Hello everyone!
We had quite a few things happening this last month that we want to share with you. Apart from the usual hardware updates, we'd also like to share a sneak-peak at the newly improved software interface. But first:
We have IMUs!
+ We'll be at electronica in Munich on November 11th
We’ve received a partial shipment of IMUs, with enough units for pre-production and our initial production batch (All the Kickstarter orders!).
At electronica, we’ll meet with module suppliers to ensure future availability and delivery timelines for the Nordic chips used in our devices, particularly the nRF54LM20 used in the Dock, which is currently facing delays.
If your company is attending the event, or you’re based in or around Munich and would like to see FluxPose in action, feel free to reach out at contact@fluxpose.com. We’d love to catch up with some familiar faces from the tracking world too 😉
We’ll only be there for a day and a half and have a busy schedule, but we’ll see if we can find a time to meet.
Meet DVT!
We’ve completed Design Validation Testing (DVT), the stage where we verify the final hardware design before production. We used top-quality resin prints to check the fine details, fit, and assembly of the plastic enclosures before committing to the final injection molds.
Since all the hardware in the DVT works well (featuring quite a few improvements over the beta hardware), we are now doing our first pre-production run with all the components now "locked in" and manufactured by all the respective manufacturers. In the next few weeks, the bare PCBs will arrive at our PCBA partners for assembly.
With these units, we will build the first batch of Production Validation Testing hardware (PVT-1). We already expect to be using T1 injection-molded parts (the first samples after molding), which we hope to share pictures of in the next update. All 7 molds needed to manufacture the FluxPose devices are now in production, with our molding partner already working on their design and machining. A few additional molds for straps and accessories will follow shortly.
How many are there, and can I have one?
This first PVT round is quite limited at around 100 trackers or ~20 kits. We have just enough units for ourselves to verify everything and to give out to a handful of additional testers, for which we already have a list in mind. We are currently not accepting new requests for receiving pre-production hardware.
So, what are we testing?
The goal of these testing rounds is to validate as much as possible before moving into larger production runs. While we're fairly confident in the new designs, we don't want to rush this phase as missing something important now could be costly in the future.
- Hardware: Verify that the new (and hopefully final!) hardware designs work as expected, and identify any remaining issues before production.
- Assembly: For the PVT-1 kits we plan to use the T1 injection molding samples. This way we can test how everything fits together which will help improve our assembly processes. This is especially important as we move towards assembling much larger quantities.
- Software: Continue improving the software around the new hardware, making adjustments where needed and testing everything together under real-world conditions.
These smaller testing rounds allow us to catch and fix issues before they become much bigger problems during production. It's also a great opportunity to get the hardware into the hands of a few more testers and gather feedback on the improvements we've made so far!
UX/UI redesign
We're working on redoing the entire front-end part of the software. We want to make everything quick and easy to set up, while keeping it powerful enough for even the most complex setups. FluxPose can be used in many different ways, and we know just how different everyone's needs can be.
You'll also be able to choose which character you want on your home screen, or even add your own! We're also working on a light mode and a more vibrant FluxPose color scheme, so you'll have a few options to make the software look the way you like.
Below are some work-in-progress screenshots. We'll share more as we get closer to completion. If you already have questions or feedback, please let us know on the Discord!
HQ updates!
Work on our new production facility is progressing well! Things are coming together nicely, and we expect to have moved into the new space by the time we share our next update.
Our automated calibration room is also taking shape. The first of our precision calibrators is currently being manufactured. Each automated units weighs around 50 kg and is built completely without metal to prevent interference during calibration. All the parts should arrive in a few weeks, ready for assembly just in time for the PVT-1 hardware. The surrounding area is also kept metal-free so we can calibrate each device as accurately and consistently as possible.
Getting calibration right at this scale has been a huge investment. We're also preparing two additional calibration lines, with full automation planned in the near future to help us test and ship devices as quickly as possible. This level of scale and accuracy is only possible thanks to your support on Kickstarter, so thank you again!
(Almost) final case design
Only one more revision, I swear! We're getting very close to the final design of the carrying case, which will be included with every Kit purchase!
We've settled on a fabric that we believe offers great long-term durability, hides scratches and wear well, and just looks really good! The interior inserts are easily removable, in case you ever want to use the case (hah!) for something else.
We've also added dedicated compartments for the cable, along with a nice elastic strap to keep everything in place. The zipper pull is custom-made, and we're really happy with how it looks and feels!
There are still a few small adjustments we want to make for the next revision, but overall, we're very happy with where the design is at.
Together with the carrying case we are still iterating other parts of the packaging. We are investing some time and effort into making sure the packaging feels good, protects all the components and simplifies our logistics.
About THE cable
We've finally settled on the cable design, and we're really happy with how it turned out!
The cable is 1.3m long, supports 3A charging, and is pretty much as premium/nice as a USB 2.X cable can be. It has a thick silicone sleeve that is extremely addictive to touch. We've also added some fun purple accents, which we think look great!
Of course, looks aren't everything! The cable held up very well in our durability tests, and we're confident it'll be a great fit for the final Kit. We've already placed the order, so that's another thing checked off the list!
Dongle progress
The Pro Dongle DVT phase is also already complete, and the first samples of the Steam Frame dongle (maybe even for other headsets?) have arrived!
It's still a bit too early to show them since we'd like to reveal both at the same time. We know some of you might prefer one over the other depending on your setup, so we want to give those of you who have already pledged or placed an order the opportunity to choose. We'll share more details about how to choose your dongle in a future update.
(please don't contact us yet about changing your dongle)
We’re hiring: Neural Networks & Computer Vision
And last but not least, we are looking for people with experience in neural networks and computer vision to join FluxPose, work on some cool projects, and keep developing our tracking technology. If you enjoy turning research into practical, real-time systems, we’d love to hear from you. Send your CV and a brief introduction to contact@fluxpose.com, ideally with examples of projects you’ve worked on.
And that's it for today; see you next month!
"Make it so. Engage!"