Measuring heavy rain where it falls: the 25square sensor
One capacitive rain sensor per quarter square kilometre. We built hardware, firmware and the data path for the mFUND project 25square.
Blog
What we built, in a few paragraphs. Every post points to the full version on maxclerkwell.tech, Stephan Bökelmann's technical blog.
skAInet Edge-Compute: the core of our monitoring systems is now a product
For ten years we rebuilt the same Linux box with PoE ports for every project. Now it has a name, a version and a product page: skAInet Edge-Compute v1.5.
Deploying hardware like software: our open Zynq pipeline
A REST endpoint on the board, one POST with a bitstream, and the FPGA next to the processor runs the design. This is how we bring up Zynq SoCs.
Getting started with FPGAs on open tools: our training format
From an empty editor to a blinking LED on an iCEstick, with GHDL, Yosys and nextpnr. This is day one of our FPGA training.
Enclosureless cases: when the PCB stack is the enclosure
Three PCBs, one perimeter solder joint, no injection moulding. Our utility model DE202020106111U1 for sealed, EMC-shielded sensor housings.
To China with a Peli case full of electronics: the ATA Carnet in practice
If you take test samples to China, do not ship them. Our routine with the chamber of commerce, Bochum customs and Frankfurt Terminal 2.
Four days in the test chamber: CE, FCC and CCC for a reflow oven monitor
After two and a half years of development we tested the horus monitoring system in Dongguan against three regulatory frameworks. Passed, with a lesson about anodised aluminium.
Two uplinks for 15 people: failover with Linux routing
DSL plus Starlink, a Debian router in between, two default routes with metrics. This is how our office stays online when a provider fails.
Ten years of PowerSense: non-contact power monitoring for railway switches
In 2016 DB Netz called. The result was a PoE sensor that measures voltage without galvanic contact, and our rule 'PoE first'.
PCB design starts with a README
Before we open KiCad we write down what the board should do and let an LLM turn it into a block diagram. Every one of our boards starts this way.
An impedance spectrometer for the river: biofilm monitoring in Montana
For Montana State University we built a portable EIS datalogger and deployed it on the Clark Fork River in September 2024.
OmnAIScope: a USB oscilloscope for the car workshop
One channel, 500 kSa/s, a waterproof aluminium housing, and any number of units synchronised over USB frames. Born in the research project autowerkstatt4null.