Development Updates

The team received the Ghydion Pulse source file and put it through weeks of testing, then launched a public interactive demo at ghydion.com/pulse and opened the alpha to all backers, adding hydration-pace and manual tracking. With the patent, trademark, app, and PCB done, they paused weekly updates to plan a capital campaign funding Prototype 2 hardware.

The team locked the final design, completing the PCB, swapping the side handle for an integrated hand-slip sleeve, and approving the second and final prototype concept. With CAD drawings signed off, fabrication began while the firmware and Pulse app teams started testing communication between them, after which work shifted to letting app development catch up.

The team finalized the smart base's screen graphics, then selected the speaker and LED lighting and locked the PCB schematic controlling all electronics. They entered the fabrication phase, ordering parts and prepping the prototype build, and closed the year by sending the completed PCB off for fabrication.

The team finalized a monochrome OLED display with white text and designed the smart base screen graphics and 20x20 pixel icons, advancing the PCB and electronics in parallel. They also iterated on neoprene sleeves and carrying case options and began pursuing approval of a second patent.

The Ghydion trademark was approved and the team held its first companion app demo, then kicked off a smaller, more portable second prototype. Most of the quarter went into sourcing a color screen, contacting vendors, signing an NDA with a Japanese manufacturer, and ordering samples, while integrating audio and refining the smart base. After briefly choosing a touch screen, the team reversed course to non-touch to protect the timeline.

The team ran trial testing on the first prototype, calibrating water volume and refining handles, straps, sleeves, and pod inserts, then completed its final review and annotated changes for a second version. They signed a phase-two development agreement with Rok Software, advanced the Pulse app with an early dashboard and lockout feature, and filed a second patent for review.

MAKO installed the electronics PCBs, integrated the intake sensor and screen, and fully assembled the first working prototype, which arrived in December and entered testing on water calibration, structure, and sensor accuracy. The team diagnosed low-volume sensor dead space, planning a flat bottle bottom for the next iteration, and onboarded an app design team that approved the Pulse app architecture and wireframe.

MAKO finalized the pressure-sensor and main PCBs, then completed and shipped the prototype for functional testing, with firmware and housing integration following. The team kicked off Pulse app development, bringing on ROK Development and defining v1.0 features. Ghydion also earned several press features and a Las Vegas TV appearance.

The Ghydion Gallon entered fabrication at MAKO, with custom housing parts and the main PCB progressing despite component-sourcing delays that forced one part to be self-soldered. By quarter's end the team had received all physical prototype parts, flagged a smart-base ribbing fix, and neared completion of the second PCB. The official patent certificate also arrived.

Mako Design began physically building the first Ghydion prototype, sizing the bottle, lid, casing, and smart base before turning to the electronics. The team completed the main schematic and finished the PCB design, then began final review ahead of fabrication. Ghydion also hired a PR firm and web developer and landed several press features.

Mako finished and tested the breadboard model, refining calibration, volume measurement, firmware, and the screen until all pieces passed. With those results in hand, the project officially entered the prototype phase, and the team signed the prototype development agreement to fund the six-step build from PCB design through testing.

MAKO Design built and tested the breadboard prototype, confirming Honeywell water sensors responded well to water levels and finalizing the smart base coding, firmware, and volume-calculation algorithm. The team confirmed the December shipping date would slip, projecting the breadboard done by mid-October before a two-to-three-month PCB stage. Ghydion also became a verified veteran-owned business and was selected to compete on the TV show The Blox.

MAKO entered early prototyping, finalizing the parts list, ordering components, and assembling a breadboard to refine the circuit and volume-sensing design. They brought in Honeywell to implement and calibrate the level and pressure sensors, testing accuracy against water and mixed powders. The one-gallon stainless steel frame arrived for evaluating electrical functions and water-level sensing.

The team worked with MAKO Design to finalize the concept sketch and CAD package, focusing on how to accurately track water volume in the smart base. After approving the final concept document, they officially entered the prototype phase and received MAKO's initial prototype proposal. Design changes included a collapsible handle and removed glass windows, and shipping slipped to December 2023.

The team finished revising the electronic components document with MAKO Design and advanced into the concept sketch phase, receiving the initial sketch and beginning revisions toward the 3D CAD blueprint. Backers were polled on design features and voted for a collapsible handle, while the team shipped backer duffel bags and attended the Mr. Olympia Expo.

The 45-day campaign closed at over $20,000, funding phase one of design. MAKO Design then kicked off a three-to-four-week electronics research phase, completing the electronic components document and starting versatility revisions. The team also shipped backer thank-you gifts, brought on advisors, and made its first $1,500 charity: water donation.

The Ghydion crowdfunding campaign launched and reached its full funding goal within the first hour. By the end of the first week, backer support had pushed it to 265 percent of the original target.