WoTS parrot takes flight: Dekimo about the development of the gadget

The WoTS trade fair gadget will spread its wings in September. Two years later than planned, due to corona, but that shouldn't spoil the fun. From September 27 to 30 you can admire the gadget with your own eyes at the Jaarbeurs Utrecht. This edition has chosen a parrot that can record and distort voices. The particularly colorful design immediately attracts attention. But who is actually behind the design of this gadget and how did its development start? The team behind the WoTS parrot is discussed in an interview series. Project leader Giuseppe Albano of Dekimo (stand number 9A076) kicks off the event.

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Albano and his team are at the basis of the gadget. Before the now iconic bird became a trade fair gadget, an election took place within the WoTS steering committee. “Our CEO, Johan Van Eemeren, is part of this steering group of the trade fair. He is one of the industry representatives. He was asked if Dekimo wanted to develop the gadget this time,” says Albano.

Dekimo was certainly interested in this and said 'yes' wholeheartedly. “We held a brainstorming session with a number of project leaders in Leuven. That's where the idea of recording voices and displaying them in distorted form emerged. I don't know if we did it then parrot mentioned, but I think the parallel with the Efteling parrot was already made anyway. Then Dirk Stans from Eurocircuits came up with the idea of turning it into a colorful PCB. A team was then set up within Dekimo to ensure that the gadget was delivered. I am the project leader of this team,” Albano explains.

Specific vision
During the design phase we collaborated with, among others, Eurocircuits and Saar Drimer. “This artist has thought about, among other things, the color combinations and the specific design of the bird. As a graphic designer, he has a very specific vision that we developed in consultation. The imaginative framework was devised by Drimer,” says the project leader.

At the beginning of the project it took some time to find the right method. “Drimer worked with his own CAD program before he was recruited by Eurocircuits,” says Albano. “However, that software was structured differently than our CAD system. The layout used did not match ours and that was sometimes difficult. We then jointly decided that we were going to take care of the layout. Drimer gave us input and drawings that we then converted into a PCB model in our package. The collaboration was very pleasant.”

Outline fitting
By keeping in touch, the collaboration with the artist was virtually problem-free. “We have set up weekly meetings with Drimer so that we can meet his design wishes and requirements. It took a lot of adjusting and measuring to get the outline to fit. For example, three different layers were used soldermaskso you can play with the colors. The copper used gets a different color tone because it mask is over it. We also use plexiglass on which we have to glue a battery. It is a very precise process. We ended up making a PCB and a proof of concept carried out to see whether the realization of this gadget is feasible. The PCB must not exceed limits, so various safety tests have been set up. The latest test report shows that the gadget meets all safety requirements.” 

When designing the gadget a number of things were important. “All components had to come from sponsors and you had to take that into account in the design,” says Albano. “The choice of CPU was also important, because you have to be able to keep all the promises. The final design must actually be able to record and distort voices. We also did not rush into the choice of an RFID antenna and chip. The batteries were sponsored and we purchased the used speakers at purchase price. Top Electronics provided the USB connectors.”

Sliced cake
Albano looks back with satisfaction on the development of the trade fair gadget. Collaboration and communication with various parties went smoothly. It is therefore a piece of cake for Dekimo: “This way of working is not new to us. The way we approach this project is not much different from our usual working method. We also work with schedules in regular projects and have a lot of consultation with the customer. A lot of testing also takes place and we frequently spar with clients. This was actually a daily occurrence for us.”

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Name
Giuseppe Albano
Organization
Dekimo in Leuven
Parrot project function
Project leader WoTS Parrot
Job description
Electronic Development Engineer