Custom Hardware & Software Development Company
The company of Integra Sources was founded in 2013 by two professional developers located in the city of Barnaul, Russia. Inspired by a true interest in the field of IT, the company rose from two freelancers to a full-stack soft- and hardware development agency including more than 25 professionals who suggest their advanced skills and knowledge for long-termed projects with various levels of complexity.
Integra found its professional path specializing in the sphere of IoT and creates both electronics and software solutions. Since we strongly believe that the world network is created to serve humanity the developers can find thousands and thousands of solutions in industrial systems and consumer devices. Our engineering team gained huge experience in IoT development managing such projects as “AWS Solar Manager”, “Home Control System”, “IoT Development System” for an enterprise and others.
Our qualified engineers can see the whole picture of a working system and divide it into subsystems. That’s why we can make PCB layout and develop a custom board from scratch with all the required components and write a workable software in C/C++, Java, Swift, Python, and other languages. Our team adores the process of creating the whole system from its “basement”, step by step, like an architect or a construction worker builds a skyscraper.
Also, the company of Integra predicts a great future for the development of wearable devices. Here we are aimed at making daily used things smaller and smarter for it makes human life more convenient, saves time and even take care of health. This is just about our “Medical Alert Bracelet” and “Wearable ECG Device” projects.
Many companies have already trusted us their project development and achieved the best solutions ever. Why don’t you experience the same?
Focus
Portfolio
Red Pitaya, Simple Robots, GeoMoby, DaVinci Learning, University of East London, Visybl, ION Motion Control, GP2U, Theradome, HappyCode, Handscape
Medical Alert Bracelet
The device is a plastic bracelet with a help button that patients need to wear on their wrist at all times. It notifies hospital staff about an emergency with the patient's condition. It can also detect a patient's fall thanks to a built-in accelerometer. The device tracks the location of patients.
In addition, it can transfer data from a patient's personal weight scales and pressure gauge. The data is transmitted over Wi-Fi to the backend server and displayed in the hospital staff console. The 360 mAh battery provides super-low power consumption. The technical challenge in this project was receiving the data from the weigh scale, and we successfully overcame this as well.
Technologies:
- NRF52832 with BLE 4.0 and Cortex-M4 core
- The device has a button , vibration motor, and 2 LEDs
- Internal 360 mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery
- CC3100 IC for WiFi networking
- Altium Designer IDE
- C/C++
- Eclipse IDE, GCC compiler and OpenOCD
Wearable Electrocardiogram Device
A Research Center from East London University built a portable electrocardiogram (ECG) device for the participants in the experiment. This device was designed to record heart rate and individual noise levels. With these records, researchers could analyze how different noise levels affect heart rates and heart rate variability.
The research team was looking for an experienced development company that could build firmware for their ECG wearable device. They also needed to create an application that could provide data visualization capabilities for further heart rate research.
Integra Sources provided firmware development so the ECG device could perform its function: record the data from all its sensors and send this data to mobile phones via Bluetooth where it is displayed in real time.
We also provided Android mobile application development for our client.
Technologies used:
- nRF51
- Cortex-M0 core
- RTOS
- C/C++
- Microsoft VS
- MIC, ECG , accelerometer, thermometer sensors
Fret Zealot Guitar Accessory
One US-based startup created a full spectrum LED learning and display system for learning to play the guitar - "Fret Zealot". The device works together with a smartphone app where a beginner can choose various chord progressions they want to learn.
To launch the device to the market, the team at Fret Zealot needed to improve the hardware design of their existing product. They also needed to make it compatible with all mass-market full-size guitars, including bass guitars.
As a result, we improved Fret Zealot into a long, thin vertical strip in the shape of an oversized comb. It can slip between the guitar's neck and strings without interfering with the user's ability to play. Fret Zealot lets the players learn quickly and intuitively. After a user plays a note or a chord, the app detects the sound and the strip lights up showing them where to put their fingers next.
Technologies used:
- EAGLE CAD IDE
- RGB LEDs
- ATTiny20 MCUs - a connector on the Flexible PCB
People and Asset Tracking Device
An Australian provider of location-based solutions for enterprise needed an energy-efficient geolocation system for one of their clients in the mining industry. They needed a solution that would allow for locating and tracking people in underground mines.
Our team at Integra Sources created a special gateway device that is attached to the miner's belt. It captures wireless signals broadcasted by Bluetooth beacons that are installed around the area being monitored. Each signal has a different power depending on the distance of the beacon to the gateway device. When the gateway device captures a signal, it transfers its identifier via WiFi, so we know where exactly under the ground the gateway device is located at any given moment.
On the surface, the gateway device uses GPS, WiFi, and 3G to locate signals.
Technologies used:
- nRF52832 with BLE 5.0 and Cortex-M4F core
- FreeRTOS - Microsoft Visual Studio
- SIM5360 module for 3G & Wi-Fi
- Altium Designer
- C/C++ programming
IoT System Development Project
A Canadian company developed an IoT solution that improves the way reinforced composites are manufactured.
The solution is a special device that provides leak detection on a vacuum bag and communicates this information to the user via a phone, tablet or PC. But the data transfer from the cloud to the user application was slow.
Our team optimized the existing software architecture of the Qt cross-platform applications and implemented asynchronous techniques on the server which resulted in eliminating delays. Now the user apps receive data from the IoT devices in real time.
