Understanding the Modern Engineer's Toolkit: Introducing the Moku:Go

A fundamental aspect of engineering education involves familiarizing oneself with essential tools – voltmeters, spectrum analyzers, and similar instruments. However, the question arises: why utilize multiple devices when a single, versatile solution is possible? The Moku:Go addresses this by integrating several commonly used tools into a single, compact unit.

A Consolidated Approach to Instrumentation

This consolidation not only conserves valuable space on a workbench or within a classroom setting but also provides a contemporary, software-driven interface for operation. Liquid Instruments, the creator of the Moku:Go, has recently secured $13.7 million in funding to make this innovative gadget accessible to students and engineers globally.

The core concept behind the Moku:Go mirrors that of the company’s earlier offering, the Moku:Lab. Employing a standard input port, a suite of FPGA-based tools delivers comparable analyses of electrical signals to those obtained from larger, analog counterparts.

Miniaturization and Enhanced Features

However, the digital nature of the Moku:Go significantly reduces the space typically occupied by bulky analog components. The Go further advances this miniaturization, performing many of the same functions as the Lab, but at half the weight and with several added benefits.

It is specifically designed for educational environments or smaller engineering facilities where space is limited. The ability to combine eight tools into one device is particularly advantageous when workspace is shared.

The Eight Tools Integrated into One

These eight integrated tools include a waveform generator, an arbitrary waveform generator, a frequency response analyzer, a logic analyzer/pattern generator, an oscilloscope/voltmeter, a PID controller, a spectrum analyzer, and a data logger. This comprehensive suite provides substantial functionality within a remarkably small footprint – comparable in size to a standard hardback book.

Configuration and access to these tools are managed through a software interface, rather than traditional knobs and dials. While both approaches have merit, a streamlined point-and-click interface is particularly beneficial when instructing a cohort of digitally native learners.

The user interface is visually appealing; examples can be viewed by clicking the instruments on the product page. Here’s an illustration of the waveform generator:

Software and Connectivity

The Moku:Go is currently compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems, though a dedicated mobile application is still under development. It seamlessly integrates with popular software platforms such as Python, MATLAB, and LabVIEW, with data transmission occurring via Wi-Fi.

Improvements Over the Moku:Lab

Compared to the Moku:Lab, the Go incorporates several enhancements. These include a USB-C port replacing the older mini-USB, a magnetic power connector, a 16-channel digital I/O, and an optional power supply capable of delivering up to four channels. It also boasts a 50% reduction in both size and weight.

While some compromises were made – the removal of an SD card slot and a reduction in output bandwidth – these trade-offs are acceptable if the higher range and precision of the more expensive Moku:Lab are not essential.

Cost-Effectiveness and Target Audience

The Moku:Go is available starting at $500 – a price point likened to that of a standard textbook – compared to the Moku:Lab’s $3,500 price tag. This represents significant cost savings, especially when contrasted with the expense of purchasing each instrument individually.

Liquid Instruments VP of marketing, Doug Phillips, stated that the Moku:Go is “targeted squarely at university education.” He further explained that the device allows professors to integrate it into classroom instruction, while students and hobbyists can utilize it for independent experimentation.

Growing Adoption in Educational Institutions

Since its launch in March, the primary customer base has been students acquiring the device at the recommendation of their universities. Approximately one hundred professors have already committed to incorporating the Moku:Go into their fall courses, with ongoing collaborations with universities worldwide.

“There is a real demand for portable, flexible systems that can handle the breadth of four years of curriculum,” Phillips said.

Funding and Future Outlook

Production is scheduled to commence in June, with samples currently undergoing testing. The associated costs and challenges of production were key factors in the recent funding round.

The $13.7 million investment comes from existing stakeholders Anzu Partners and ANU Connect Ventures, alongside new investors F1 Solutions and Moelis Australia’s Growth Capital Fund. This funding takes the form of a convertible note, anticipating a Series B funding round in 2022. While the structure of this round deviates from the norm, it reflects the current difficulties faced by hardware companies.

The success of the Moku:Go’s launch and subsequent adoption will undoubtedly influence the outcome of the anticipated Series B round. However, this promising product has the potential to become a standard fixture in classrooms across the globe within the next few years.