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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. 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.

We used to say “complicated tasks bring unchallenged growth”. It means that we apply the jobs of various complexity.

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, JavaScript, 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 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 has already trusted us their project development and achieved the best solutions ever. Why don’t you experience the same?

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$10,000+
 
$25 - $49 / hr
 
10 - 49
 Founded
2013
Show all +
Barnaul, Russia
headquarters
  • Lenina, 154A
    Barnaul, ALT 656037
    Russia

Portfolio

Key clients: 

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​

Read more...

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

Read more...

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

Read more...

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

Read more...

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)

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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​ .

Read more...

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

Read more...

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

Read more...

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

Read more...

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

Read more...

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

Read more...

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

Read more...

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

Read more...

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.

Read more...

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

Read more...

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​

Read more...

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

Read more...

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

Read more...

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.

Read more...

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

Read more...

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.

Read more...

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

Read more...

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​ )

Read more...

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

Read more...

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

Read more...

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

Read more...

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

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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

Read more...

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

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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

 

Read more...

Reviews

5.0
12 reviews
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Hardware Development for Bridge Game App Company

"It was a good choice working with them and we’re extremely happy."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Jan. 2018 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

INTEGRA SOURCES develop a gaming system board with an Allwinner processor.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Rijswijk, Netherlands
Executive Director, Bridge Game App Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The team accommodated unusual technical specifications to deliver a functional system board. INTEGRA SOURCES is an efficient and responsive partner.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

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.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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.

SOLUTION

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.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 4.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    We haven’t really put any deadlines on the work, but we went through most things quite well.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    The quality of their work is very good.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    We’ve already recommended them.

IoT Development for Industrial Design Firm

“Their engineering prowess was really strong. They knew how to solve problems with very little instruction.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Less than $10,000
 
Mar. 2018 - Aug. 2018
Project summary: 

INTEGRA SOURCES built a prototype for an industrial design firm. The project required a capacitive sensor that would actuate when a user touched the outer housing of a device.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Redwood, California
Ryan Norbauer
CEO, Norbauer & Co.
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The project was ultimately cancelled, but INTEGRA SOURCES proved through prototypes that the final product was possible. Their engineering knowledge and flexibility with communication made the process go smoothly, and their work was exceptional.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

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.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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.

SOLUTION

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.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    Their hourly rate was reasonable. Time requirements were greater than anticipated, but I don’t have a lot of experience with this type of project.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

IoT Development for Aerospace Company

"Both young and motivated, the team is unafraid to research problems and develop their own solutions."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Jan. 2018 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

INTEGRA SOURCES developed a server for an IoT application. The team has since introduced new protocols and built a database. Services include server management.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Montreal, Quebec
President, RAM Ruiz Aerospace Manufacturing
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The database has satisfied all scope requirements. The upgrades have improved communication and performance. Team strengths include accessibility and problem-solving.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

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.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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.

SOLUTION

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.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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.

5.0
Overall Score I’d been working with three other partners, but I decided to hand everything over to INTEGRA SOURCES.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    INTEGRA SOURCES offers the best value for their pricing in my experience.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

IoT Wearable Solution for Senior Healthcare Provider

“They’re easy to work with, reasonably-priced, and deliver high-quality solutions.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Nov. 2017 - June 2018
Project summary: 

INTEGRA SOURCES built a wearable device, developing both the hardware and firmware. Product features include emergency alerting and Wi-Fi capabilities. They made the device small so as to be wearable.

The Reviewer
 
501-1,000 Employees
 
Reston, Virginia
CIO, Healthcare Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

INTEGRA SOURCES is incredibly organized and consistently meets project goals. The team is overseas, which can cause scheduling issues, but it’s easily manageable. The product hasn’t been released yet, but the internal team is extremely pleased with the prototype.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

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.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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.

SOLUTION

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.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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.

5.0
Overall Score Everything went as expected.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They kept on track with the schedule we established.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They’re not the cheapest or most expensive solution, but the quality for dollars is a high value.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They met our project specifications, so I have no complaints.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    They’re easy to work with, knowledgeable, and speak English well.