Technologies used:
- QT framework was used for cross-platform Windows, Linux, iOS, Android GUI applications.
- Tornado web framework was used for backend development
- AngularJS framework was used for frontend development (web interface).
- C/C++ language was used for firmware development (IoT devices)
Capacitive Touch Case for Smartphone
Handscape is a lightweight wireless device that understands individual touch and lets users see their fingers through their phone or tablet. It works with any application downloaded from the App Store or Google Play, allowing the users to switch between gamepad and keyboard modes.
After implementing DFU (device firmware update) via USB we managed to decrease the average time of firmware updates from 3 minutes to 10 seconds.
Technologies used:
- BlueNRG and BlueNRG-MS with BLE 4.0 and BLE 4.1 support as MCU was used in this project.
- FreeRTOS was used for firmware development.
- The firmware was implemented using C/C++ .
- CrossWorks Studio IDE was used for firmware implementation.
- To debug low-level BLE communication with iOS we used special BLE sniffer hardware and parse data in Wireshark .
Beacon Customization Project
We were contacted by a company that provides integration of location services and the Internet of Things. The company offers businesses ready-made physical beacons to enable communication in a wireless networking platform.
The company needed to customize these beacons to make them more suitable for their needs.
We provided firmware development for beacons and completed the following tasks:
- Data customization in the advertising packet – the layer that handles connectivity tasks.
- Gatt-service and characteristic modifications – through the Gatt-service a user can change beacon system settings and IDs.
- Optimization of energy consumption – we increased the battery life by 30%. Our team also developed a BLE gateway device based on Raspberry.
Technologies used:
- EM6819 , NRF51822 and NRF52832 MCUs
- C/C++ programming
- Java language
- Keil, IAR, EM Studio IDEs were used for firmware implementation.
- Eclipse IDE for software implementation
Optical Character Recognition Module
A London-based provider of solutions for retailers was looking to build a mobile application that could recognize and extract invoice data from PDFs or images to be transferred to financial software or other enterprise applications. They needed a company with expertise in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
We made it possible to extract not only metadata such as the invoice date, invoice number, and the total sum of the purchase but also line-items or detailed data about the merchandise included in an invoice.
To get higher OCR accuracy we trained the image processing library which was the most challenging part of the project.
Technologies used:
- REST API for the interaction between mobile applications and the Cloud
- OpenCV library for deskewing, removing scanning artifacts and noise, and binarization.
- Java language was used for Android app development.
- Objective-C language was used for iOS app development
USB Keylogger for Recording Keystrokes
The keylogger is operating system-independent and can be hidden inside a keyboard. It captures every key pressed by a user and stores this information in the text file on the internal NAND-flash.
Users can access the text file after pressing a special combination of keys that switch the device into the flash drive mode. Inside the keylogger, there is a text file (log), a configuration file for setting up the device parameters, and a file for keyboard layouts for controlling the language that the keyboard is set up for. There is also a small internal battery inside, so the time of the keystrokes is kept accurate even when the host PC is turned off.
Also, the device has a timestamp saving feature, a real-time clock, and text encryption.
Technologies used:
- AVR MCU AT90USB162 (later ATmega32U2 ) and EPM3064 CPLD
- CPLD firmware on AHDL using MAX+PLUS IDE
- Embedded C using AVR Studio IDE
- Assembler language for MCU
- EAGLE CAD IDE was used for Schematics
Robotic Lawn Mower
A company in the consumer robotics industry was working on a robotic mower. They needed a professional company that could provide an independent design review for their first version of the printed circuit board that had been created by another electronics design company.
The delivered result is a fully completed hardware solution for an autonomous robot that doesn't need any supervision. The robotic lawn mower is equipped with algorithms and sensors – camera, accelerometer, gyroscope – that allow the robot to map the area it's about to work on. It's also equipped with a charger and a Wi-Fi and 3G module.
To set up the area of operation, you just need to walk around the lawn with the robot so it remembers where to work.
After that, it is ready to cut the lawn’s grass 24/7 and will charge itself when it runs out of battery.
Technologies used:
- STM32F4 with Cortex-M4 core
- RTOS
- Microsoft Visual Studio
- CMOS sensor
- WiFi and 3G connection
- C/C++
- Altium Designer
- IMU
AWS Solar Manager
Solar batteries get installed at home as an alternative source of energy in addition to traditional sources. Solar batteries have a single board computer (SBC) whose job is to calculate how much energy home appliances use every day. The SBC gathers the information on energy consumption and transfers it to the AWS cloud. A user can see their solar production, total electricity use and the power consumption of their main appliances via a dashboard displayed on the web or mobile user interfaces.
With these data at hand, homeowners can discover how to reduce their energy consumption. The system was going to support up to 5000 new users per year and we needed to make it possible for the solution to manage this increased data flow.
Our client received the solution in a timely manner with all the required features.
Technologies used:
- Python
- Raspberry Pi
- PyCharm
- Python AWS SDK
- Android Studio
- XCode
- The AWS mobile SDK for Android and iOS
PaaS Solution for Enterprise
Australian provider of location-based solutions for enterprise with whom we've already worked needed to create a PaaS system that would allow companies in various industries to develop location-aware mobile applications.
Previously we worked with the same client on a project where we needed to create a special gateway device for tracking people in underground mines. The system represents a Platform as a Service (PaaS) solution that enables persistent background location tracking of mobile devices through the use of a tracking system.
