepper motor driver and stepper motor, air pump, power supply modules, 3 phase energy monitoring (through our yznodes)Trials of the vibration sensor that we designed, including the mechanical enclosure (lathe cut)First field trial at a factory (early 2017)Some of the add on modules we developed – high current (>250Amps) hall effect current sensor board, environmental parameters sensor, 4-20mA to digital conversion module, vibration sensorOur test setup for testing multiple nodes at various data ratesInstallation – CTL Machines (Feb 2020)The node’s circuit boardThe evolution- concept to marketThe complete solution package – Hardware, Webapp and Mobile AppInrush current in a slip ring steel rolling mill motorReal field event alert to customerSample visuals and reports – Steel MFGGranted patent certificateOur office/ lab space in Ghatkesar just before the pandemicRevenue from sales (IIoT Solutions only) – Pre-pandemicMarketing brochure 1 – Online promotionMarketing brochure 2 – Online promotion
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