Blog

MonBaby at BabyShow NYC 2018

Posted on May 23, 2018 | Comments Off on MonBaby at BabyShow NYC 2018

MonBaby presented a new camera prototype and demo’ed MonBaby products.

A prototype for the complete baby monitoring solution – MonBaby3.0

Posted on Feb 14, 2018 | Comments Off on A prototype for the complete baby monitoring solution – MonBaby3.0

We are excited to try a fresh from the mill prototype for the complete baby monitoring solution including audio, video and movement monitors combined into one stream of data. Please check out the video below:

Here is the graphical design for the MonBaby 3.0 enclosure:

Keep your eye peeled for more updates!

Using autocorrelation model for movement detection

Posted on Feb 14, 2018 | Comments Off on Using autocorrelation model for movement detection

We have noticed markable improvements in move detection in accelerometer signal when we tested autocorrelation model. It’s similar to autoregressive (AR) model, but in this article we call this model autocorrelation.

The autocorrelation is defined as:

Where N is the total window size, N win is the AR window size, i is the AR shift, and Ncor is the number of steps.

In tests we have noticed that autocorrelation works a lot better than other methods, including FFT., though it requires significant calibration and tuning. See the graphs with different move states below.

The final plot depicted below is the result of running movement detection using autocorrelation on live production data collected from one of our customers baby,

The three colored axis show row accelerometer signal and the dotted line shows detected movement in moves per minute. The bottom graph shows state enumeration with different movement classification states detected. A thing to note that no-move detection is corresponds to flag=-2, which is an alarming condition to alert parents. In the sample below, the alarm have not been detected.

The MonBaby in Forbes!

Posted on Oct 16, 2017 | Comments Off on The MonBaby in Forbes!

https://www.forbes.com/sites/larrymyler/2017/10/16/b2b-strategies-can-help-b2c-companies-expand-sales/#2e8b112a19ba

The article in Entrepreneur magazine about MonBaby

Posted on Oct 6, 2017 | Comments Off on The article in Entrepreneur magazine about MonBaby

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/302205#

Improving classifier

Posted on Oct 3, 2017 | Comments Off on Improving classifier

Today I tried a simple improvement to classifier. I took a previous algorithm and enhanced the classifier categorization logic.  Previously I’ve required that the model leading coefficient (c[0]) should be more than noise threshold for every data point. This was my “goodness of fit” criteria. If the coefficient was too small for any of the sample points, the classifier would produce “no movement signal” output. This have lead to a very unstable output oscillating between “signal” and “no signal”.

Instead I changed the criteria to require that within analyzed interval majority of points should have coefficient above noise threshold. Then the whole interval is marked as “movement signal” and the output will be an averaged values.

Here is the code in python for aggregating classifier output:

outSig = [freqNA] * (len(freqEstimate)+Nlen)
# do one more pass to determine if range has majority of records with the signal or majority without signal
for ii in range(len(freqEstimate)):
freqCnt, freqVal = 0, -1.0
for jj in range(Nlen):
# if frequency estimate is more than zero, that means classifier decided that the signal is good
if ii+jj > len(freqEstimate) – 1: break
#print(‘freqEstimate:{}’.format(freqEstimate[ii+jj]))
if freqEstimate[ii+jj] and freqEstimate[ii+jj] > 0:
freqCnt += 1
freqVal += freqEstimate[ii+jj]
if freqCnt > Nlen/2+1:
freqVal /= freqCnt
outSig[ii+Nlen] = freqVal

Here are the results of the new classifier that is based on a function of model coefficients f(c0,c1,c2).

Compare that to a previous classifier output:

As you can see the output signal (in black) is a lot more stable.

For comparison, I’m also showing the output of the modified classifier that is based on NMSE, rather than coefficients:

Here is the output from another bigger data sample with classifier based on coefficients:

and same sample and NMSE classifier:

One can conclude that this “smoothing” aggregation technique works a lot better.

Inc magazine featured MonBaby product

Posted on Sep 2, 2017 | Comments Off on Inc magazine featured MonBaby product

Inc magazine: How Baby Safety Technology is Outgrowing Its Infancy

https://www.inc.com/molly-reynolds/how-baby-safety-technology-is-outgrowing-its-infan.html

Few moments of fame on CBS

Posted on Jul 25, 2017 | Comments Off on Few moments of fame on CBS

CBS had a segment about CE Week in NYC and also included our product, MonBaby.

See us at 1:04 mark

http://www.wdtv.com/content/news/Consumer-Electronics-Week-had-a-gadget-for-everyone–435262293.html

CEWeekMonBaby

Launching the MonZzz – shockingly smart snoring air wearable

Posted on Jul 15, 2017 | Comments Off on Launching the MonZzz – shockingly smart snoring air wearable

We are  starting a new product campaign on Indiegogo for the MonZzz – shockingly smart snoring aid wearable. It saves your relationships from snoring. Above is a video link, check it out, it’s pretty funny!