Software developers can create and manage their Beacon zones and geofences through a web interface. They can assign triggers for each zone (e.g. entry, exit, dwell, a certain distance from Beacon) and push messages and actions to user devices when they enter a predetermined area.
Technologies used:
- iOS & Android Libraries
- Java - Objective C
- iOS SDK
- Android Beacon Library
- GEOS framework
- JTS Topology Suite
- CoreLocation Framework - Retrofit
Programmable Robots for Education: Case No. 3
A course management system DaVinci Innovation Labs provides different learning materials, including courses and video lessons for kids who want to learn how to code. When parents enroll their kids in the school they select a course that matches their kid's level.
DaVinci Innovation Labs needed a course management system to be able to manage their students and learning programs.
The web-based course management system that we helped to create allows school administrators to:
- Add and delete students
- Create courses and tasks
- Track task progress
- View the history of changes And it makes it easy for students to do their tasks and execute code on the robot (thanks to the integration with the cloud OTA).
Technologies used:
- Python programming
- Google Blockly for the visual programming
- C/C++ programming
- cloud-based OTA using WiFi
- AWS with Docker
- Raspberry Pi - custom Linux
Programmable Robots for Education: Case No. 2
A cloud-based OTA system for Lego Mindstorms EV3
To instruct a robot what to do, kids need to type commands on their computer and then connect their robot to this computer via a USB cable. This isn't very convenient because at DaVinci, instructors work with a group of children and need to manage them all at the same time.Integra Sources implemented a custom cloud-based Over-The-Air system.
Here is how it works:
1. A student writes Python code for the robot to execute using the Blockly framework.
2. After the student clicks play, the code they wrote is sent to the OTA system's server via a Wi-Fi network.
3. From there the server delivers the code to the robot assigned to this student.
4. The robot executes the programmed action (eg. it can drive, shoot, slither, walk, slam, and spin).
5. The robot sends the status update back to the cloud.
6. This information is delivered to the instructor. Each robot has a unique number to make it easier for the instructor to check the results.
Programmable Robots for Education: Case No. 1
DaVinci Labs is based in Taiwan and uses robots as a learning platform to teach students aged 9-14 to code in Python. To give kids different coding challenges, instructors at DaVinci use Lego Mindstorms EV3, Vex, and Makeblock MeAuriga robots.
For their educational purposes, DaVinci Innovation Labs was using Google Blockly, a web-based, graphical programming editor where users can drag blocks together to build an application without any typing.
We implemented custom firmware development for Makeblock MeAuriga which allows users to run commands via Bluetooth dongle from a Chrome browser using a special plugin.
As a result, DaVinci Labs' students can compose programs using Google's Blockly framework that mixes visual and text programming and execute them on the robot.
Technologies used:
- Python programming
- Google Blockly for the visual programming
- C/C++ programming
- cloud-based OTA using WiFi
- AWS with Docker
- Raspberry Pi
- custom Linux
Fall Prevention System
One of our clients, a Belgium-based startup called Algodroid is working on technology that uses cameras to detect falls in the homes of the elderly. They turned to us to help implement their solution.
The video monitoring system for fall prevention we can be broken down into four parts:
- 3D cameras to track older people's activities throughout the day
- Single board PC for processing data from the cameras.
- Artificial vision algorithms to recognize human postures and detect if a person has fallen
- A communication system that sends an alarm message to caregivers along with a picture once a fall is detected.
Technologies used:
- C++ programming in combination with OpenCV library
- JeVois smart machine vision camera - Intel RealSense and Orbbec Astra depth cameras
- Nuitracl library
- BodyTracking algorithms
- Banana Pi Media Board Computer as an RTSP server
- live555 library
- Qt Framework
Smart Home Control Panel
A provider of a smart home system based in France was looking for a reliable supplier experienced in electronics engineering. They needed to build a custom control panel for their IoT-based home automation system.
Integra Sources developed a tablet-style smart home head unit based on the Allwinner A20 microprocessor.
We made the schematics, designed the layout and provided prototype testing. The device has a 7-inch touchscreen, NFC module to control access to the system, and a radio frequency (RF) module for integrating the tablet into the IoT ecosystem.
We also provided software development for a custom Linux build and driver development for different modules of the system.
With this device, users have the flexibility to monitor and control their home’s temperature, locks, lights, and other items.
Technologies used:
- Allwinner A20 SoC with 2 ARM cores
- custom Linux image
- WiFi module
- Ethernet connection
- C/C++
- Qt
- NFC reader
- EAGLE CAD
- Flexible PCB
Ready-To-Fly Quadcopter
A DIY store decided to build a small drone that could be controlled over a Sony PlayStation 2 gamepad or any other compatible wireless gamepad. Integra Sources had already worked with this client on another Atmel AVR XMega project where we had to build an autopilot module for a DIY drone that hobbyists buy for their engineering projects. But this time we needed to create a small quadcopter that people would buy for their kids to play.
The quadcopter we created is 10x10 centimeters in size.
We reduced the power consumption and enabled the drone to communicate with PS2 gamepads or wireless gamepads that people normally have at home. This was a good idea because otherwise, consumers would have to buy joysticks and RC transmitters specifically to be able to control their drones.
Technologies used:
- ATXmega MCU with AVR core
- Altium Designer IDE
- C/C++ programming
- AVR Studio IDE
- Ardupilot
- Gyroscope , accelerometer , RF module , and motors - Sony PS joystick
SkinView iOS Application
Almost everyone has from 30 to 60 moles (skin tumors) on their body. And nearly all of these moles are harmless. But some types of moles are slightly more likely to develop into melanoma than other types of mole.
