The full undertaking.
WHAT IT INVOLVES
Hardware design or selection Firmware Connectivity arrangements Platform and backend Applications Manufacturing Certification Deployment and support
WHY IT IS HARDER THAN SOFTWARE ALONE
Hardware changes are slow and expensive, and mistakes ship physically.
WHAT THE STAGES TYPICALLY ARE
Concept and validation Prototype, using development boards Engineering prototype, resembling the product Pilot production Full production
WHAT EACH STAGE EXISTS TO PROVE
- Concept: that the problem is real
- Prototype: that it can work technically
- Engineering prototype: that it works in the intended form
- Pilot: that it can be made and deployed
WHAT TO NEVER SKIP
Pilot production.
WHY
Manufacturing problems appear at volume, and discovering them in full production is ruinous.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Longer timelines than software, by a substantial factor.
WHAT TO BUILD FIRST
The simplest thing proving the data changes a decision.
WHAT TO USE FOR THAT
Off-the-shelf hardware, even if unsuited to production.
WHY
Validating the value is more urgent than optimising the device.
