AWF

Project Overview

The University School of Physical Education (AWF) conducts advanced biomechanical and physiological research. They required a flawless, low-latency method to synchronize two separate, high-precision medical measurement devices. In their field of study, a discrepancy of even a single millisecond can render an entire dataset invalid.

Client Challenges

The researchers were struggling with inconsistent data. The two medical devices operated on different internal clocks and used different triggering mechanisms. Software-based synchronization attempts introduced unpredictable latency (jitter), leading to unacceptable measurement errors. The client needed a robust, physical hardware solution that could guarantee absolute, microsecond-level synchronization between the independent systems.

Our Solution

• Custom PCB Design: We engineered a dedicated printed circuit board (PCB) from scratch. This custom hardware acts as the master clock and bridge, sitting physically between the two medical devices.
• Deterministic Firmware: We wrote custom, low-level embedded C/C++ firmware (bare-metal) to ensure deterministic execution times. By bypassing standard operating systems, we eliminated the software jitter that plagued their previous setups.
• Signal Conditioning: The board features advanced signal isolation and conditioning to safely translate voltage levels and trigger pulses without introducing electrical noise into the sensitive medical equipment.

Key Features

• Microsecond Accuracy: A hardware-driven master clock that triggers both devices simultaneously, eliminating the previous millisecond-scale measurement errors.
• Galvanic Isolation: Optoisolators and advanced circuit protection to ensure that a fault in one device cannot electrically damage the other, maintaining strict medical-grade safety standards.
• Plug-and-Play Operation: Designed for non-engineers, the module requires no complex software setup from the researchers—just connect the physical cables and power it on.

Results & Impact

• Eliminated Measurement Jitter: Achieved absolute synchronization, completely removing the timing errors that previously invalidated test results.
• Data Reliability: Allowed researchers to confidently publish their findings, knowing the underlying data collection was flawless.
• Operational Efficiency: Saved hundreds of hours previously spent manually aligning timestamp data in post-processing.