GP2U Telehealth, an Australia-based GP online clinic, came up with the idea for the SkinView app. SkinView uses a disposable device that clips on to a smartphone and turns it into a digital dermatoscope. We were hired to port the app from Python to C++ and improve the quality of the computer vision algorithms.
We significantly improved the algorithms for image processing and recognition: up to 80 % diagnostic accuracy, data processing time is less than 0.1 seconds
How it works:
1. A user puts a special lens on their smartphone camera and takes a picture of the mole with the SkinView iOS application.
2. The application analyzes the mole and tells the user whether it is malignant or not.
3. The images with suspected skin cancer are sent to a specialist for diagnosis.
Technologies used:
- Python language in combination with the scikit-image library has been used for receiving PoC .
- C++ language in a compartment with OpenCV library has been used for algorithms converting
from Python language.
- Objective-C has been used for iOS mobile application development.
- Algorithms developed with the help of C++ have been wrapped by Objective-C and integrated
into the iOS mobile application.
Test and Measurement System
The system for testing and measurement is based on a single board computer (SBC) that acts as a middleman between the server and the sensors attached to the DUT. The SBC sends commands to the sensors, monitors the data they collect and records these data to the database. The testing results are then displayed in a web interface.
How it works:
1. To evaluate product characteristics, a consumer electronic device (eg. an iron) is equipped with sensors such as temperature sensor, voltmeter, and amperemeter.
2. The relay switches on the iron.
3. The single board computer starts collecting the data from sensors and recording them to the database. The iron is turned on and off for about 10 seconds within a period of 8-10 hours.
4. The testing results such as voltage, current, and temperature are displayed in the form of graphs in the web interface.
Technologies used:
- Quad-core SBC
- Custom Linux image
- ZeroMQ library
- C/C++
- HTML, CSS and JavaScript for GUI
- PHP for the backend
Video Player for Raspberry Pi
A US-based company provides entertainment videos for wellness centers using hundreds of Raspberry Pi devices that connect to the internet via Ethernet or WiFi. They needed to build a system for downloading videos and playlists from the server and reproducing them in a certain order on several TVs simultaneously.
The result is a custom video player with specific functionality for downloading and automatic playing of video files of different formats on Raspberry PI. We used Java to build the player.
The video player provides the following functions: downloading video files from the server, checking data integrity, VLC player control, and VLC optimization for the hardware.
We added WiFi Protected Access (WPA) security protocols to protect the video player from vulnerabilities.
Technologies used:
- Java programming
- WiFi connection for networking
- Raspberry Pi was used for the hardware part of this project
- The application uses REST and JSON to communicate with the server.
Variometer for Paraglider Pilots
A variometer is a device used by paraglider pilots at competitions. It informs the pilot of the rate of descent or climb. A variometer records data such as speed, altitude, and climb rate, and can send this data over Bluetooth or USB to a smartphone, a tablet, or an e-reader.
The result of our work is a new version of the variometer. A paraglider pilot uses it during flights to ascertain that the correct flight level is being maintained. The variometer indicates the climb/sink rate using beeping tones without any time lag. It has a set of sensors including accelerometer, gyroscope, temperature, GPS, and barometer.
It informs the pilot about altitude changes, tracks their position via GPS and stores detailed data about the flight on an SD card. When the flight is over, a pilot can transfer the data using Bluetooth to their smartphone or tablet.
Technologies used:
- STM32F4 series MCU with Cortex-M4 core
- RTOS
- C/C++
- Eclipse IDE
- EAGLE CAD
- GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope
Virtual Camera Driver
An enterprise company that creates software for call centers needed a solution similar to ManyCam to allow people to use their webcams on various applications whilst simultaneously live streaming or using video chat. We needed to build a driver for this virtual camera.
We wrote a high-performance virtual camera driver that doesn't overload the CPU and is compatible with three versions of Windows OS. All you need to do to enable broadcast to multiple channels simultaneously is connect a driver, configure settings and then you can add up to 10 video sources to your live stream.
Technologies used:
- C/C++ programming
- Microsoft Visual Studio
- Windows Driver Kit ( WDK )
BLE Guitar Pedal
The idea of this pedal is to let a guitar player scroll through pages on their digital devices (that support iOS, Android, Mac, and PC platforms) using their feet. It lets musicians turn pages and control hundreds of music apps hands-free.
The music pedal is a Bluetooth 4.0 equipped device. It has a solid aluminum case and an elegant design. The device can be powered by 9V battery or external 9V power supply. It also has USB 5V output and can charge tablets or phones when powered from an external power supply.
We used nRF51822 BLE SoC to provide high working range and low power consumption. He ran a successful campaign on Kickstarter and got positive feedback from influencers who tested the product. The device is currently in mass production and we're discussing a new version of the device with our client.
Technologies used:
- nRF51822 with BLE 4.0
- Cortex-M0 core
- internal 9V battery
- USB-A connector
- RTOS
- KiCad IDE
- Microsoft Visual Studio
- C/C++ programming
Drone Autopilot
Integra Sources was hired to develop an autopilot system that could enable a drone to fly autonomously and could be used with any type of drones, from quadcopters to fixed-wing systems.
