We’re popping into your inbox with an (overdue) update on Dusk Sport. Thank you for your patience!
Since our last update, our number one focus has been ironing out all the technical details of the project — essentially, we’ve been trying to get all the complicated electrical components of the product working properly. We knew Dusk Sport was an ambitious project but converting our early prototypes into a mass-producible final product has been even more challenging than expected.
We are pleased to report that all of the electronics are now working (see feature checklist below). This is the biggest hurdle in any development and now we can move quickly into mass production.
To better explain everything, we filmed a video with one of our latest samples:
If you’re more of a reader, here is the CliffsNotes version:
Progress
We've made significant strides in development and we're really excited about how Dusk Sport is coming together.
We’ve finalized the coatings and tint levels for the lenses (Don’t worry about the border inside the lenses. Those will not be on the final products —that’s the shape we are using to test the functionality of the electronic tint adjustment on prototypes.).
All the key electronic features are now working including:
The audio solution (speakers and microphones)
Automatic tint adjustment using the ambient light sensor (i.e. InstaOptic) – including the ability to adjust transition speed and sensitivity
Button tint adjustment
Button audio control
App connectivity
Charging
And… we’ve made countless tweaks and adjustments to the frames and arms to improve the fit, feel, and function
Overall, we’ve gotten great feedback from everyone who’s seen our early prototypes so we are feeling confident!
Challenges
As mentioned above, Dusk Sport is a very complicated product. We designed every aspect of Dusk Sport from the ground up. And while all the features are working, not everything is working perfectly.
We have had two main issues that we have been working to resolve:
The MCU on the PCB used too much power in standby mode. The result was that the battery was dying too quickly. We have replaced the MCU and updated the software. The latest sample is working much better and we expect Dusk Sport to have impressive battery life. We are continuing to stress test the battery but do not expect this to be an issue moving forward.
The ambient light sensor isn’t working consistently after being installed behind the cover. We are still working on the right combination of sensor sensitivity and cover tint for optimal aesthetics and performance. We feel we will have this resolved very soon.
Revised Timeline
Given the challenges and our commitment to quality, here's our updated schedule:
September: Finalize electronics
October: Open lens tooling
November: Test samples with full audio and tint functionality and finished lenses
November: Open frame tooling
December: Mold revisions, pilot run
January, and February: FinalTesting and certifications
March: Mass production and finish shipping
We know this is not the update that you were all hoping for and we’re so sorry for that. We are doing everything we can to make up time.
If you are interested in receiving Dusk Sport sooner than the scheduled March shipping estimate, there may be an opportunity to for a pre-production sample from our pilot run. We will post a detailed update when the pilot run is finished and it will be entirely your decision if you would be interested in one of these early samples. We will try to accommodate anyone who is interested — even if that means increasing the size of the pilot run. More info on this option coming soon.
Until Next Time
Delays are never easy, and we owe you, our supportive backers, an apology for the time between updates and the delay in manufacturing. We are as committed as ever to delivering a product that exceeds your expectations.
If you have any questions or want to connect with us directly, please don't hesitate to reach out. Your feedback, questions, and support continue to be invaluable in this journey.
