More insight into production - updated

above: Every factory produced Bit will go thru automated optical inspection (AOI) to ensure it was assembled properly and that the motor/ sensor are functioning correctly.

Now that production is underway, check out the updated schedule below to see where we are in the engineering validation and testing phases that ensure Vestaboards will function well and have all industry standard safety and electronics approvals! 

We published a similar schedule to the one below on April 30th, and we will continue posting updates and details including shipping dates as we continue forward. We organized the last production schedule post into sections: the Vestaboard Bit, the overall Vestaboard, and the app, so we are keeping this format. The next update of the schedule will only reference the overall Vestaboard.

The Vestaboard Bit

Referencing the schedule I shared with you in April:

• Finalizing design changes on the Bit  -- complete

• • Taking the Bit from concept to prototype to ability to manufacture at scale at cost, was a feat of greater engineering and global teamwork than anticipated. The factory-produced Bit is beautiful! Please check out our Evolution of the Bit post, and stay tuned for a video about our incredible designers Fred and Anson of Bould Design.

• Finalizing a relationship with our partner manufacturer for the Bit -- complete 
• We are glad to be working with the same manufacturer for the Bit and the overall Vestaboard.
• Tooling parts for the Bit and ordering 1st production run materials -- complete 
• EVT of Bits - partially complete
• Our selected factory partner has produced the first 200 character units (Bits EVT), and overall we are very pleased with the state and quality. We are correcting issues in the next run of over 3,000 Bits described below.
• To ensure the Bits are durable, we will put several through Lifecycle Testing. We began Lifecycle Testing on an earlier set of prototyped Bits (motor inside the wheel) in April, and they are still running every 10 seconds representing nearly 2 million cycles. We expect same or better results.
• Next our partner factory will produce over 3,000 Bits (taking lessons from the first 200 Bits that are now in Lifecycle Testing) in order to build 30 EVT Vestaboards. 
• All future runs of Bits (DVT & PVT) will coincide with the overall Vestaboard steps outlined below.

 

The overall Vestaboard

The overall assembly of Vestaboard includes the housing of all the Bits, frame and matte mask, backplane PCB, micro-controller / wi-fi module, power supply and mounting mechanism.

• Finalizing design changes including a removable frame / mask and a secure, swappable connection to the Bits -- complete
• Selecting our partner for final assembly -- complete
• Tooling parts for the overall Vestaboard and ordering 1st production run materials -- in progress
• 1st short production run (EVT) of Vestaboard -- we will assemble a Vestaboard using the first set of EVT factory produced Bits next week. We will then authorize our partner factory to assemble 30 Vestaboards (EVT)!
• Ensuring Vestaboard EVT units meet all required third party safety, regulatory and technical standards and passing of our own internal tests -- this will begin in October, and we will have a good sense of our DVT/PVT/Shipping schedule after testing is finished
• 2nd production run (DVT Vestaboard) including a few that will ship! -- after EVT
• Shipping and delivery details -- we'll ask customers for address, city, country soon!
• 3rd production run (PVT), mass production including shipping / delivery -- after DVT

 

The Vestaboard App

When you receive your Vestaboard there will be a mobile app (also accessible on desktop and web via browser) to use to activate and control your Vestaboard.

The App will include the following features:

• Basic Messages -- Type anything you want and our arrangement algorithm ensures what is typed looks great
• Creative Input -- A WYSIWIG (what you see is what you get) editor so that you can put any character at any position of the Vestaboard
• Colors -- A color pattern editor
• Recurring Messages -- The ability to input and edit messages that recur (such as quotes, sayings, phrases)
• App Integrations -- Integrations with Slack for work and IFTTT for home control
• Calendar  -- Calendar integrations for scheduled messages with Outlook, Google and iOS
• Voice control -- Voice integrations with Google Assistant, Apple HomePod and Alexa
• Many, many more! -- If you can imagine a feature you’d love to see in Vestaboard, please let us know.

We plan to publish specifications and instructions for the Vestaboard API in the coming weeks.  Please update your preferences here in the Customer Portal to be notified when it is ready.