The device we delivered is an autopilot system for a drone that controls all peripherals, actuators, and motors. It enables remote control and autonomous completion of flights. It is a great choice for people who prefer to buy ready-to-use quadcopters rather than building DIY drones from scratch.
The circuit board for the Drone Autopilot has a three-axis accelerometer, a three-axis gyroscope, a pressure sensor and GPS on board. It has up to six radio control inputs to receive control from the radio control receiver and up to six radio control outputs to control motors and/or servos. The board has four external serial interfaces to connect extra modules.
Technologies used:
- ATXmega MCU with AVR core
- Altium Designer
- C/C++ programming
- GPS , accelerometer , gyroscope, barometer
Custom DIY Tablet Based on Raspberry Pi
One of the leading technology and innovation schools in Brazil offers interactive computer programming courses where kids can learn how to build drones, games, and applications. To make the learning process fun and interactive the company uses a special device tailored specifically for educational needs.
It's a DIY (Do It Yourself) tablet based on Raspberry Pi3. The school needed a platform to connect the device and the apps.
The solution represents a DIY tablet that children can assemble by following instructions. The operating system comes with applications which are grouped into fun “planets” (Art planet, Media planet, Game planet, Code planet, App planet, Web planet). One of the apps that our software development team created teaches kids how to code by creating modifications in their world of Minecraft. And the other one allows them to compose digital music.
Technologies used:
- Debian
- Qt framework
- JavaScript language
- DSI
- LVDS converter
- STM32 MCU
- C++ programming
Custom IP Camera
A startup that was looking to develop a pet monitoring camera had a software development team in-house ready to implement the solution for pet owners. But they needed a strong hardware development partner to be able to handle the low-level requirements.
We provided PCB design and developed a custom embedded Linux distribution build for the device installed at home for pet monitoring. We also developed a camera module that enables real-time video streaming via a mobile application.
The main purpose of the camera is to watch if a pet is playing nicely while the owner is away. The pet owners can watch, talk to, and play with their pets using a mobile app.
Technologies used:
- Allwinner A20 SoC with 2 ARM cores as CPU
- Custom Linux image
- CMOS sensor (camera) with CSI bus
- H.264 hardware codec for video encoding
- Streaming 1080p at 30fps H.264 encoded video
- Onboard WiFi module - C/C++ languages
- Altium Designer
Interactive Answering Machine
One way to protect people from telephone scammers is by using telecom technology.
A ready-for-manufacturing PCB for the telecommunications device used to protect senior citizens from phone scams. The device works as a mini-PBX but with one subscriber line. It connects between PBX and a user phone and fully emulates a PBX port.
The functionality of the telecom device:
- Detect an incoming call
- Answer an incoming call
- Detect frequency-shift keying (FSK) modulation with caller ID information during an incoming call - Catchline voice/tone signal for DTMF decoding and speech recording - Play voice/tone to a phone line
- Ring to a user phone (sine signal 35V RMS)
- Detect the picking up of a phone by a user
- Transmit caller ID to a user phone while ringing
- Make an outgoing call Technologies:
- STM32F415 with Cortex-M4 core
- FreeRTOS - C/C++ languages
- Wiznet W5500 chip
- Altium Designer IDE
- Microsoft Visual Studio
- FSK demodulator IC - ADC/DAC
Reviews
the project
Firmware & Electrical Design for Educational Device
“INTEGRA SOURCES has been great at helping me learn along the way and making sure that I understand the key parts.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the founder of a company that is building an educational electronic device.
What challenge were you trying to address with INTEGRA SOURCES?
I hired INTEGRA SOURCES to design the firmware and build the electronics for my product.
What was the scope of their involvement?
INTEGRA SOURCES has helped me figure out how to build my product. I first explained what I wanted to do, and they mapped out the whole project with milestones and timelines. Based on their recommendations, we started with the electronics design and ended up with circuit board functional prototypes. We’ve since continued to build the product, including some software for a companion app.
What is the team composition?
I worked with three people. Daniel (VP of Business Development) coordinated the whole project and was my main point of contact. Then there’s Anton (Lead Engineer) and Yulia (Project Manager) who helped with the software.
How did you come to work with INTEGRA SOURCES?
I found them on Google. Their costs were significantly lower than any US-based company, and they seemed like the knew what they were doing.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent about $60,000–$65,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in July 2018, and the project is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We’re wrapping things up, right now.
How did INTEGRA SOURCES perform from a project management standpoint?
Even with the 12-hour time difference, it’s really easy to get a hold of them. They’re responsive, and I haven’t experienced any language issues. The project is taking a bit longer than originally expected, but that’s partially because we realized we needed to develop additional things as we go.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I’m impressed by how much knowledge they have. This is my first big project, so I don’t really know everything that I need to know. INTEGRA SOURCES has been great at helping me learn along the way and making sure that I understand the key parts. I never felt in the dark about why things were happening.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, there haven’t been any immediate issues.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Keep in mind the time zone difference and do your best to respond to them on time. The quicker you get back to them, the quicker you’ll get answers, which will speed up the project.
the project
System Development for Wireless Marine Systems Manufacturer
"Their technical expertise and clear communication impressed us."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the CTO and co-founder of the company. We are a developer and manufacturer of advanced wireless systems for marine, automotive and consumer industry.
For what projects/services did your company hire INTEGRA SOURCES?
