Nordic-powered Bluetooth LE Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand provides interactive experience

Design firm New Peak Interactive has partnered with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment to develop and launch the Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand employing Nordic Semiconductor Bluetooth LE wireless connectivity. The collectible platform enables an interactive experience for Harry Potter fans and families. 

The solution comprises the Nordic nRF52832 SoC-powered ‘Smart Wand’ device, the nRF52810 SoC-powered ‘Wand Box’ hub, and an associated iOS/Android smartphone app where the user can review their user profile – for example levels and experience attained – as well as a spell book with over 50 spells and multiplayer duels. It is the only smart wand on the market able to recognise multiple spell gestures and connect to smart home devices for rich lighting animations and unrivalled depth of play, according to the developers. 

Reliable power delivery

Both the wand and the box also integrate the Nordic nPM1100 dedicated power management IC (PMIC) with a highly efficient dual-mode configurable buck regulator and integrated battery charger, ensuring reliable power delivery and stable operation whilst maximising battery life. The nPM1100’s ‘ship mode’ disables power output until the device is unboxed by the customer, enabling the developers to create a magical unboxing experience where the wand comes to life.

The Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand integrates touch sensors and a motion sensor to help the wand determine which spell the user wants to cast. Using Bluetooth LE wireless connectivity provided by Nordic’s nRF52832 multiprotocol SoC, the sensor data is relayed from the wand to a user’s smartphone. Through the app the user can then create a multimedia, multisensory spell casting experience by controlling Bluetooth enabled stereo/speakers, compatible smart home lighting, and even compatible smart TVs. 

Ultra low power

The solution uses Li-ion and Li-Poly batteries in the wand and box respectively to achieve battery life of up to four hours of moderate usage between recharge – or multiple days in low power mode when the LEDs are inactive – thanks in part to the ultra low power characteristics of the Nordic SoCs, and the integration of the nPM1100 PMIC. 

“The wafer level chip scale package (WL-CSP) version of the nRF52832 SoC with M4 processor combined with our proprietary RF layout provided the necessary processing power, memory allocation and PCB footprint to create the desired system functionality within the ultra compact space required to stay true to prop replica dimensions,” says Mike Goslin, CEO New Peak Interactive. 

“Our team has had extensive experience with Nordic’s components in the past so we knew we could trust and achieve the radio and power performance required for this project.”

Comment on this article below or via Twitter: @IoTNow_OR @jcIoTnow

RECENT ARTICLES

Aeris to acquire IoT business from Ericsson

Posted on: December 8, 2022

Ericsson and Aeris Communications, a provider of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions based in San Jose, California, have signed an agreement for the transfer of Ericsson’s IoT Accelerator and Connected Vehicle Cloud businesses.

Read more

Telenor IoT passes milestone of 20mn SIM cards

Posted on: December 8, 2022

Telenor, the global IoT provider and telecom operator, has experienced rapid growth over the last years and ranks among the top 3 IoT operators in Europe and among the top IoT operators in the world. The positive development is due to an accelerated pace of new customers combined with a successful growth of existing customers’

Read more
FEATURED IoT STORIES

The IoT Adoption Boom – Everything You Need to Know

Posted on: September 28, 2022

In an age when we seem to go through technology boom after technology boom, it’s hard to imagine one sticking out. However, IoT adoption, or the Internet of Things adoption, is leading the charge to dominate the next decade’s discussion around business IT. Below, we’ll discuss the current boom, what’s driving it, where it’s going,

Read more

Talking Heads: The M2M Doctor is in the House

Posted on: December 26, 2013

Mobile health is M2M at its most rewarding. So says, Dan MacDuffie CEO of Wyless (left). And he should know, his managed services company has achieved 50% yearon- year growth recently and a growing portion of that is in mHealth and Wellness services. He’s certain we’re standing on the threshold of a new generation of health services that cut delivery costs, extend the reach

Read more

Talking Heads: mHealth gains ground as one-stop shops and M2M with ‘wired safety net’ bring efficient patient monitoring

Posted on: December 23, 2013

For years analysts have touted mobile healthcare as a huge opportunity for those offering machine-to-machine communication (M2M) services. Truth be told, the progress so far has been patchy, at best. So M2M Now asked Alexander Bufalino, SEVP Global Marketing at Telit, to describe the hurdles in the way of M2M mHealth, how they are now being overcome and what

Read more

Unlocking the total value of M2M

Posted on: December 19, 2013

Do you ever wonder why people and organisations invest in machine-to-machine communications (M2M) and the Internet of Things (IoT), asks Fred Yentz? Reasons may differ somewhat across industry segments but in most cases they fall in one or more of three categories: To make money, to save money or to be compliant. ILS Technology is squarely focused on helping

Read more

Paving the way to the Internet of Things

Posted on: December 17, 2013

Combining the ARM computing engine with location-awareness and wireless connectivity It’s set to be the Perfect Storm: The rapid growth of high-speed cellular networks and the introduction of IP version 6 which has enough IP addresses for every grain of sand on Earth. Add to this mix the proliferation of the ARM embedded computing architecture, now the de facto global

Read more

What’s the ‘real deal’ on the Internet of Things?

Posted on: December 16, 2013

The ‘Internet of Things’ buzzword appears to have picked up steam during the past several months as large players such as GE and Cisco have touted their stories on the growing number of connected devices. But, as Alex Brisbourne of KORE asks, how different, if at all, is the Internet of Things when compared with other connected device markets,

Read more

M2M Now Magazine December 2013 Edition

Posted on: December 5, 2013

M2M Now magazine explores the evolving opportunities and challenges facing CSPs across this sector. Our exclusive interviews pass on some key lessons learned by those who have taken the first steps in next gen Machine to Machine (M2M) services. In the latest issue: TALKING HEADS: Alexander Bufalino of Telit tells how one-stop shops and M2M with a ‘wired

Read more