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Low-Power Design & Smart Power Management

We optimize hardware & software, implement efficient wireless (BLE, ZigBee, Matter, UWB), analyze power usage, extend battery life (charging, load, PMICs), and develop energy harvesting solutions
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qorvo logo
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xtrava logo
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fused logo
Vapeix logo
silvair logo
qorvo logo
sumup logo
vaikai logo
fideltronik logo
xtrava logo
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Optimizing for Longevity: Our In-Depth Approach to Low-Power Design

Achieving ultra-low power consumption in modern devices is a complex challenge that demands more than just superficial adjustments. Our success is built on a holistic methodology and profound expertise across various domains.

We delve deep into both hardware and software to meticulously minimize power draw at every stage, ensuring your devices operate longer and more reliably.

Core Strategies for Minimizing Power Draw

Hardware Selection & Optimization

The foundation of low-power design lies in component choice. We go beyond simply selecting parts labeled "low-power." We meticulously evaluate datasheets and real-world performance, consciously utilizing advanced energy-saving features like deep sleep modes, clock gating, and voltage scaling inherent in microcontrollers, sensors, and peripherals. Our hardware designs are intentionally crafted to leverage these features from the outset.

Intelligent Wireless Communication

Wireless transmission is often a major power consumer. Simply implementing a protocol like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), ZigBee, Matter, or Ultra-Wideband (UWB) isn't enough. We possess an in-depth understanding of the nuances of these radio technologies – connection intervals, transmission power, data packet optimization, and sleep cycle coordination. We know precisely how to configure and utilize these protocols to dramatically reduce the average energy consumption required for communication, without compromising the necessary functionality or responsiveness of your device.

Detailed Power Profiling

Assumptions about power consumption are often misleading. We conduct rigorous, detailed measurements and analysis of the device's current draw across a wide spectrum of real-world use cases and operational states (e.g., active processing, idle, deep sleep, sensor reading, data transmission). We examine every critical aspect, from stable voltage levels to transient current spikes during wake-up or transmission, and the overall energy footprint in different modes. This empirical data allows us to pinpoint specific areas for optimization.

Prioritizing Battery Health

A device's runtime is intrinsically linked to the health and treatment of its power source. We possess a thorough understanding of battery and accumulator chemistry and behavior. Our system designs prioritize optimal conditions for the power source; for instance, engineering loads that prefer steady, low current draw over sharp, high-current spikes, which can degrade battery health over time. This focus directly translates into extending the usable lifespan of the battery cells, enhancing overall product longevity.

Balancing Competing Needs

Low-power design is rarely about minimizing energy use in isolation. There's an inherent tension between minimal energy consumption, the required processing power for tasks, overall system reliability, and the device's responsiveness to user interactions or events. We work closely with you to understand these project-specific trade-offs and find the optimal equilibrium, precisely tailoring system parameters (like CPU frequency, sleep durations, sensor polling rates) to meet your specific functional needs and performance targets.

Advanced Energy Management Capabilities

Our expertise extends into specialized areas crucial for state-of-the-art energy management:

PMIC Implementation

Power Management Integrated Circuits (PMICs) offer sophisticated control over power rails, charging, and system power states. We leverage our extensive knowledge and practical, hands-on experience in selecting, implementing, and optimizing these dedicated ICs to achieve fine-grained power control and maximize efficiency beyond what's possible with discrete components alone.

AI on Low-Power Devices

Running artificial intelligence or machine learning algorithms typically requires significant computational power, posing a challenge for battery-operated devices. We demonstrate that advanced AI computations are feasible even within highly constrained energy budgets. Our approach involves deep optimization of algorithms, model pruning, and leveraging hardware acceleration where possible, ensuring minimal power consumption during inference (as exemplified in our Xtrava case study).

Energy Harvesting Solutions

For applications where battery replacement or recharging is impractical or undesirable, we design and implement solutions that utilize ambient energy harvesting. This involves capturing energy from sources readily available in the environment, such as light (photovoltaics), motion (piezoelectric/kinetic), or heat (thermoelectric generators). We have practical experience with ultra-low-power technologies like EnOcean, enabling the creation of innovative, truly battery-free products like powerless light switches.