We focus on wireless systems in our embedded department and on other areas we focus on software and hardware arcitechture design and strategy and it was a perfect match with Integra as they can make arcitechted solutions reality. This particular project is a complex system bridging all interfaces via CAN Bus and various wireless systems.
What were your goals for this project?
The system needed to be capable of bridging all systems and protocols either wired or wireless in a reliable way across a multitude of different setups and configurations. It also had to work seamlessly with the firmware we develop in house for the other embedded systems on the same board.
How did you select this vendor?
Considered over 30 companies. The technical expertise and expansive portfolio was the first deciding factor. Then after meeting the team which was very much real people and not superficial sales people we far to often meet.
Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.
The project was built from the ground up with a completely new microcontroller arcitecture from NXP where they first had to figure out a way to create a custom bootloader and load it from eMMC memory before documentation from NXP was even ready in this area. Then we gradually did bring up on the different systems of the board and built a complete application that runs on FreeRTOS.
What was the team composition?
Have had good communication with the whole team, and we have always had access to a project manager being able to route any questions or queries to the right persons.
Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?
This project has been a great success, and the areas that Integra has been working on has not stalled the process a single time, it has always been the parts that finished first for each milestone.
How was project management arranged and how effective was it?
Integra adheres to deadlines and they are able to estimate very accurately within reason. This makes project tracking for costs and timeline an easy task for the tasks that are dependent on Integra.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
Their technical expertise and clear communication impressed us.
Are there any areas for improvement?
Not really. Things have actually been better than expected and we have grown on each other as well, so the communication flows better for every day.
the project
IoT Development for Sparkling Water Cooler Company
“We've saved a lot of money by using their services, and the quality of work is comparable to stateside agencies.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm the engineering manager for a water cooler manufacturer. Our products dispense still and sparkling water with different flavor options.
What challenge were you trying to address with INTEGRA SOURCES?
We originally hired them to help us update our firmware.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They used Microchip to create the microprocessors within our products. Now, we're working together on a prototype that connects to the internet of things.
What is the team composition?
We worked with a team of about nine people.
How did you come to work with INTEGRA SOURCES?
We couldn't find a cost-effective solution in the States, so we sought out an overseas firm that could provide the same quality at a lower price point. We put a job posting on Upwork, and they reached out to us with a list of their offerings. We considered four companies in all, but we liked Integra's prices and their reviews on Clutch and on Upwork. They were also very fluent in English, so communication was very easy.
How much have you invested with them?
To date, we've spent around $32,000. $3,000 of that was for the initial project, and the rest was for another project we hired them for.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in July 2018. The initial project is complete, but they still work as our software support team. They make any changes we need.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We've saved a lot of money by using their services, and the quality of work is comparable to stateside agencies. They allowed us to avoid hiring an internal software developer, and we can use them as we need them.
How did INTEGRA SOURCES perform from a project management standpoint?
They used Basecamp to manage the project, which works very well for us. They're also available at any time via Skype.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their communication is excellent, and their English skills really set them apart.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I can't think of anything they could improve; they do a good job for us.
the project
Product Development for Engineering Company
"Integra Sources researched the project in-depth to better understand our goals—that really impressed us."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the owner of Eau Rouge Engineering. We create electronics for motorsports.
What challenge were you trying to address with Integra Sources?
We needed help with product development. Outsourcing the task to a third party with more resources than us was the smart business decision.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Integra Sources worked with us to implement a new digital version of an industry-standard analog product. As analog becomes more expensive and analog skills are harder to find among resources, we decided to create a digital variant. Integra Sources is doing a lot of digital signal analysis and other specialized work.
What is the team composition?
We’ve worked with 4–5 people.
How did you come to work with Integra Sources?
We found them on Upwork. We interviewed about four vendors and looked at each team’s portfolio work, communication promises, and enthusiasm for our project. Integra Sources took the time to research our industry in advance, and it showed in our discussion. They gave us a great impression, so I decided to go with them.
How much have you invested with them?
We've spent about $20,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project started in October 2018 and is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Integra Sources delivers to the highest standards, not only in the physical work they produce but also in their communication and documentation. It’s by far exceeded our standards.
How did Integra Sources perform from a project management standpoint?
They’ve been very professional and quick to respond. If anything, my response times frustrate them more than theirs frustrate me. We use Basecamp to communicate and, due to our time zone differences, expect any replies to our comments or questions within 24 hours.
What did you find most impressive about them?
What we’re trying to build is not your standard engineering project—it’s a unique product to our industry, which is also hard to get into. Integra Sources researched the project in-depth to better understand our goals—that really impressed us.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I can’t think of anything. Integra Sources is very open and communicative. The pricing structure was clear from the outset. They’ve even come up with suggestions on their own to fix any issues we find, which we appreciate.
the project
Hardware Development for Bridge Game App Company
"It was a good choice working with them and we’re extremely happy."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the founder of a bridge game app company. We provide software and hardware for bridge clubs, bridge tournaments, and bridge federations.
What challenge were you trying to address with INTEGRA SOURCES?
We wanted to create a new product and needed someone to develop it. It required specific knowledge that we couldn’t get from our existing pool of engineers. We needed to source somewhere else.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We had them develop a system board for us, using an Allwinner processor. We’re still finalizing things with the project.
What is the team composition?
There have been some shifts in personnel on their side, and we’ve worked with about five people in total. There’s one guy who’s been working with us the whole time. There are one or two software guys. We’ve seen three project managers pass through.