We also start a thunderclap.it campaign. It’s a free way to support the start of the campaign. In two weeks, thunderclap will simultaneosly send facebook and twitter messages. But for this we need to collect 250 votes. Please go here https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/59280-say-bye-to-snoring and click on facebook and twitter support buttons.

Mondevices @ CE week NYC 2017

Posted on Jul 15, 2017 | Comments Off on Mondevices @ CE week NYC 2017

Mondevices has exhibited at CE week in New York city. It was even more successful than last year, with more exhibitors, more visitors and more interest. We also got filmed by CBS, see below.

Here are some highlights in pictures:

CBS is filming our booth

Fox and Friends segment about the MonBaby

Posted on Jun 17, 2017 | Comments Off on Fox and Friends segment about the MonBaby

http://video.foxnews.com/v/5475031826001/?playlist_id=930909787001

NY Baby Show – review 1

Posted on May 25, 2017 | Comments Off on NY Baby Show – review 1

Blog: http://www.usjapanfam.com/blog/best-baby-products-from-the-2017-new-york-baby-show

Mondevices went to NY baby show

Posted on May 25, 2017 | Comments Off on Mondevices went to NY baby show

Mondevices team went to NYC baby show, the biggest baby show in US. We were also picked for Fox and Friends baby product showcase. We got other media coverage, links to the videos will follow shortly.

Measurements of BLE signal indoors

Posted on Jun 21, 2016 | Comments Off on Measurements of BLE signal indoors

Measurements of BLE signal strength (RSSI) dependency on the range indoors

Introduction

There is not much results of Bluetooth Low Energy range measurements to be found on the web. The primary reason is that it’s hard to control for environment, wall and floor materials. That being said, the numerous use cases for Bluetooth LE, from now on BLE, exactly in that type of environment, indoors. We, at Mondevices, decided to fill that gap.

Description of Setup

We took various BLE devices that transmit packets about 10 times per second and varied antenna designs. Most of PCBs were based on TI chip CC254x family. We have also included a combination of CC2541 with a power amplifier CC2590 and also used Texas instrument RF Studio with a mounted antenna. Below is a detailed description of the devices used.

We have tried to find the best performing devices that could operate at furthers distances from the office and keep steady connection. We have found that TI RF Dev Kit and CC2590 booster are consistently perform better than other devices. TI Dev Kit has a large wave-length antenna and CC2590 boosts power transmission to 10 dbm, which is 4 times more than current chip antenna at 4 dbm setting or 8-9 times better than CC2541 0 dbm setting.

The photo of BLE range test setup describes positioning of all the test devices.

We tried all different combinations of antenna while trying to stay as close to same technology stack of TI CC254x family.

The close up of PCB with 1/4 wire antenna, CC2590 combo with MIFA and wire antenna.

Measurements

We have conducted measurement of RSSI strength of advertising packets of all 13 devices using TI Smart RF packet sniffer. We stored the results and parsed them with our custom parser script written in python. The results are attached as plots and tables.

Results

We did several measurements starting within in the same room in the office confines, then outside in the most RF challenging area of the kitchen and outside in the long corridor. The results of RSSI strength measurements of advertising packets are shown below. To avoid clatter on graphs we only display top three and top bottom plots. The tables shows stats for all

the devices. The kitchen area is very typical to every office and home, with metal surfaces of refrigerator, fax and printer machines and surrounding offices with BLE speakers, wearables and printers. Metal surfaces create destructive interference, where BLE signal interfere with itself. Other electronic devices create electromagnetic RF interferences. We counted around 200 BLE devices sending advertisement packets.

In the same room

In the office, same room where we placed all the devices, we can detect all the signals. This is an expected and obvious result. What is interesting that the biggest RSSI values we get from TI Dev Kit, CC2590 booster combo and, most surprising, just a simple vertical 1/4 wave length antenna positioned perpendicular to the PCB plane

The table below shows the stats for all the devices, not just top and bottom three. As one can see devices with power booster, CC2590, shows consistently on top.

As one can see the strongest signals are from CC2590 combo with and without WIRE antenna, and from CC2540 with WIRE antenna. The percentage of FCS errors that demonstrate the data loss is also the least in CC2590+CC2541 combo and in CC2540 with the WIRE antenna.

In the RF dead zone – the kitchen

The kitchen is one of the most challenging from RF interference perspective environments. Here  only a few devices survived.

The table below shows the stats for all the devices in the kitchen.

Again in the kitchen are the strongest signal and lowest errors are in CC2590 combos and in WIRE antenna.

When we tried to walk beyond the kitchen table we only observed CC2590 combo surviving the distance and kitchen interference with high rate of data errors.

In the long corridor

We also did measurements in the corridor far away from the kitchen we got slightly better results.