Smart Battery Monitoring

Effective energy management involves knowing not just the battery's current charge level, but also its health status. We integrate data from communication systems (like network connection strength or status, which impacts transmission power) with real-time information about the battery's state-of-charge (SoC) and state-of-health (SoH), particularly crucial for rechargeable devices. This holistic view enables more accurate remaining runtime predictions and more efficient energy management strategies throughout the product's entire lifecycle.

Strategic Partnership

needCode is an official business partner of Qorvo, bringing over 5 years of proven expertise and trusted service to the technology sector.
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Engineering the Performance vs. Efficiency Balance

Creating an effective low-power system is a delicate balancing act. Simply striving for the lowest possible power consumption can sometimes compromise the user experience or even the device's fundamental reliability.

Increasing processing speed or enabling frequent wireless activity naturally consumes more power, while overly aggressive power-saving measures might lead to noticeable lag or instability.
Our tailored approach involves:
  1. Deep Use-Case Analysis: We start by thoroughly understanding your specific application, performance benchmarks, and responsiveness requirements. A medical monitoring device has different constraints than a smart home sensor.
  2. Avoiding One-Size-Fits-All: We recognize that generic power-saving profiles rarely yield optimal results. Every product has unique demands.
  3. Active System Tuning: We actively fine-tune the system by making deliberate adjustments across multiple layers:

    • Software & Algorithms: Optimizing code execution paths, task scheduling, and data processing routines.
    • Operating System: Configuring kernel-level power management features, sleep states, and peripheral power control.
    • Component Selection: Choosing parts that offer the best performance-per-watt ratio for the required tasks.
    • Communication Protocols: Fine-tuning timings, data payloads, and connection parameters for wireless interfaces.

  4. Delivering Real-World Optimality: By meticulously managing this interplay between performance and efficiency, we ensure your device reliably meets its essential performance and responsiveness targets without unnecessarily shortening battery life. The outcome is a tailored, robust, and efficient solution engineered for optimal real-world operation and a positive end-user experience.

Bring Your BLE Vision to Life

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Our Comprehensive Services

We offer a full spectrum of services focused on energy optimization:

Low-Power Design (from Scratch)

Engaging from the concept phase to architect and create entirely new devices where minimal energy consumption is a primary design driver.

Device Energy Audits

Analyzing your existing products through detailed measurements and code/hardware reviews to identify specific areas ("bottlenecks") where energy consumption can be reduced and runtime extended. We provide concrete, actionable improvement proposals.

Smart Power Management Systems

Implementing intelligent, often microcontroller-based, systems dedicated to managing battery charging cycles, monitoring battery health, and optimizing power distribution within the device.

Energy Harvesting Integration

Designing and implementing complete energy harvesting subsystems, from transducer selection and power conversion circuits to integration with the main device application, enabling self-powered or significantly extended-life operation.

Case studies

Remote Control Design

Remote Control Design SDK (BLE, ZigBee)

The primary focus of the project was on the hardware aspect, particularly the creation of a chip that supports both Bluetooth and ZigBee technologies. The key objective was to achieve BLE pairing and button testing functionality for the pilots.

Smart Home Gateway with BLE & ZigBee

Lorem ipsum for Krystian ;)
Streamlining and Enhancing Customer’s Smart Home Gateway
Customizable Remote Control Qorvo

Custom Remote Control for Smart Devices

We developed a custom SDK integrating Qorvo chips with BLE, Zigbee, and Infrared. This solution allows protocol switching and low power usage across various smart devices resulting in improvement of customer experience and market appeal.