How did you come to work with INTEGRA SOURCES?
I found them on Upwork. We looked at their website. They had worked before with the specific technology we wanted. We compared them with a few other companies that could provide a similar service.
Initially, we were a bit skeptic because the price was quite a bit lower than other design houses, and their website didn’t have any contact details apart from an email address. That was a bit strange. We decided to contact them after we discussed the opportunities with another company.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent $30,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in January 2018 and the work is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
They developed a very nice board for us at a reasonable price. It was a good choice working with them and we’re extremely happy. They have a professional way of addressing an engineering case and working toward a solution.
They have really good engineering capabilities. We have an external consultant who once in a while has to make a couple of corrections on their work, but that’s okay because different companies have different insights on how to address a certain problem. We’re still very pleased with them.
How did INTEGRA SOURCES perform from a project management standpoint?
They’re very open and responsive and their projects are well-managed. They’re quite efficient with their hours.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They were able to create a board for us with a processor that is quite exotic. We had some additional exotic requirements for which they came up with proper solutions. They worked very well with other team members in the collaboration.
Are there any areas they could improve?
In the initial phase, they had some aspects of project management that weren’t handled very well. They picked up on that and it’s good now.
the project
IoT Development for Industrial Design Firm
“Their engineering prowess was really strong. They knew how to solve problems with very little instruction.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I own an industrial design firm. We produce products for clients and for sale directly to consumers.
What challenge were you trying to address with INTEGRA SOURCES?
We were working on a product for a client that required some electrical engineering services. I did all the mechanical engineering design, but needed help to develop a particular circuit to go inside the device.
What was the scope of their involvement?
The product was a toy related to a licensed movie property. It needed to play a sound when anyone touched the outside of the housing. They worked on a circuit with a capacitive sensor that would actuate whenever the housing was touched. It interfaced with the housing, and needed to fit in as small a space as possible.
We broke the project into two separate stages: a feasibility study and a development process. They proved that the design was possible by creating successful prototypes, and they documented the actuation process with test videos.
What is the team composition?
The team composition changed over time, but we worked with at least five people on the project. There was one dedicated engineer, and a few project managers through the course of our engagement.
How did you come to work with INTEGRA SOURCES?
I found them on Upwork and decided they were the best fit among the vendors I had to chose from. They understood the project requirements and were confident they could achieve the desired results.
How much have you invested with them?
The total was around $10,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together around March 2018. Ultimately, the project was cancelled in October 2018, after the client decided to get out of the business. Up until that point, the project was entirely successful.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Even though we didn’t complete the project, they completed all the technical details and proved that the product could work.
How did INTEGRA SOURCES perform from a project management standpoint?
Since I’m in California and they’re in Russia, they made the whole process much easier by sending videos and organizing the project through Basecamp. Their work was absolutely top-notch, and their English was perfect.
Initially, we communicated through Skype messages, but they switched to Basecamp when I needed something easier to track. I appreciated their flexibility.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their engineering prowess was really strong. They knew how to solve problems with very little instruction from us, and they gave us exactly what we needed.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Because we interfaced with so many people, we didn’t always know who our main point of contact should be. We could reach out to anyone, and they handled it well, but it would have been helpful to have a dedicated point person. There was a project manager, but that person changed once or twice during the process. It wasn’t a major problem, but it did create some confusion.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
I don’t have any recommendations. We had a few requirements and plans, but they anticipated everything we needed. In general, I would recommend having a plan in place, but they are very proactive.
the project
IoT Development for Aerospace Company
"Both young and motivated, the team is unafraid to research problems and develop their own solutions."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the President of Ruiz Aerospace Manufacturing. We develop new IoT and Industry 4.0 technologies, mainly in the aerospace composites manufacturing market.
What challenge were you trying to address with INTEGRA SOURCES?
We’d been developing an IoT application and product for the last few years. We needed outside expertise on building servers for communication management, data storage, and cloud computing.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We assigned INTEGRA SOURCES most of server management. They created a MongoDB NoSQL database, and then developed a Qt platform. The team has also embedded software and updated communication protocols from JSON.
What is the team composition?
We work with 10 people including two project managers for IoT development and electronic device and embedded software development.
How did you come to work with INTEGRA SOURCES?
We originally searched for a contractor through a freelancing platform. At first we worked with several freelancers, but we were impressed by the quality of INTEGRA SOURCES' work. We decided to contract with them exclusively.
How much have you invested with them?
We invested about $100,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with INTEGRA SOURCES in January 2018 and the engagement is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
INTEGRA SOURCES has expanded compatibility across servers and improved communication. The team fulfilled out requirements for the MongoDB database development and launch. The communication protocols updated included buffers and robust TCP/IP configurations.
How did INTEGRA SOURCES perform from a project management standpoint?
The team demonstrated strong management skills when they manage our servers for a week during an important trade show; we showcased our product at the event. Communication channels are always fluid and straightforward.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They’re client-oriented and responsible. Both young and motivated, the team is unafraid to research problems and develop their own solutions.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Everything has gone well and we’re satisfied in all aspects.
the project
IoT Wearable Solution for Senior Healthcare Provider
“They’re easy to work with, reasonably-priced, and deliver high-quality solutions.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CIO of a medical company that provides in-home healthcare services such as nurses and therapists primarily for senior citizens.
What challenge were you trying to address with INTEGRA SOURCES?
