Low Level LabsContact us _

Selected work

Built in the real world_

Current Low Level Labs development and selected earlier embedded systems, presented through the products, architectures and constraints that shaped them.

  1. 01

    Interactive playground retrofit

    A non-intrusive retrofit system that gives existing playgrounds a new interactive layer. Battery-powered tags mounted beneath individual platforms detect jumps and stomps, turning physical activity into input for games built around light and sound.

    • Hardware
    • Firmware
    • Sub-GHz RF
    • Ultra-low power
  2. 02

    Distributed kart safety control

    A distributed radio control network that lets track marshals slow or stop one kart or all karts on the track during an incident. Mobile controls, a fixed emergency stop and onboard vehicle controllers communicate directly over 868 MHz.

    • Firmware
    • Sub-GHz RF
    • Distributed control
    • Protocol design
  3. 03

    Configurable cellular sensor interface

    A compact cellular interface that connects varied industrial sensors to remote systems over LTE-M/NB-IoT. Every sensor connection can be powered and switched independently, allowing one hardware platform to support different sensing applications.

    • Hardware
    • Cellular RF
    • Sensor interfaces
    • Low-power design

Case 01

Interactive playground retrofit_

Each tag is designed for more than ten years of operation without intervention while actively monitoring for movement at less than 25 microamps. More than 80 remotely configurable parameters allow every installation to be tuned without physical access to the sensors.

Low Level Labs completed the sensor electronics, firmware, system integration and configuration tooling. The complete system has been validated in the lab and outdoors; final RF tuning and compliance testing remain.

Current progress
Final RF tuning and compliance
Application
Interactive retrofit for existing playgrounds
System
Distributed battery-powered sensing network
Core function
Convert platform movement into game events
Key constraints
10+ years unattended, non-intrusive installation and remote tuning

Case 02

Distributed kart safety control_

Marshals can address an individual kart or broadcast a command across the entire track. A versioned, backwards-compatible TLV protocol carries each command from the mobile device, through a custom USB-C radio transceiver, to the onboard EV or ICE controller.

Commands are retransmitted at randomized intervals to improve delivery across the one-way radio network. When multiple instructions are received, the lowest speed always takes priority. Restrictions remain active until deliberately changed, while the emergency stop continues transmitting until manually reset. The system is commercially deployed and in production.

Current progress
Commercially deployed and in production
Application
Incident response on kart tracks
System
Distributed 868 MHz vehicle-control network
Core function
Slow or stop one kart or all karts on the track
Key constraints
Dependable one-way control and deterministic safety behavior

Case 03

Configurable cellular sensor interface_

Each sensor connection provides selectable 3.3 V or 5 V power and can shut down both the sensor and its interface electronics when unused. The same PCB supports RS-485, analog and digital sensors, along with either 3 x AA battery operation or an external 12 V supply.

Built around the nRF9161 in a footprint smaller than a credit card, the board combines cellular RF, flexible sensor power and two complete power paths. The hardware was redesigned from the pilot architecture and developed through schematic design, PCB layout, manufacturing preparation, bring-up and functional prototype validation.

Current progress
Functional hardware prototype completed
Application
Remote monitoring with varied external sensors
System
Compact LTE-M/NB-IoT sensor interface
Core function
Connect and independently power RS-485, analog and digital sensors
Key constraints
Cellular RF and dual power paths below credit-card size