Tributech and the Internet of Things Laboratory at InnCubator

The new Internet of Things Laboratory (short: IoT Laboratory) at the InnCubator in Innsbruck is a university-funded, shared effort between the University of Innsbruck, WIFI Tirol and Tributech Solutions. The idea for this laboratory was only born in 2020 and it is now already up and running since early 2021. The IoT Laboratory, which’s hardware components and machinery were selected based on Tributech’s expertise, is now accessible to any start-up at the InnCubator, enabling in-house prototyping and hardware testing without the need to outsource these processes. Therefore, effectively saving us and other start-ups time and money, while also having a new physical space where ideas, practices and learnings can be shared with others.

Benefits of an In-House IoT Laboratory

Despite currently being our main hardware product, the Tributech Sensor Security Module is not the only project directly benefiting from this well-equipped facility. Through the IoT Laboratory, we are now able to accompany our clients and partners, from the first spark of an idea to a finished Internet of Things product prototype being ready to go into production. In combination with our highly standardized hardware and software stacks (the Tributech DataSpace Kit), this facility enables us to deliver practical and thoroughly tested IoT solutions within a considerably short amount of time. Hardware prototyping and testing, not just internally but also for our clients and partner’s products, can now be done in a much more cost- and time-efficient manner while not losing the ever-important focus on quality! In a nutshell, we will benefit from the IoT Laboratory by:

• Driving Innovation

• Hardware Prototyping

• Creating Data-Driven Products

• Testing

Prototyping Process of a Printed Circuit Board

To provide a more practical example of how we are directly benefitting from this facility, we will now shortly document one of our first use-cases. You will gain insights into the prototyping process of our Sensor Security Module’s printed circuit board (PCB). The printed circuit board of our Sensor Security Module was fully designed and tested in-house by Tributech, allowing us full control over the prototyping process, further making sure that we can revise the product until we are fully satisfied with the outcome. Below you will find an overview of some essential prototyping steps taken by our engineers, the actual production of the circuit boards is later outsourced to companies specialized on this service.

Step 1 At the first station of the IoT Laboratory, the printed circuit board (PCB) is mounted into a so-called “manual stencil printer”. A steel stencil with a standard thickness of 100µm is then placed upon the PCB and fixed to prevent unwanted movement. Afterwards, solder paste is applied with a spatula. With this step, the solder paste is left in the recesses of the stencil and covers exposed solder joints on the PCB.

Step 2 In the next step, the surface mounted device (SMD) components get positioned on their respective places. This is done with a manual Pick & Place machine. The machine includes a vacuum pump and a hollow needle which acts as a funnel for the vacuum. The components get picked up with the needle, are properly oriented and then placed on top of the previously applied solder paste.

Step 3 Soldering is the last step of the prototype manufacturing process. This is done with a specialized oven which can follow user specific temperature curves. First, the assembled printed circuit boards get placed into the oven. To start the soldering process, the user must set the desired temperature curve after carefully evaluating which temperatures the weakest components can handle and which temperature is required for the applied solder paste.

Step 4 Following the soldering operation in the oven, the through hole technology (THD) components are soldered to the PCB, this step is done manually. Afterwards, the components go through an initial visual inspection to spot any potential solder bridges and cold solder joints.

Step 5 Once the THD components got fitted and passed the visual inspection, the printed circuit board is connected to an adjustable laboratory power supply. The signals of the PCB can now be tested, either with a computer or an oscilloscope.

Future Applications

At Tributech, we are already excited to utilize the Internet of Things Laboratory for the upcoming prototyping process of our own OEM module as well as promising client projects. One of them is the development of a specialized IoT device for Beetle ForTech, a company working on making worldwide forestry and wood sourcing a truly sustainable business via their innovative timber tracking solution! The new IoT laboratory enables us to work even more efficiently to help our clients, and you as well, to design data-driven products from the idea to a finished IoT prototype. If you are curious about the design of our own IoT device with cellular connectivity, the Sensor Security Module, you can find the specifications below.

>> Download Spec Sheet! <<

Interested to go one level deeper? Find the contact form at the end!

WIFI TirolThe institute for economic advancement (WIFI) is a service facility of the local chamber of commerce. Their mission is to support those working in business so that they can better meet the tasks of today and the challenges of tomorrow. It’s offerings of job-related training and professional education are of highest quality. Due to its direct proximity to companies, with a high level of practical relevance and with more than 70 years of experience in adult education, WIFI Tyrol lives up to this mission. Here, you can find more infos about the WIFI Tirol.

University InnsbruckFounded in 1669, the Leopold-Franzens University Innsbruck is the largest university in the western part of Austria. As a vital social force it stands for high-quality independent research and education. Based upon the academic ideal of a comprehensive university offering all disciplines, the breadth and depth of academic fields at the University of Innsbruck drive research and teaching while serving society. Furthermore, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the university's “Förderkreis 1669” for their support in the realization of this project. Here, you can find more information about the University of Innsbruck and the Förderkreis 1669.

InnCubatorThe local incubator (InnCubator) forms a hub between industry, academia and further development. With its broad range of services, it represents the first point of contact for founders of a wide variety of startups from the idea phase to the prototype or market entry and is considered as an institution in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Tyrol. Through an open and networked development approach and the motto of being "collectively innovative", the InnCubator embodies a playground of innovations. Here you can find more information about the InnCubator.