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SRAM Developing Electronic Group?

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SRAM’s looking for a test engineer for “Electrical Embedded Systems” on their jobs board. While it could merely be an opening to grow the power measurement side of things following their acquisition of Quarq, it could also be the beginnings of an electronic group. The job posting does mention wireless, which we honestly doubt will be a part of drivetrains in the near future, but it also mentions testing microcontroller based firmware.

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Brattercakes
Brattercakes
12 years ago

I bet they’re going wireless.

Speedy
Speedy
12 years ago

I hope they are going wireless. It would be nice to see that differentiation in their product.

Sean
Sean
12 years ago

It’s likely a Quarq hire.

“Familiarity with a variety of sensing technologies such as strain gauges, accelerometers, and hall effect sensors preferred.”

Strain gauges = force sensing
Hall effect sensors = rotational position, i.e., cadence
Accelerometers = that one I can’t peg. L/R balance?

tt
tt
12 years ago

Of course it is going to be an electronic group. How long can they keep talking about NO BATTERY REQUIRED groupsets?
Shimano and Campagnolo are too strong competitors to ignore electronic components.
Even if an electronic groupset doesn’t make sense SRAM have to come up with something which do require batteries if they want to remain in the modern (which means ever developing) road cycling world. It’s as simple as that.

Tommy Nickels
Tommy Nickels
12 years ago

Sean, you are likely right, but it is potentially their take on electronic shifting. In their case it may be that the force applied to the shifter determined how quick the downshift is. This would more closely imitate how their mechanical system works (one paddle with potential for multi-gear downshift) and avoid any patent issues with campy or shimano.

But yeah, I feel like SRAM is just making a power meter as much as I would like to see an electronic group from them.

uglyyeti
uglyyeti
12 years ago

In heavy industry, accelerometers are used to measure vibration as an indication of bearing wear.

Could be used to indicate the amount of sway movement on a tri or tt bike?

jayrides
jayrides
12 years ago

wireless groups would be great, can’t wait to hack a friends so I can put them into the big ring half ay up a steep climb

Bas Simons
Bas Simons
12 years ago

i think they’re looking for E-bike people. that’s where the money is…

harro
harro
12 years ago

What do you think it pays? 45k?

Brattercakes
Brattercakes
12 years ago

If they are just now hiring a crew to develop an electronic/wireless group… we probably won’t see it until I…hell I don’t know.

Nathan
12 years ago

Accelerometers could likely be used to tell the orientation of the crank at any given time I would think. This would allow them to output a left/right power like the Metrigear system is supposed to do (assuming it ever actually comes out), or perhaps allow you to see a power vs crank rotation profile ala computrainer spin scan.
I would be interesting to see SRAM go electronic, but I’m afraid their so far behind that when they release it Shimano will come out with a system that connects inside your helmet and monitors brain waves and subsequently allows you to shift the bike with the power of your mind. =)

Sean
Sean
12 years ago

RE: harro:

I’d be shocked if it’s less than $80K + excellent benefits for someone with 3 years experience. BSEEs tend to make (at the low end) $70K in high cost of living areas (not extreme, such as the Bay Area or NYC) out of a Tier 1/Tier 2 school (MIT/Stanford/RPI/WPI).

WV Cycling
WV Cycling
12 years ago

Hey, the suggest a post thing works \o/

ted
ted
12 years ago

maybe a bicycle computer doodo

Robin
Robin
12 years ago

The new Quarq SRAM power meter revealed earlier this month will already have L/R power balance readings.

butch
12 years ago

i just hope it will be smart. smart like in the new meaning of the word and not just another electric motors shoveling mechanical parts others designed 100 years ago and consequently a me-too gadget.

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