Software Dev for Elderly Care Company

“They understood very quickly what it was I was looking for.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Apr. 2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

INTEGRA utilized OpenCV to build a custom algorithm, worked on data frames, and analyzed different image sequences for a home health product.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Belgium
Phillipe Laxan
Owner, Algodroid
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

INTEGRA maintains a patient and helpful approach, and there have been no communication issues amidst time differences. They’ve provided regular and comprehensive progress updates to ensure accuracy, as well as constant resource availability, throughout the ongoing project.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

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.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with INTEGRA?

I needed help with software development.

SOLUTION

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.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They respect all of the timelines.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They’re a very nice team. If I had a new project, I would collaborate with them.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I would recommend them.

Software & Hardware Development for Hardware Startup

"INTEGRA delivers solid results, along with clear documentation and communication."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Apr. - May 2017
Project summary: 

As a third-party provider, INTEGRA developed custom software for the first version of a Raspberry Pi operating system, as well as the necessary hardware. They fixed bugs and are currently making improvements.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
United States
Cofounder, Hardware Startup
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Their high-quality work and reliable, proactive project management recommend them as a serious candidate for long-term partnership. They provide helpful collaboration, offering valuable suggestions for technical and UX improvements and researching feasibility for new ideas. 

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

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.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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.

SOLUTION

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.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Firmware Device for Music Gear Tech Company

“Their functionality and reliability are perfect… and the product works flawlessly.”

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4.5

Quality: 
4.0
Schedule: 
3.5
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Feb. - Oct. 2017
Project summary: 

Integra Sources conceptualized the firmware, PCB, and physical enclosure for a Bluetooth-enabled device for musicians. The product works in tandem with iOS, Android, Mac, and PC platforms.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Washington
Owner, Music Gear Tech Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Integra Sources provided a bug-free design, and connections to expert manufacturers. Though slow in the warmup period, they codified their process and provided a strong product.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We develop music gear and products to improve musicians’ performance abilities. I’m the owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Integra Sources?

We had not done Bluetooth work on our own, and needed an expert to help us develop a Bluetooth-equipped guitar pedal.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The pedal connects to Bluetooth devices to control a myriad of functions, from controlling effects and amplifiers to starting and stopping recording software, with several other features. We wanted it to work with every Bluetooth device on the market, so wanted to be sure it would work in tandem with iOS, Android, Mac, and PC platforms.

They developed everything from the ground up, including the firmware and PCB [printed control board]. They also provided CAD models to visualize the enclosure. We were responsible for sourcing the products, but they made suggestions to complete the physical build. I’m currently sourcing, manufacturing, and bringing the pedal to market.

What is the team dynamic?

There were five or six people on their team, and most of our early interaction was through Basecamp. We transitioned to Skype, as I was already using it for other vendors throughout a typical day.

How did you come to work with Integra Sources?

We posted an ad on Upwork, and interviewed 10–12 companies that specialized in low-energy Bluetooth development. Integra had the best communication, mixed with an affordable price range.

How much have you invested with them?

Our total is around $12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from February to October 2017. I recently realized the design doesn’t include enough SMT [surface mounting technology] components, so we may rehire them in the future to make modifications and bring our manufacturing cost down.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’re currently running a Kickstarter campaign, and sales will go live in a couple of months. The product works flawlessly, and there are no outstanding bugs or issues. All the influencers who test it  love it.

How did Integra Sources perform from a project management standpoint?

Their functionality and reliability are perfect. The start of the project was a little slower than I hoped for, but after the first month or two, they figured out our style and kept things moving. After the initial kickoff, the process was quick and seamless, and communication was good.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They did a great job resourcing and networking with other manufacturers. They provided options I wouldn’t have known about. All of our past projects were simpler and didn’t require the kind of expertise our new manufacturer has.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They had a little difficulty early on, but that improved quickly, and they ultimately made exactly what I wanted.

4.5
Overall Score
  • 3.5 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 4.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Software Dev for Robot Programming Startup

"[INTEGRA] will go out of their way to find something which fits us."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Aug. 2016 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Integra Sources developed software for a tech startup based in Taiwan that focuses on using robots to help teach kids how to code. 

