Embedded Audio, DSP & ML

Engineering for Intelligent Devices

Feather Engineering develops embedded systems for audio, sensing, wearable, and intelligent edge devices — combining electronics, firmware, DSP, acoustics, and embedded machine learning into production-oriented solutions. We design systems that are efficient, reliable, and tuned for real-world performance.

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What We Build

Whether you need a complete subsystem designed from the ground up or a specialist to solve a hard signal-processing or machine learning problem, Feather Engineering fits into your team where you need the most help.

      • Audio Systems
      • Embedded ML applications
      • Wearables & hearables
      • Intelligent audio devices
      • Embedded sensing systems
      • Connected IoT products
      • Real-time DSP systems

      Core Technical Competencies

      We design the electronics that make your product possible, with attention to low noise, robustness, and manufacturability — including the firmware that brings it to life.

      • System-level architecture and partitioning
      • Schematic capture and design review
      • PCB layout for analog, digital, RF, and power (2–12+ layers)
      • Low-noise analog front ends and mixed-signal design
      • Bare-metal and RTOS firmware integration for MCUs and SoCs
      • Bootloaders, update mechanisms, and diagnostics
      • Prototype bring-up, debug, and validation
      • Documentation and manufacturing handoff

      We design and implement DSP algorithms with an emphasis on music and voice performance, tuned for embedded targets.

      • Music and voice processing algorithms
      • Filtering, EQ, dynamics, and spectral shaping
      • Voice clarity and intelligibility optimization
      • Low-latency signal chains for real-time use
      • Fixed-point and SIMD-accelerated audio pipelines
      • Prototyping and analysis in MATLAB / Python
      • Optimized implementations on DSP cores and MCUs

      We bring machine learning out of the lab and into resource-constrained devices — low power, limited memory, real-time.

      • Feature engineering for audio, motion, and sensor data
      • Streaming feature pipelines that combine DSP and ML
      • Model development for classification, detection, and event recognition
      • TinyML-oriented architectures for low RAM/Flash devices
      • TensorFlow Lite / TFLite Micro, uTFLite, and PyTorch
      • Quantized and fixed-point model deployment
      • On-device inference on ARM Cortex-M33 and HiFi5 DSP cores
      • Integration of SOC based ML from femtoAI and Syntiant

      We bridge electronics, DSP, and real-world acoustics to create systems that actually sound right.

      • Transducer selection and system architecture
      • Enclosure and porting tradeoffs
      • Measurement and characterization of drivers and systems
      • Tuning for tonal balance, loudness, and intelligibility
      • Test fixture and measurement workflow design
      • Support for both lab-grade and production-oriented test setups

      Systems Engineering is where it all comes together — integrating sensing, DSP, ML, and wireless on tightly-constrained hardware.

      • BLE Audio and low-power wireless
      • MCU ↔ DSP partitioning and shared-memory frameworks
      • Sensor fusion across audio, motion, and environmental data
      • Edge AI on power- and memory-constrained devices
      • Real-time control loops and audio pipelines
      • Bootloaders, update mechanisms, and diagnostics
      • Power-aware system design and battery life optimization
      • Communication stacks: BLE, WiFi, USB, UART, I²C, SPI

      Platforms & Technologies

      The toolchains and silicon we work with day-to-day:

      Silicon

      Detailed macro shot of a red circuit board, highlighting electronic components and microchips.

      Nordic nRF5x

      • Nordic nRF 5x
      • ARM Cortex Cores
      • HiFi DSP Cres

      Tools

      A laptop screen showing programming code and debugging tools, ideal for tech topics.
      • TensorFlow Lite / TFLite Micro
      • PyTorch
      • CMSIS-DSP
      • AudioWeaver
      • RTOS (FreeTROS, Zephyr)
      • Python / Matlab
      • Pads PCB, Altium, KiCAD, EasyCAD, Eagle

      How We Engage

      We engage at any stage of your development. Most projects start narrow and grow as scope sharpens.

      Our approach to Design Services

      Architecture & Exploration

      Early-stage feasibility, system definition, and problem scoping.

      Development & Integration

      Hardware, firmware, DSP, and ML implementation through bring-up and integration.

      Optimization & Tuning

      Performance, acoustics, latency, and reliability on existing systems.

      Have a project in mind?

      We work with teams shipping audio, wearable, and intelligent edge devices. Tell us what you are building.

      Let’s Discuss Your Project