We work with providers of personal emergency response solutions, so we wanted to create an improved solution we could offer to our patients.
What was the scope of their involvement?
INTEGRA SOURCES built a wearable product with features such as emergency alerting and fall detection. They did everything from building the actual hardware to writing the firmware. The device leverages Wi-Fi capabilities, so seniors can reliably use it in their homes. INTEGRA SOURCES made the product small, so it could be worn as a watch or a pendant around the neck.
What is the team composition?
We worked with a team of about four people, but I primarily interfaced with one person.
How did you come to work with INTEGRA SOURCES?
We found them on Upwork. They had good ratings and a strong product portfolio that aligned with what we were looking to develop. They seemed like a good fit, so we hired them.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent around $30,000–$40,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together from November 2017–June 2018.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
INTEGRA SOURCES built a workable prototype that successfully met all of our key product goals. We haven’t deployed it yet, but the internal team is pleased with the device’s capabilities.
How did INTEGRA SOURCES perform from a project management standpoint?
They’re organized and keep good records of all the tasks that are done and need to be done. We met weekly over Skype and also communicate via email. INTEGRA SOURCES also implemented a project management tool to track progress.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They’re easy to work with, reasonably-priced, and deliver high-quality solutions. We’re highly pleased with their work.
Are there any areas they could improve?
They’re based overseas, so the hours didn’t align perfectly, but it wasn’t too bad.
the project
Software Dev for Elderly Care Company
“They understood very quickly what it was I was looking for.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the owner for a future company that will be incorporated in Belgium under the name of Algodroid. It’s a company involved in using cameras to detect falls in the home of the elderly to promote better health.
What challenge were you trying to address with INTEGRA?
I needed help with software development.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They built a custom video algorithm, worked on data frames, and analyzed the different sequences of images of an elderly person working or living at home. They analyze different sequences of images such as working speed, footprint laying, and data analysis of each person.
They are very skilled in OpenCV. It was a very sensitive algorithm to build, and we worked on it every day for 6 months. We are getting closer to the objective, and we plan to be finished by the end of the year. We will incorporate some video films in a commercial side for promotion.
What is the team dynamic?
There were 2–3 different people with various skills. There’s 1 person in charge of development, and he’s very talented.
How did you come to work with INTEGRA?
I found them through Upwork. I looked at 5–6 different teams at the beginning, and it was between 2 teams. I chose Integra 2 weeks after the first estimation of work.
How much have you invested with them?
I’ve spent around $15,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in April of this year, and the work is ongoing.
How did INTEGRA perform from a project management standpoint?
It took 1–2 weeks to understand one another from our different viewpoints. They understood very quickly what it was I was looking for, and the type of algorithm I wanted to prepare. Once we acclimated with one another, there was no problem. The time difference hasn’t caused any issues, and our communication is smooth. We have Skype calls when we need to talk about any problems, and all of the documents, videos, films, and communication are on Basecamp. They have good precision with time.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They showed me the process of the video films. They keep me updated on the progress and different issues, and are really good teachers. They provide good explanations of what they’re doing, the problems they’re facing, what the possible solutions are, and what would be the best in terms of investment. They’re a very nice, skilled team. They’re very patient and helpful, and I would definitely recommend them.
Are there any areas they could improve?
There have been no surprises, and it’s all been really fluent. Even with the 5-hour time difference, there’s been no problem. There is always someone available.
the project
Software & Hardware Development for Hardware Startup
"INTEGRA delivers solid results, along with clear documentation and communication."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I am a co-founder and the CTO of a hardware startup based in the U.S.
What challenge were you trying to address with INTEGRA SOURCES?
I wanted to develop an operational systematization software using a certain type of technology that would require senior engineers. I’m located in Brazil, which lacks expertise in this technology, so I started looking for freelancers and companies to whom I could outsource the development.
What was the scope of their involvement?
INTEGRA developed a customized operational system for Raspberry Pi devices. They also provided the hardware development the project required.
What is the team composition?
I worked with two project managers, one for hardware and one for software, and a sales manager who handled billing. I’m not sure how many developers they used, since my contact points were strictly the managers.
How did you come to work with INTEGRA SOURCES?
I found them through an Upwork search, after vetting about four companies.
How much have you invested with them?
We had a finite initial budget of $30,000 for the project. They delivered the first phase under budget, but we have since increased the scope.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with INTEGRA in April 2017. They delivered the first version 30 days later, in May. We are currently working on improvements.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The quality of their work is very good, especially from a technical and management point of view. INTEGRA delivers solid results, along with clear documentation and communication.
They corrected any major bugs during the process. The team proactively identifies and solves issues. When they find an problem with functionality or even something that could use improvement from a user experience perspective, they make suggestions. It’s really good to work with them.
How did INTEGRA SOURCES perform from a project management standpoint?
Occasionally, they didn’t deliver as much as expected, but in those cases, they communicated with us about them in advance. That gave us time to solve them together.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They are open to our ideas and needs. If I think of something new, I can discuss it with the team, and they will research it and give me feedback on whether or not it’s feasible.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No.
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?
The most important advice I can give is to find a trustworthy company willing to work with you as a partner and to consider a long-term relationship. INTEGRA is serious about communication, organization, and documentation.
Although the project has taken a bit longer than anticipated, this was due to necessary additional development. INTEGRA SOURCES’ team is currently wrapping up development. They’re communicative, guiding the internal stakeholders through the process and teaching them best practices along the way.