bcsinnovations

Hayden Scott (Mechatronics Engineer)

Earlier this year, BCS Innovations was asked by Austdac to redevelop one of their mining communication products. This project involved changing the Voice Over IP (VOIP) software from a Linux based system (Asterisk) to a Windows based system (3CX).

Some USB hardware design and a redesign of the user interface for use in Windows Vista via a touch screen was also required. 

This project was headed by our software team leader, Stephen “Mac” Rowe, who has been developing high quality software and firmware for a multitude of projects ranging from dual-DSP based audio systems to FDA approved controllers of high powered lasers. Mac is adept at developing software within strict regulatory frameworks such as MISRA and IEC62304.

In late 2007, BCS was approached by 1X, an Australian distributor of communications products, with an exciting project. They wanted to build the first HSDPA / Next G compatible, dual-sim, fleet mobile phone conceived entirely by an Australian company. The aim was to meet a gap in the current market.

Over the next year, a team of engineers at BCS Innovations worked closely with 1X engineering and management staff through all stages of the development process to ensure that product evolved to their exact specification.

This included activities such as electronic, firmware, and software design, verification, validation and prototype manufacture.

And so, The Ballistic Mobile Linehaul R247 phone was born...

About the Linehaul R247

Sparked by the desire for a simple and practical phone tailored to the needs of the transport industry, this phone is arguably the loudest and toughest phone on the market, developed with simplicity and ease of use as its primary objectives.

Hardware development of the phone involved 3 PCBs with embedded systems used for monitoring, control, wireless communications and the user interface. The entirely custom firmware controls a suite of user functions and settings, focused on consumer usability and market-specific features.

Prior to hardware being available, a full PC-based simulator was constructed to allow refinement of the phone's user interface.

This phone is currently available on the market in it's first incarnation, as a fixed-in-vehicle 'Truck Phone'.

Hi, I'm Dave Bull CEO of BCS Innovations. My day-to-day job at BCS is to monitor and direct the executive team who in turn manage their various departments. An important skill for anyone running a business is the ability to judge the appropriate staffing levels required to navigate through the months ahead. There is no doubt that the Global Financial Meltdown has caught many senior managers flatfooted in this regard.

Just before writing this article I bumped into an old friend who is an economics professor specialising in stochastic derivatives modeling. It was his considered opinion that many of the indicators for the onset of recession were evident well before the warnings became public.

There are many indicators that have been used to identify a pending recession, one that has been credited as one of the most accurate is the decline in the total amount of salaries that are paid each quarter. This should not be confused with unemployment statistics which are a lagging phenomenon and mostly skewed by ever changing and politically motivated sampling criteria.

I often say to our staff that our new business sales calls are a great indicator of what the economy is about to do. That is, they usually slow to a dribble just before an economic down-turn and climb steeply just before a period of economic growth.

It was certainly true that we noticed a sales enquiry down-turn around December 2007 yet most were not talking of recession at that point in time, on the contrary the ASX 200 index was at an all-time high of over 6700. It wasn't until almost ten months later (September 2008) that the Australian Federal Reserve Bank reduced its cash rate from 7.25% to 7.0% to stem the effects of a potential recession, until this time there were numerous rate rises to help reduce inflation.

What makes a good design engineer?

A slightly nerdy outlook on life. I was given some tools for Christmas when I was young. People thought this was an odd present for a kid who was eight years old and that I wouldn't like it. Then I got to pull my brother's toys to pieces when he wasn't looking. I had heaps of fun.

How have you kept up with changing technology?

We always have different projects coming in; This combined with researching on the internet for the right part for the job keeps you involved with what's out there.

What's your favourite tool?

I still do most of my own soldering for prototypes, it's important when designing hardware to not design something that's impossible to rework. As far as reworking is concerned - my favourite tool is the microscope.. bits keep getting smaller and my eyesight isn't getting better!