The validation build starts
Our 200-unit engineering validation build is starting with checks for assembly, weather exposure and radio range.
We have started the engineering validation build of 200 Stakes. The work will continue into October. These units are for checking the design and assembly process before production, so we are keeping them separate from shipping reservations. Starting the build does not mean that all 200 have been assembled or passed inspection.
We are recording each unit’s parts and assembly observations. We need to know whether a problem follows a particular component, a seal fit or a step on the bench. Without that record, a failure gives us a broken Stake and very little explanation.
What we are putting them through
Our plan includes drops, freeze-thaw cycles, soaking and radio range checks. For drops, we will inspect the enclosure, cap and pad connections afterward and compare readings with the record from before the impact. A case that looks intact can still have a loose connection inside.
Freeze-thaw work addresses the cap crack from the first garden prototypes. We will check the thread and seal surfaces after repeated temperature changes. We also need to look inside for condensation, the problem we found in the second enclosure. Working electronics alone cannot tell us whether moisture is collecting around a board.
The soak checks are part of validating the complete enclosure against our IP67 target. We will inspect assembled units rather than checking only loose seals or an empty body. We are writing down the conditions and results so a change to the cap has a clear comparison.
For radio range, we are repeating routes with sheds and other obstacles between Stake and the receiver. The direct connection uses Bluetooth Low Energy. We will also check Base, our optional plug-in Wi-Fi bridge, with its intended capacity of up to 24 Stakes within about 60 m. That distance depends on placement and obstacles, and our notes need to show both.
What could move April
We are still aiming for radio certification in December 2026, the first production run in February 2027 and shipping reservations in April 2027. A seal failure could require another enclosure change. A radio issue could require changes before certification. A part arriving late could hold up assembly even if the design passes.
We have to repeat relevant checks after a repair. Passing a new cap through one soak does not close a freeze-thaw problem, and moving an antenna means measuring range again. We are leaving time for that work rather than counting a repair as a completed test.
We will publish the results as we have them, including failures and changes to the dates. If the schedule slips, reservations remain refundable in full until shipping. The next update should explain what these units showed us, not just how many we managed to assemble.