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Taipei, Taiwan
Joseph Millogo
Director of Ciriculum, DaVinci Innovation Labs
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Integra rewrote software that allowed the startup to improve upon existing software for the robot, which in turn improved the way the kids were taught to code. Integra also found an easier way to connect the robots to PCs. The ability to customize software for the client was key to their success.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

DaVinci Labs is a startup based in Taiwan. We’ve been operating for two and a half years, and focus on using robots in order to teach 9-16-year-olds how to code. We are using Python for building different types of interfaces, and robots such as Lego Mindstorms EV3, Vex and Makeblock’s Mbot, in order to give students different challenges, in the hope to see a progression. I am the curriculum director of the company, in charge of our course content.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with INTEGRA SOURCES?

From the beginning, we aimed not to become a mainstream company. There are many groups out there trying to create coding classes, but most end up with a mechanical approach, telling kids to build robots. Coding is usually a small part of the process. We wanted to find a company who could help build an interface which would allow students to actually learn how to code, and focus less on the building.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We went to INTEGRA with the idea of bridging visual and native programming. They built a whole library for a new robot we wanted to deploy, using the Google Blockly concept. We had new blocks and Python code, using a whole new platform.

We’re currently using EV3 with Google Blockly, and the aim is to go to Python. Their team helped us rewrite the whole library in a way which allowed us to make use of Google Blockly on an EV3 robot.

What is the team dynamic?

They assigned someone to interface between us and them. He was in charge of the whole project, and came up with the whole plan. I believe there were separate teams for hardware and software components. We started work on the Mbot parts, and are now working on software development.

How did you come to work with INTEGRA SOURCES?

When we started working with them, I was not yet a part of the company. I believe we found them on Upwork.

How much have you invested with them?

They had a flat $35 per hour fee, regardless of how many people were working on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with INTEGRA in August 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The most impressive thing they’ve done for us has been the rewriting of our entire library. We are currently using a platform which could not run native Python normally, but we have this ability. INTEGRA wrote a whole new firmware and installed it on the hardware. The most interesting thing is that the actual manufacturers of our robots are using a whole different approach. We’ve told them that we actually have a better solution than them, and tried to make a deal.

They’re very practical and have a lot of experience from working in different fields. We had a lot of problems connecting our robots to PCs. INTEGRA suggested that we use a wireless connection, which would be more reliable, faster and safer. It was a big jump for us, and I’m happy with the output.

How did INTEGRA SOURCES perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m not sure what their internal structure is, but they have a large and talented team, with enough manpower. They’ve worked long hours to make sure everything was done in time. We were in touch even during weekends and after working hours. I could write them at 11 PM, and still receive a reply. We have good communication, and are friendly to each other.

Although INTEGRA is a professional company, they still remember the importance of client communication, and have tried to make it enjoyable. We do our job with a smile on our face, and I’ve never had a situation of needing to contact someone on their side, and not getting through. I have nothing negative to say in this regard.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The communication and the simple fact that we can customize whatever we’re looking for. They will go out of their way to find something which fits us. Services in Taiwan are much cheaper, but there are limitations to what we can do locally. We haven’t seen this with INTEGRA—if something is more efficient, they will go for it. They’ve made research on what the best approach for our issue is, and bring back multiple options. This is the main thing which separates them from the bunch.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There is currently an embargo with Russia, which has made payments difficult. This is not INTEGRA’s fault; it’s simply a problem on our side we haven’t found a solution for. I can’t think of anything specifically relating to them.

5.0
Overall Score I have no complaints.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    Always on time.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They’re less expensive than many other developers.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    I’m very satisfied.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    We’ve already done it.

Software Dev for Measurement Equipment Dev Company

"... ... these guys always suggest the best ways to complete the tasks once the specification is received."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
2015
Project summary: 

Integra Sources provided software development sources for a Slovenian measurement equipment manufacturing company. They developed a specific measurement tool for the company.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Slovenia
CTO, Measaurement Equipment Dev Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Integra Sources' engineering team exceeded expectations. Daily reports on development projects made it easy for the client to stay on top of every task. The team at Integra Sources is easy to talk to, regardless of the topic of discussion.