Testimonials

“One aspect that truly sets needCode apart is its profound expertise in firmware development. Their proficiency in various programming languages, embedded systems and hardware architecture is truly impressive. When faced with difficult problems, their strong problem-solving skills and analytical mindset shine through, allowing them to overcome obstacles with remarkable ease.”
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Semeh Sarhan
CEO at Xtrava
“I worked with needCode while leading the NWTN-Berlin team in 2018. A big chunk for our FW development has been outsourced to them and they had proven to iterate very quickly, following specs and deliver on time. It was great working with them. I recommend working with needCode’s team on any Embedded SW development.”
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Marco Salvioli Mariani
CTO at NWTN Berlin GmbH
“needCode Team proved to be one of the best engineers I have ever met. The part I like the most about the team is the more difficult an obstacle seems to be, the more motivated they were to find a solution and a way forward.”
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Szymon Słupnik
CTO at Silvair
“needCode is an outstanding partner. Their quick follow-up, scalability, and extensive professional network set them apart. Their expertise in wireless technologies has been valuable, supporting us from low-level drivers to architecture discussions.”
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Tim Allemeersch
Director at Qorvo, Inc.
“needCode did a great job improving the firmware of the Vai Kai connected toys and developing new features, surpassing our expectations multiple times. I would definitely recommend hiring Bartek and needCode for the embedded software projects!”
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Matas Petrikas
CEO & Co-founder
at Vai Kai UG

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Manufacturing

Modern manufacturing machines are typically equipped with IoT sensors that capture performance data. AIoT technology analyzes this sensor data, and based on vibration patterns, the AI predicts the machine's behavior and recommends actions to maintain optimal performance. This approach is highly effective for predictive maintenance, promoting safer working environments, continuous operation, longer equipment lifespan, and less downtime. Additionally, AIoT enhances quality control on production lines.

For example, Sentinel, a monitoring system used in pharmaceutical production by IMA Pharma, employs AI to evaluate sensor data along the production line. The AI detects and improves underperforming components, ensuring efficient machine operation and maintaining high standards in drug manufacturing.

Logistics & supply chain

IoT devices - from fleet vehicles and autonomous warehouse robots to scanners and beacons - generate large amounts of data in this industry. When combined with AI, this data can be leveraged for tracking, analytics, predictive maintenance, autonomous driving, and more, offering greater visibility into logistics operations and enhancing vendor partnerships.

Example: Amazon employs over 750,000 autonomous mobile robots to assist warehouse staff with heavy lifting, delivery, and package handling tasks. Other examples include AI-powered IoT devices such as cameras, RFID sensors, and beacons that help monitor goods' movement and track products within warehouses and during transportation. AI algorithms can also estimate arrival times and forecast delays by analyzing traffic conditions.

Retail

IoT sensors monitor movement and customer flow within a building, while AI algorithms analyze this data to offer insights into traffic patterns and product preferences. This information enhances understanding of customer behavior, helps prevent stockouts, and improves customer analytics to drive sales. Furthermore, AIoT enables retailers to deliver personalized shopping experiences by leveraging geographical data and individual shopping preferences.

For instance, IoT sensors track movement and customer flow, and AI algorithms process this information to reveal insights into traffic patterns and product preferences. This ultimately leads to better customer understanding, stockout prevention, and enhanced sales analytics.

Agriculture

Recent research by Continental reveals that over 27% of surveyed farmers utilize drones for aerial land analysis. These devices capture images of crops as they are and transmit them to a dashboard for further assessment. However, AI can enhance this process even further.

For example, AIoT-powered drones can photograph crops at various growth stages, assess plant health, detect diseases, and recommend optimal harvesting strategies to maximize yield. Additionally, these drones can be employed for targeted crop treatments, irrigation monitoring and management, soil health analysis, and more.

Smart Cities

Smart cities represent another domain where AIoT applications can enhance citizens' well-being, facilitate urban infrastructure planning, and guide future city development. In addition to traffic management, IoT devices equipped with AI can monitor energy consumption patterns, forecast demand fluctuations, and dynamically optimize energy distribution. AI-powered surveillance cameras and sensors can identify suspicious activities, monitor crowd density, and alert authorities to potential security threats in real-time, improving public safety and security.

