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Smart Lock and Personal Charging Point for Your Bike
Setting a new standard for security and efficiency in bike parking within cities and densely populated areas.
Sumura was created at Studio Dos Santos, a design agency focused on developing concepts and bringing products to life. The idea for Sumura came from a request by someone who wanted to test an idea to see if it would be interesting to people and if there would be demand for it in the market.
Where did the idea for Sumura come from? Many people use bikes to get around in the city. When you don’t need your bike for a while, you want to park it somewhere safe, without worrying about it being stolen. For people with electric bikes, security is twice as important, and they also want to charge their bike while it’s parked.
So, what exactly is Sumura? Sumura is a high-tech bike security system. It’s a lock specifically designed to provide high-level security for all types of bikes, from regular to electric.
Since people in cities often don’t have enough space to store their bikes indoors, Sumura is designed to allow bikes to be safely parked and charged outdoors. When you install this system, it provides power to charge your bike. Currently, you can use your own charger. In the future, you will have more options, including the choice to use your own charger or an integrated cable that fits your electric bike, so you don’t need to carry additional chargers.
At the beginning of the project, an investigation was conducted to determine how best to realize the concept. Studio Dos Santos and Thomas from VAE held a brainstorming session to outline the necessary steps to create a working product. Studio Dos Santos produced a 3D drawing to identify the components needed to build Sumura.
Thomas (VAE) then focused on figuring out how these components could be produced according to the desired design. Additionally, they explored whether existing components could be adapted for the project, which would significantly reduce the production costs.
Given that the product’s casing had a specific shape, it was a challenge to create or find the right electronic components that would fit perfectly without compromising functionality or requiring design alterations.
Once all the necessary components were sourced, the construction of the physical prototype began.
During the construction phase, the software was also developed. This task was undertaken by VAE and Astra. Thomas, along with the VAE team, developed and tested the embedded software to ensure all components functioned correctly and communicated seamlessly. Astra designed an application that allows users to manage, monitor, and customize their Sumura.
Through effective collaboration, VAE and Astra successfully created a strong synergy between the hardware and software.
Spectricity specializes in spectral sensing solutions integrated into standard CMOS processes for consumer electronics and mobile devices. Their technology enables detailed spectral data collection via camera systems, applicable in sectors such as health analysis, agricultural monitoring, augmented reality, and food quality control. Through collaborations with companies like Qualcomm, Spectricity aims to integrate spectral sensor technology into smartphones, enhancing color rendering and adding new functionalities.
After the initial conversation, VAE provided a customized proposal tailored to Spectricity’s unique needs. This proposal outlined the approach for transforming the conceptual idea into a practical solution, detailing every step from initial design to final testing.
The first step involved creating detailed designs for the boards and schematics, laying the foundation for the project. VAE worked closely with Spectricity during this phase to ensure all specifications were met. The designs were then meticulously reviewed and approved by Spectricity, ensuring alignment with their vision.
Throughout the build phase, regular meetings were scheduled to maintain open lines of communication. These meetings were crucial for discussing progress, addressing any issues, and implementing necessary corrections. This iterative process ensured that any potential problems were swiftly resolved and that the project stayed on track.
Throughout the build phase, regular meetings were scheduled to maintain open lines of communication. These meetings were crucial for discussing progress, addressing any issues, and implementing necessary corrections. This iterative process ensured that any potential problems were swiftly resolved and that the project stayed on track.
Using the pre-established schematics, documentation, and innovative ideas from Spectricity, VAE developed various devices. By translating both existing designs and new ideas into concrete concepts, VAE successfully realized the desired devices.
Our collaboration with VAE went smoothly. We were looking for a small company because we wanted to focus on speed and quality, and we found that with VAE. Thomas kept us well-informed about how everything would proceed, so we knew what to expect. Everything was executed correctly, and when there were challenges, Thomas and his team kept working until a solution was found. We are very satisfied with the collaboration. As a great extra, VAE also has excellent connections to other small companies, such as those doing firmware development or industrial design. We used this in our project, where the enclosure for the device was built by a company Thomas connected us with.
Thanks to our experience in a wide variety of electronics projects, we have everything we need to turn your idea into a user-friendly and functional final product.