Electronics Device Manufacturer Recommendations?

[business1556]

Hello All,

I run a small tech start up (mobile app / B2B platform) and I am looking to get an electronic device created but frankly dont know who I should go to or any sort of cost benchmarks.

The device I need creating is a 'people counter' for the entrances of doorway (to measure footfall). I need to know who is entering and exiting and for that device to send that data back to our servers in 'realtime' (or every 5 mins or so). I would also like to build iBeacon technology into the device. So some sort of dual beam bi-directional IR or laser based tech with a replaceable lithium battery, easily stuck onto a wall by a venue owner.

Its a bit more complex than that but I will spare you the boring detail. Basically I need someone who can understand what it is I require, design the device from both a functional and aesthetic point of view and then put it into manufacture.

The reason I am looking to get this manufactured rather than use an off the shelf option (of which there are many), is that off the shelf options start at about £200 per unit (most averaging £400 per unit) and also offer additional software services that I don't need. They're also technically competitors so I don't want the enemy's tech inside our camp - if you know what I mean. I need to buy 500 units initially with a view to extend to 5/10k+ as we grow. As such, I am looking for a low design/development cost with a unit price thereafter as low as possible (under £10 per unit would be great). It quickly becomes feasible to get this manufactured from a cost perspective given the numbers we require.

So my question's are;

1. Can anyone recommend a good firm to do this for me?
2. Is using a chinese / foreign manufacturer a good idea / sure fire way to save money or is it risking quality?
3. What pitfalls should I look to avoid / what suggestions do you have for a total novice in this space?
4. How much do you think this type of work should cost? I have no benchmark currently.

Help with all or one of those questions or any other wisdom on this matter that you care to share with be HUGELY appreciated!

Thanks everyone!

Best,

Max

 

[PipeTen-Carl]

Hi Max,

Check out this guys videos and especially forums, you're likely to find an international crown of IEEE types http://www.eevblog.com/ (I don't know anyone this side of the pond / it is a good resource anyway).

It sounds likely you'd be best having someone local / European who's gone through this before for the design. They'll be able to give you massive pointers when dealing in electronics and production in Asia and ensure you testing conforms to the UK.

I'm not sure about your pricing / expectations though, creating anything electronic usually costs a lot more than you'd imagine unless you DIY or have massive runs. If you look at the cost of raspberryPi or Arduino with network stacks, albeit a generic and all singing device rather than use specific, this will give you a better idea.

/2p

 

[Scoped Solutions]

Hi Max,

We have experience in developing embedded systems and are currently doing a project which has some parallels with what I think you are trying to achieve. In essence we are using NFC tags to clock movements of people in and out of a building.

It's not quite what you want to do, as it requires the user to actively scan their phone across an NFC tag. I guess you want to count them in and out as passively as possible without requiring the user to do anything?

We could develop something for you I'm sure but we probably need to know more of the 'boring detail'. If you are talking about a device that is kept on the person and you want to detect proximity of this device to another "counter" in an entrance way there are many options (IR, RF etc) but the choice will depend on size restrictions of the device, battery life and so on - and also whether it is a controlled environment - are the people being counted "employees" or "general public"?

It sounds like an interesting project - I wouldn't look at China until you were at a stage of requiring 10's of 1000's off to get the economies of scale. As for cost, there really is no "ball park", a project could be huge, but simple, or tiny, but complex.

If you give me a call I'd be happy to discuss with you - 01282 270015, ask for Tom.