As iPad-based lighting control continues to grow, the industry has faced a persistent challenge: how to achieve reliable, real-time communication between a mobile device and professional lighting fixtures. Many early solutions relied on Bluetooth, USB, or wired Ethernet connections, often introducing latency, instability, or limiting the very mobility that made tablets attractive in the first place.

SkyCast was developed to solve this problem.

The Opportunity

With the introduction of USB-C on iPads, a new opportunity emerged. We saw the potential to take data directly from the iPad and convert it straight into the radio communication protocols used by professional lighting fixtures, without unnecessary translation layers or external power supplies.

The goal was simple but ambitious:
to create a small, lightweight, plug-and-play controller that would allow lighting professionals to remain fully mobile while maintaining fast, dependable control of their systems.

The Solution

SkyCast is a compact USB-C dongle that connects directly to an iPad. When plugged in, it appears as an Ethernet interface, allowing industry-standard lighting protocols such as Art-Net and sACN to be transmitted across a network.

These protocols are then converted in real time — with full packet handling — into CRMX wireless communication, enabling seamless control of lighting fixtures without cables or latency.

Crucially, the device draws power directly from the iPad, eliminating the need for external batteries or power adapters and reinforcing its truly mobile design.

Design & Engineering

SkyCast was conceived as a low-profile device that could remain securely connected to the iPad without additional mounting or cabling. Achieving this required close integration of multiple disciplines:

• Electronic hardware design, including radio and networking integration

• Apple device compatibility, ensuring seamless USB-C and driver support

• Embedded software and firmware, enabling real-time data handling

• Mechanical and industrial design, to achieve a durable, ultra-compact form factor

Given the product’s intended production volume and unique requirements, we designed a custom injection-moulded enclosure, developed in-house and manufactured with our tooling partners.

A custom front membrane was also designed to keep the interface minimal and low profile while still providing a physical sync button on the device.

Prototyping & Facilities

At EMP, much of the development and prototyping happens on site. While PCBs are manufactured externally, all electronic assembly is carried out in-house, allowing for rapid iteration and fast turnaround timesduring development.

Mechanical parts were designed using our internal 3D CAD tools and then issued directly to our manufacturing partners for tooling and injection moulding. This tight integration between design and production significantly accelerated the development process.

Built-In Intelligence

SkyCast also includes an embedded web server, accessible via a dedicated IP address when connected to an iPad. Through this interface, users can:

• Configure network and communication settings

• Change IP addresses

• Sync fixtures wirelessly

• Access a simple, built-in lighting desk

This means SkyCast can be used immediately, even without third-party lighting software, by controlling fixtures directly through on-screen sliders.

Later in development, RDM support was added, enabling users to configure and manage fixtures directly through the same web interface.

From Concept to Product

From initial concept through to a client-ready product, SkyCast was developed in approximately three to four months, including hardware design, software development, enclosure tooling, and testing.

The result is a unique, highly portable lighting control solution that fully embraces the mobility of modern tablets — without sacrificing performance, reliability, or professional-grade control.