Not surprisingly the strongest signals and lowest FCS errors are from CC2590 combo with and without WIRE antenna, and from CC2540 with WIRE antenna.

Walking towards the advertising devices

The last test in this document we have walked from the area past the kitchen towards the advertising devices. Below is the graph that shows graphs and tables with RSSI values.

Just like in previous experiments, we can see that the strongest signals and lowest data errors levels are in CC2590 combos.

Conclusions

We have conducted experiments indoors using different antenna configurations and designs on CC254x IoT SoC technology.

We have consistently observed that the strongest signals that survived both RF interference and distance are

• CC2590+CC2541 combo
• WIRE antenna

Protected: The Mondevices Inc. Teaser

Posted on Mar 18, 2016 | Comments Off on Protected: The Mondevices Inc. Teaser

A blog about the MonBaby

Posted on Nov 5, 2015 | Comments Off on A blog about the MonBaby

Karen Lightman, Executive Director of MIG wrote a blog about the MonBaby technology-showcase at MIG Congress.

Here is a picture of Eugene, our COO with Karen

MonBaby is a finalist at MEMS Technology Showcase – MIG 2015 Congress

Posted on Nov 5, 2015 | Comments Off on MonBaby is a finalist at MEMS Technology Showcase – MIG 2015 Congress

Mondevices went to MEMS Industry Group as a Technology Showcase finalist! The results will be announced in a few days, we are holding our fingers crossed.

We got a bunch of references in press for that:

Memscongress

Reuters

Marketwatch

Here is a snippet:

“MEMS Industry Group (MIG)’s annual MEMS & Sensors Technology Showcase atMEMS Executive Congress® US 2015 (November 4-6, 2015 in Napa, CA) highlights some of the newest and most compelling MEMS/sensors-based applications and technologies on the market. MIG today announced the shortlist of finalists who will compete for the title of winner at this year’s event.

MonBaby Movement and Rollover Monitor

Anxious parents can sleep more soundly now that MonBaby® is on the scene. An award-winning baby monitor that snaps like a button onto any article of a child’s clothing, MonBaby gives new parents peace of mind and helps them to sleep better knowing that they will receive an audible alarm on their smartphone if the baby rolls onto his or her stomach during sleep or stops movements.”

Mondevices at ABC Kids Expo – 2015

Posted on Oct 17, 2015 | Comments Off on Mondevices at ABC Kids Expo – 2015

Mondevices demoed the MonBaby Smart Button monitor at the 2015 ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas! Our team was on the ground at booth #2236 now through October 21.

ABC Kids is one of the nation’s largest expos for baby and children’s products. We’re excited to connect with journalists and retailers, and also to see some of the other wonderful new additions to the children’s products industry.

Check out the expo twitter updates: https://twitter.com/ABCKidsEXPO

What is the best technology solution for mobile Bluetooth(Smart)-WiFi bridge

Posted on Jul 9, 2015 | Comments Off on What is the best technology solution for mobile Bluetooth(Smart)-WiFi bridge

Here is a comprehensive list of hardware available solutions:

BLE PAN
BeagleBone + WiFi-BLE: Page on boardzoo.com $49.99, requires a plastic enclosure, for comparison: BeagleBoard $55 Texas Instruments BeagleBone with SensorTag

Bluetooth mesh network
Internet of Things $49
Zuli Smartplug $55

BLE-WiFi bridge
What’s BluFi? The Bluetooth-to-WiFi Sensor – BluVision $89

WiFi BLE SoC
WL1271-TIWI-BLE | Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 (no longer supported by TI, still supported by LSR)
802.11 b/g/n WLAN Module $22.50

TI WiFi BLE combos:
WiLink Combo Solutions – Overview – TI.com
WiLink $39.72
CC3000($34.95) + CC2650

mBeacon: there is no price or any indication that actually an existing product, looks like 3D rendering
Beacon Hub – Bluetooth Low Energy Beacon to Wi-Fi Gateway Solution

TI 3200 launchpad: SimpleLink Wi-Fi CC3200 LaunchPad $30 (SimpleLink Wi-Fi Starter software)

McGateway
McThings: Tiny Wireless Bluetooth Sensors and Controlers $99
mcGateway – (Pre-order Only) – mcThings $80

Waspmote:
Bluetooth Low Energy to Connect Sensors with Smartphones and Tablets
Waspmote Starter Kit | M2M Connectivity $330 AUD (=$260)

CB-OLS BLE WLAN radio
cB OWL355 Multi-radio module
PRESS RELEASE: connectBlue® Announces Multiradio Module for Internet of Things

Monbaby on Telemundo

Posted on Jul 9, 2015 | Comments Off on Monbaby on Telemundo

http://www.telemundo.com/shows/un-nuevo-dia/videos/un-nuevo-dia/extras/raul-garcia-y-adamari-lopez-te-traen-tecnologia-para-monitorear-los-bebes-video-914736