Interactive 2.4 GHz Proprietary RF “Seed” System for Experiential Aviation Display

At EMP Designs, we regularly work on projects that combine electronics, automation, motion systems, and interactive lighting to create engaging experiences for exhibitions and live events. One particularly unique collaboration involved working with a client to develop an interactive “seed” tracking system for a large-scale aviation-themed installation.

The concept centred around a small handheld electronic “seed” — a compact wireless device that visitors carried with them as they moved through the exhibit. As users interacted with different stations throughout the experience, the system tracked their decisions in real time, gradually building a customised virtual aircraft design.

Developing the Wireless “Seed”

The seed itself was a miniature custom PCB designed around a Nordic Semiconductor NRF wireless processor. The device transmitted a unique ID over 2.4GHz radio once a second, allowing nearby readers to instantly identify each visitor’s seed as it was placed onto a podium or interaction point.

A major engineering challenge was achieving extremely low power consumption while maintaining reliable wireless communication. Powered by a single coin-cell battery, the final design could operate continuously for an estimated two to three years.

To maximise battery efficiency, the firmware was written in C and heavily optimised around low-power wireless transmission techniques within the Nordic Semiconductor ecosystem.

Interactive Pedestals & Dynamic Lighting

Throughout the installation, visitors placed their seed onto a series of interactive pedestals. Each pedestal contained:

• A custom wireless reader system

• Circular animated LED lighting

• Integrated motion and lifting mechanisms

• Real-time interaction feedback

When a seed was detected, the pedestal would respond with animated swirling LED effects while simultaneously reading the seed’s ID and updating the visitor’s aircraft configuration within the wider system.

As users progressed through the experience, they could make various design choices for their aircraft, such as selecting colours, configurations, or other visual elements. The system tracked each interaction seamlessly as the seed moved from station to station.

Motion Systems & Dynamic Display Engineering

Beyond the wireless electronics, the installation also incorporated custom lifting and movement systems to make the interaction feel more immersive and theatrical.

Sections of the display featured moving elements where the seeds travelled through the installation via automated lifting systems. This added a dynamic physical element to the exhibit and helped create a more visually engaging experience for visitors.

As specialists in both motion control and embedded electronics, we developed the systems to integrate cleanly with the interactive lighting and wireless infrastructure already in place.

Automated RF Testing & Antenna Tuning

One of the more technically demanding parts of the project involved ensuring consistent wireless performance across every seed device.

Because the enclosure materials and internal construction could affect RF performance, we developed an automated testing rig using a robotic arm system. The arm repeatedly placed and removed the seed devices from reader stations to simulate real-world operation continuously over extended periods.

This automated process allowed us to:

• Tune antenna performance

• Validate wireless reliability

• Test enclosure material effects on RF transmission

• Measure read consistency over long-duration testing cycles

• Optimise reader positioning and sensitivity

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The system operated continuously for extended test periods to ensure the required read-success metrics were consistently achieved before deployment.

Combining Embedded Electronics, Automation & Interactive Design

Projects like this demonstrate how modern experiential installations increasingly rely on the seamless integration of multiple engineering disciplines — including embedded systems, RF communication, motion control, lighting, and automation.

By designing and manufacturing systems in-house, we’re able to rapidly prototype, test, and refine complex interactive installations while maintaining full control over both hardware and software development.

At EMP Designs, we continue to develop bespoke electronic and motion-control systems for exhibitions, film productions, live events, and immersive interactive environments.