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Twiz

Tiny Wireless IMUs - 100% open & autonomous 9DoF motion sensor using BLE to control anything from your [objects] motion !

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Let's give life to objects !

We looked for tiny, autonomous, easy to use, and 9 Degrees of Freedom IMU, but none of the available wireless motion sensors were affordable enough to really unlock creativity, so we built one.

In a few simple points, here are the specs:
- 9 DoF with on-board sensor fusion (more explanation below)
- Easy to connect with BLE: good for computer + smartphone + tablet connection possible (lower power than WiFi)
- Compact & autonomous: Embeds a CR2032 battery holder (available in any corner shops, gas stations…)
- Size of a coin cell battery!

Here is an arty example by one of our early adopters:
https://vimeo.com/143536986

Follow us for the latest newz:
http://twitter.com/Twiz_io

HOW TO USE IT ?

Twiz modules are the most universal tools for wearable technologies, applications are simply endless but here are a few examples :

  • Media control: modulate sound effects or control a light show from performers’ motion
  • Scientific studies: analyse a building/bridge vibrations, animal activities…
  • 2/3D Software: motion capture to animate 3D model of object, human or virtual creature
  • Games: control your favorite doom-like from your hand, or breakout
  • Anything that a beacon or activity tracker does
  • Home automation: control your room's light volume by spinning your candle:


HARDWARE

MPU9150, 9 axis IMU motion sensor:

3D accelerometer for linear accelerations, 3D gyroscope for rotational accelerations, 3D magnetometer for orientation reference

nRF51822, processor + connectivity:

32 bit ARM processor with low consumption optimization (Cortex-M0), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy AKA Bluetooth smart/4.0)

Physical characteristics :

2.4 cm x 2.4 cm (< 1 inch), 1.1cm thick (< ½ inch), 4.6g (~7.6g w/ battery)

It started with usual dev boards such as teensy, IMU and radio modules:

...but we shrunk it:


SOFTWARE

  • Madwick fusion: send Euler angles or Quaternions
  • ifttt recipes with our python/kivy interface
  • experimentation using swift, noble
  • open source: software / firmware / hardware (schematics, gerbers, BOM, etc.)

Software architecture:

  • 1 × nRF51822 ARM Cortex-M0 + BLE from Nordic Semi.
  • 1 × MPU-9150 9DoF in 1 chip (accelerometer + gyroscope + magnetometer) by Invensense

View all 8 project logs

  • 1
    Step 1

    In the 2 batch, we got 20 faulty CPUs, we tried the X-ray of a Paris hackerspace mate who works in a hospital:

    ...it didn't help much but my heatgun became my best friend:

    Berfore changing it a few tests were performed:


    Made in BlackLoop (Paris Hackerspace).

  • 2
    Step 2

    The microcontroller was not arduino compatible at the time this project started. The 1st tests were made with a $10 dev boards and a $10 JTAG programmer, using open source tools only:

    https://github.com/honnet/twi


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Discussions

Stan wrote 03/09/2016 at 19:58 point

Can you send some command to your board and execute it by the CPU? e.g. changing state of some output pins? Like the LED on the video?

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Drix wrote 03/10/2016 at 10:32 point

Not yet but very soon :)

=> we're doing tests for an improved version: http://remora.tk

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Stan wrote 05/25/2016 at 22:48 point

that page is blank :(

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alpha_ninja wrote 12/07/2015 at 00:25 point

[verified: no design files missing]

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alpha_ninja wrote 12/02/2015 at 00:47 point

This is your one-week reminder to upload design documents: https://hackaday.io/project/7813-the-square-inch-project/log/28566-design-deadline

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Drix wrote 12/03/2015 at 06:32 point

Done, thanks for the reminder ;)

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alpha_ninja wrote 12/03/2015 at 14:18 point

Great, thank you :)

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zakqwy wrote 11/09/2015 at 15:24 point

Is it possible to do the sensor fusion on board in the ARM, rather than on the bluetooth-connected computing device? Or is that already happening and I just missed it? :-)

  Are you sure? yes | no

Drix wrote 11/09/2015 at 17:31 point

It's happening on board ;)
See the function madgwick_quaternion_update():

https://github.com/TangibleDisplay/twiz-fw/blob/master/src/fusion.c#L23

(BLE is actually too slow to send enough sensor data to allow a reliable fusion outside)

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zakqwy wrote 11/09/2015 at 17:36 point

Awesome, thanks for the link! I remember investigating Madgwick's fusion implementation a few years ago--neat to see it running on an M0. Well done!

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glenk918 wrote 10/18/2015 at 19:40 point

I see you have two programming pins on the header of your PCB. Can you tell me how you program the board once you have it assembled? Thanks!

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Drix wrote 10/18/2015 at 19:55 point

Sure, for the hardware I use a JLINK probe, see in this archive:

https://github.com/honnet/twi#what

...and for the software I use a makefile given here:

https://github.com/TangibleDisplay/twiz

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Carlos wrote 10/07/2015 at 02:40 point

Impresionante!!

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Drix wrote 10/18/2015 at 19:52 point

Gracias ;)

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