IOMICO developed an EMG tracker device for visualizing muscle measurements on smartphones, aiming to help users adjust their training process during physical exercises.

DESCRIPTION

The EMG tracker is a small device that touches the human skin to measure muscle strength and transmit measurement results to the user's smartphone. A user/trainer sees this result in real-time and adjusts the angle, speed of movement, etc., to ensure the process yields maximal effect. The idea is to provide data that enables users to optimize their exercise routine.

SOLUTION

The IOMICO team was given the following project objectives:

• To design and manufacture the PCB schematic and enclosure for the EMG tracker and power supply.

• To create firmware for Nordic 52840 based on Zephyr OS and install drivers for all components.

• To create a filter for raw data, transform it, and prepare a live chart.

• To create a Flutter user application to display several charts simultaneously.

The main business problem was that the data consisted of two different charts: raw signal and envelope line, which needed to be presented clearly and usefully.

The IOMICO team reviewed current market solutions, tested several devices, and concluded that many things could be improved for better value and user experience. ADCs from different manufacturers were tested, and a solution architecture was designed that would be helpful not only for professional coaches but also for sports amateurs. The device became very simple to use, and the mobile app was user-friendly.

Regarding technical results, components were found that allowed for cheaper manufacturing with good quality data exchange. This enabled the bring-up of the PCB and investigation of EMG measurement features. Standard Nordic libraries were used to implement features such as Bluetooth pairing, Device Firmware Update (DFU), Sleep mode, and Battery charging. A more complex task was to synchronize several devices' operations using embedded clocks connected to the smartphone over BLE with a single Flutter application.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Each team member played a crucial role:

• Project Manager: Oversaw the development process and coordinated between teams.

• Embedded Engineers: Improved firmware architecture and microcontroller logic.

• Schematic Engineer: Designed the electronic schematics.

• PCB Designer: Handled the printed circuit board design.

• QA Engineer: Conducted extensive testing to ensure software and hardware stability.

• Mechanical Engineer: Contributed to the mechanical design of the device.

• 3D Designer: Created the 3D designs of the device.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

• Technologies: Zephyr OS, Flutter, Nordic.

• Microcontroller: Nordic 52840.

• Implemented Functionalities: Bluetooth pairing, Device Firmware Update (DFU), Sleep mode, Battery charging.

• Challenges Overcome: Synchronization of multiple devices to a single Flutter application via BLE.

• Optimization: Components selected to reduce manufacturing costs while maintaining data quality.

CONCLUSION

The project is designed for scalability, so we use our best practices in code management and documentation. It was deemed reasonable to spend time on technical investigation to have special equipment for emulating EMG signals and noise, ensuring the device provides relevant and valuable data. It's essential to be informed about best practices in Fitness app development to give users a good User Experience.