Chris Fortunato
Engineer & Product Developer
Services
Let's build together.
Rapid Prototyping
Hardware is moving faster than ever before. With years of experience in module sourcing and hardware hacking, let us put together a proof-of-concept or small-batch production run to show the world that your concept will work. Don't sink time and money into more expensive development processes if you don't have a functional prototype first!
Circuit Board (PCB)Â Design, Fabrication, and Population
Whether your circuit needs WiFi, 4G, signal processing, heating elements, USB interfaces, or anything else, we can put together a solid, tested design, and work with our select manufacturing partners to produce any quantity of fully assembled boards.
Firmware & Inter-device Communication
Connected devices are only as useful as they are reliable. Chris has built complete and rigorously-tested firmware communication stacks for devices that have been deployed by large firms & the US military. Whether your circuit needs to only run a few lines of code, or implement Apple's 10,000-page MFi Protocol (Made for iOS), we'll put together a series of unit tests to make sure it'll work when deployed.
Manufacturing: Small Batch or DFM for High-Volume
Whether you need to make 10 units or 10,000, we'll figure out the most cost-effective way to build what you need. We will research and give you a thorough report on costs in quantity for your complete BOM; a list of parts ranked by their criticality and life cycle; and alternate suppliers. Your circuit boards and other components will be Designed for Manufacture (DFM) and ready to be picked up by a large-volume manufacturer. Or we can work together to keep it all in-house - it's all possible.
Interested in learning more about my professional background? Get in touch today.
Case Studies
Your next project could be here.
Internet-Connected Water Guage
August 2017 - January 2018
The problem: An NYC-based client in the hospitality industry needed to monitor the water supplies in their cabins in the woods throughout the northeast US. As the supply pipes freeze every winter, manual re-filling of the water tanks is very costly and should be avoided if at all possible.
The solution: I created an internet-connected interface that uses 3G to transmit the water level in each water tank to the client's servers. The interfaces have been in constant operation since November 2017 without failure. A microcontroller reads the water level every 30 minutes and uses HTML to post the tank level to a server. I worked with a woodshop in Philadelphia to hand-assemble 100 units for this client, and worked directly with their software + groundskeeping teams to make sure the installation & troubleshooting went smoothly.
Technology used: 3G connectivity, microcontrollers, HTML, industrial adhesives, machining with ABS plastic
Serverless Smart Lock Management Hub
Jan 2018 - Feb 2018
The problem: An NYC-based client in the hospitality industry needed a way to remotely control thousands of Z-wave-connected Kwikset smart-locks. Their existing web-based platform was run on a third-party server intended for non-professional home automation, and the occasional server downtime was catastrophic to their business.
The solution: using a Raspberry Pi and a Z-wave USB stick, I designed a solution that allowed them to send commands via HTML to remote management hubs from their own in-house servers. The client's in-house technical team can now change lock codes, lock and unlock doors, and perform any manner of direct communications with their fleet of Kwikset smart locks, without relying on any third-party server. The commands came from an ethernet connection to a wireless router, and were transmitted via a secure, encrypted Z-wave channel to their off-the-shelf smart locks.
Technology used: Z-wave, secure Z-wave, HTML, Raspberry Pi, Linux, custom rPi OS's
FDA-compliant Data Extraction Script for Class III Medical Device Validation
Dec 2017 - Jan 2018
Created a Python program for use in a medical device manufacturer's laboratories in Palo Alto, CA. The program extracts, processes, and stores data relevant to the FDA approval process of a class III implanted medical device. I created a GUI and an instruction manual so that lab techs can immediately start using the software. I also created a thoroughly-documented flowchart describing how the program works, so that the software may pass an FDA audit.
Technology used: Python 3, tkinter GUI library, FDA-compliant Design Controls, MS Excel
4G-Connected, Solar-Powered Public Transit Information Screen
March 2018 - present
Working with a team in NYC to build a low-cost, solar-powered, 3G-connected, weatherproof box that displays information relevant to public transport.
Technology used: color LCD TFT displays, 3G connectivity, microcontrollers, UX design, CNC machining, power conservation, USB charging
Let ’s Get Started
I’m currently looking for new clients, and would love to work with you on your project. Reach out today so we can discuss first steps.
9083589138