Ottawa, ON-– Design 1st, a leading product development firm specializing in complex hardware and software integration, has played a pivotal role in bringing to market Calibre Biometrics’ groundbreaking consumer wearable for real-time breath analysis. By harnessing its embedded software expertise, Design 1st helped transform what was once a lab-only, $100,000 technology into a portable device available for under $500.
The collaboration began when Massachusetts-based Calibre Biometrics set out to democratize access to high-performance metabolic tracking. Seeking to provide athletes, coaches, and health-focused consumers with real-time data previously only obtainable in clinical settings, the company turned to Design 1st to solve the critical firmware and systems engineering challenges behind the device.
“Design 1st’s expertise was instrumental in turning our ambitious vision into reality,” said Udi Meirav, CEO and founder of Calibre Biometrics. “Their ability to solve deep firmware and systems challenges made all the difference. Together, we delivered something that’s never been done before.”
The result is an award-winning wearable that delivers lab-grade metabolic data—including VO₂Max, VCO₂, fat and carbohydrate burn rates, and respiratory exchange ratios—continuously and accurately. The device is powered by a dual-core embedded platform developed by Design 1st’s internal team, which integrates sensor data from CO₂, O₂, pressure, humidity, and temperature sources at a rate of 50 times per second.
Design 1st’s embedded team engineered custom firmware capable of executing real-time gas mixing algorithms, steady-state detection, and environmental compensation. The system is optimized for low power consumption, enabling over 14 hours of battery life with adaptive power scaling and Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) connectivity.
“Our team architected the firmware, managed power, and aligned every subsystem to meet strict accuracy, usability, and manufacturability requirements,” said Yih-shyang Tsai, Senior Embedded Engineer at Design 1st.
The development process also included automated calibration routines and Python-based manufacturing tools, helping streamline production and reduce time to market. The success of the Calibre device not only resulted in industry accolades and validation through peer-reviewed studies, but it also showcases the value of early and deep collaboration between software and hardware teams.
Design 1st’s work with Calibre is now being viewed as a model for developing high-performance, sensor-driven wearables. The firm’s contribution underscores the importance of fully integrated embedded systems when precision, reliability, and real-time performance are essential.
For companies aiming to push the boundaries of what connected devices can achieve, Design 1st’s role in delivering Calibre’s clinically-validated wearable proves that the right embedded software partner can turn vision into reality.