The client submitted this review online.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am CTO at a Slovenian measurement equipment development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Integra Sources?

We were looking for a company to provide high level software development services for our device. By that I mean clean and robust code for both frontend and backend with proper documentation.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Integra Sources was involved in the software development for a measurement device of ours. The main programming languages used were C, C++, Java, JavaScript and Python. List of software that was developed included Oscilloscope application, Spectrum analyzer, Logic analyzer with support of UART, SPI and I2C. Integra Sources also developed a bode plotter, application for adjusting system settings, and implemented the licensing procedures for this device (user can buy applications on marketplace).

How did you come to work with Integra Sources?

We surfed through the internet and found IS website, and were impressed by the projects that were implemented by their engineering team. I was also pleased with the sales department. Their managers really tried to help us, not just sell something, which was really important for me.

How much have you invested with them?

Around $100,000

What is the status of this engagement?

We started to work together 2 and a half years ago. Integra Sources team has completed the main tasks and we continue to work on further enhancements of the system as well as in the implementation of new features. And, of course, we have plans for future projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Their engineering team always manages to complete all the tasks on time. There were several tasks that were a bit slowed down, and the team had to take extra time to complete the tasks, which is good. At the result of the project, all tasks were completed. What our team really liked about IS is that these guys always provide you with a daily report document and update it each day so we were able track all the activity and add comments on the separate tasks.

I’m more that sure that our feedback can be improved with the time as we continue to work with IS on the project and some other projects as well.

How did Integra Sources perform from a project management standpoint?

We were provided with a project manager with just the right amount of involvement to make sure that everything went well, and there were several misunderstandings, but nothing serious.

As I told you, they provided us with a daily report. They also set up a Basecamp project to have all the documents and all the important information kept there. We asked them to join our Redmine and they did it without any problems.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I would say that communication and high skills are the major factors here. The availability is also good (project and sales managers available on Skype practically the whole day. IS can provide you with a direct access to the developers which is also convenient.

What I personally liked about them is that these guys always suggest the best ways to complete the tasks once the specification is received. It is good to see different options that we have.

Integra's team is not only very professional, but they are also really good partners to speak with. People are not robots and it is impossible to talk about work all the time. So, with IS team we can discuss anything and we appreciate that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing to say here, guys sometimes took extra time on weekends when our deadlines were really tight. A+ for that.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Firmware Development for Asset Tracking Startup

“Integra is willing to seek out solutions to problems that are not cookie cutter and are important to what we do.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Jan. 2016 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Integra was hired for their firmware development expertise in order to do embedded programming, design, and development. Having already proven their capabilities, the engagement is ongoing.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Germantown, Maryland
Founder, Asset Tracking Startup
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Integra's creative engineers have innovative problem-solving skills and in-depth expertise which make this team a strong partner in their field; their flexibility and affordability allow the relationship to remain sustainable in the long term.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a startup that makes an Internet of Things solution for businesses to track physical goods: vehicles, pallets, and people. We make a connected hardware solution that has both hardware components that are connected to the cloud and then we have a cloud component as well.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Integra Sources?

Since half of our product portfolio is hardware, which almost always implies firmware, we were looking for firmware development expertise. And that's not easy to come by, especially not at reasonable price points. You can get app and cloud developers across the board, and there are a lot of choices there. We were looking for a company that had the ability to work on specific microcontrollers from different companies. Integra, although located in the middle of Russia, had the exact kind of expertise we were looking for. I think we’ve gotten over the geography challenges during the last 18 months we’ve been working with Integra, and they’ve been doing pretty good work for us. They’ve mainly done embedded programming for us, as well as some design and development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We make Bluetooth beacons that are different from other Bluetooth beacons because they are deployed in enterprise assets, so there’s a high level of reliability, monitoring, security, etc. Integra wrote the firmware for four or five models of Bluetooth asset beacons. We also have a little gateway device that scans for these beacons and talks to the cloud. Integra's engineers also developed the front-end portion of the firmware.

 

We give Integra the hardware design, and then they do the firmware on top of that, even though I think they have some expertise on the hardware side as well. I have firmware engineering expertise, but I don't have the time to do that anymore. I would say we depend almost entirely on Integra for firmware work.