For example, an AIoT solution has been implemented in Barcelona to manage water and energy sustainably. The city has installed IoT sensors across its water supply system to gather water pressure, flow rate, and quality data. AI algorithms analyze this information to identify leaks and optimize water usage. Similarly, smart grids have been introduced to leverage AI to predict demand and distribute energy efficiently, minimizing waste and emissions. As a result, these initiatives have enabled the city to reduce water waste by 25%, increase renewable energy usage by 17%, and lower greenhouse gas emissions by 19%.

Healthcare

Integrating AI and IoT in healthcare enables hospitals to deliver remote patient care more efficiently while reducing the burden on facilities. Additionally, AI can be used in clinical trials to preprocess data collected from sensors across extensive target and control groups.

For example, intelligent wearable technologies enable doctors to monitor patients remotely. In real-time, sensors collect vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. AI algorithms then analyze this data, assisting doctors in detecting issues early, developing personalized treatment plans, and enhancing patient outcomes.

Smart Homes

The smart home ecosystem encompasses smart thermostats, locks, security cameras, energy management systems, heating, lighting, and entertainment systems. AI algorithms analyze data from these devices to deliver context-specific recommendations tailored to each user. This enables homeowners to use utilities more efficiently, create a personalized living space, and achieve sustainability goals.

For example, LifeSmart offers a comprehensive suite of AI-powered IoT tools for smart homes, connecting new and existing intelligent appliances and allowing customers to manage them via their smartphones. Additionally, they provide an AI builder framework for deploying AI on smart devices, edge gateways, and the cloud, enabling AI algorithms to process data and user behavior autonomously.

Maintenance (Post-Release Support)

When your product is successfully launched and available on the market we provide ongoing support and maintenance services to ensure your product remains competitive and reliable. This includes prompt resolution of any reported issues through bug fixes and updates.

We continuously enhance product features based on user feedback and market insights, optimizing performance and user experience.

Our team monitors product performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and proactively addresses potential issues. This phase aims to sustain product competitiveness, ensure customer satisfaction, and support long-term success in the market.

Commercialization (From MVP to Product

Our software team focuses on completing the full product feature range, enhancing the user interface and experience, and handling all corner cases. We prepare product software across the whole lifecycle by providing all necessary procedures, such as manufacturing support and firmware upgrade.

We also finalize the product's hardware design to ensure robustness, scalability and cost-effectiveness.

This includes rigorous testing procedures to validate product performance, reliability, and security. We manage all necessary certifications and regulatory compliance requirements to ensure the product meets industry standards and legal obligations.

By the end of this phase, your product is fully prepared for mass production and commercial deployment, with all documentation and certifications in place.

Prototyping (From POC to MVP)

Our development team focuses on implementing core product features and use cases to create a functional Minimum Viable Product (MVP). We advance to refining the hardware design, moving from initial concepts to detailed PCB design allowing us to assemble first prototypes. Updated documentation from the Design phase ensures alignment with current project status. A basic test framework is established to conduct preliminary validation tests.

This prepares the product for real-world demonstrations to stakeholders, customers, and potential investors.

This phase is critical for validating market readiness and functionality before proceeding to full-scale production.

Design (From Idea to POC)

We meticulously select the optimal technology stack and hardware components based on your smart product idea with detailed use cases and feature requirements (Market Requirements Document / Business Requirements Document). Our team conducts thorough assessments of costs, performance metrics, power consumption, and resource requirements.

Deliverables include a comprehensive Product Requirements Document (PRD), detailed Software Architecture plans, an Initial Test Plan outlining validation strategies, Regulatory Compliance Analysis to ensure adherence to relevant standards, and a Proof of Concept (POC) prototype implemented on breakout boards.

This phase aims to validate the technical feasibility of your concept and establish a solid foundation for further development.

If you lack a validated idea and MRD/BRD, consider utilizing our IoT Strategic Roadmap service to gain insights into target markets, user needs, and desired functionality. Having a structured plan in the form of an IoT Strategic Roadmap before development begins is crucial to mitigate complications in subsequent product development phases.