 

How did you come to work with Integra Sources?
I use Upwork a lot, so that’s where I found Integra. My usual practice with Upwork is to create a mini-project — something that’s not expensive or time-consuming — and then have two or three companies or freelancers work on it and then I pick one out of that list. I remember doing this project about 18 months ago. I had a firmware developer in India, another one in the United States, and then Integra. Right now I work mainly with one developer, but over the last year I've worked with at least four people. They all have been able to solve some fairly complex challenges that go beyond just reading the documentation and reading the code and that’s always impressive.

Price was one of the most important aspects in choosing Integra. We did some firmware work with companies here that were north of $140 and $150 an hour, and that was incredibly expensive. I wasn't necessarily looking for the cheapest provider out there, and Integra isn’t, but I think they offer a pretty good balance. In addition to being closer to our point of affordability, Integra's skills are even better than some of the companies I've seen here.

 

How much have you invested with Integra Source?

I think we spent about $20,000 with Integra last year, and this year we might do at least that, if not more.

 

What is the status of this engagement?

We probably started working with Integra in January 2016, and the project is ongoing. Right now, I'm waiting for some folks to come back from vacation, so we can kick off the next phase.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We are a small startup, so we don't keep many metrics. If a solution works, we’re happy. There has been more than one occasion where, especially when we work with fairly new products and/or chip sets, that the lead documentation is insufficient. I have told the Integra engineer to do whatever it takes to solve a problem — go onto public forums or the discussion forums related to that product and post their questions to get the right answer. They have done all of that. I’ve gone to forums, and I’ve seen questions that looks remarkably like what we’ve been asking, only to later find out that our engineer posted it. I think that’s good initiative. Integra is willing to seek out solutions to problems that are not cookie cutter and are important to what we do. We have fairly important clients today for whom we would not have had a solution without the Integra engineer’s creativity.

How did Integra Sources perform from a project management standpoint?

I usually prefer to work with only one developer on a project, but there’s usually another person who fills a project management role. I don't know if that’s what they do as a matter of course, but I always ask for one developer for a certain period of time, so we can get totally immersed and get the job done. I haven't had any problems with Integra’s project management. I usually just tell the project manager to stay out of the way. I’ll say, “I need the engineer for this broad task that may take a couple of weeks.” That way, the project manager knows that, for two weeks, it’s full-time. Toward the end of that period, I might get a message from the project manager saying, “Do you think this is going to go on for another week, or are you ramping down?” and I provide some guidance. We have to shift products back and forth often, and the project manager has taken care of that fairly efficiently. Sometimes the shipment aspect of our work is frustrating, but Integra certainly is not responsible for those political boundaries.

 

What did you find most impressive about Integra Sources?

I can only speak for the other companies I looked at insofar as them being competitors. I looked at a couple of companies in India, and I think they just wanted to check the box and run. I also worked with another fairly specialized embedded design and programming shop in Portland, but they were extremely expensive, and I'm not sure they would have been comfortable with going out of the box. I think the larger firms tend to stick by their requirements and not stray from them too far. We sometimes don't know what the solution is going to look like, and I certainly think that flexibility is helpful.

 

Are there any areas Integra Sources could improve?

This isn't all Integra’s problem, but it was difficult getting packages to them in Russia. I think the shipping rules change quite frequently. There have been times when I have followed last month’s instructions only to find that the rules have changed again, and the shipment gets returned to me. That’s happened a few times, though I think we’re past that now.

 

As a startup, I am very happy with what I'm getting from Integra. If I were a much bigger company, I would probably be looking at a more structured firm, but I actually don't want that much structure. I want problem-solving rather than a straight engineering project.

5.0
Overall Score I'd give Integra a 5, no question, and I would continue to use them for that reason.
  • 4.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    The schedule slipped because of the complexities of the project itself. Sometimes in what we do, we don't know which way to go and schedules get affected because of that.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    There are lower cost options available, but in terms of overall value, they are the best.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    I’ve done many projects with them, and they’ve always delivered more than what I expected.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    If potential customers are looking for embedded development, I would recommend Integra 100%. I don't know about the other services Integra provides.