Empowering Hardware Teams: The Story of Synnax
Synnax is an innovative start-up focused on transforming control and sensor data processing for high-cadence hardware teams. Founded in 2022 and headquartered in San Francisco, Synnax is dedicated to helping hardware teams evaluate the performance of components and processes quickly and clearly. The company's mission is to prevent mistakes, reduce costs, and accelerate time-to-market by unifying industrial control with sensor data storage and automated post-processing, offering an end-to-end operations and observability stack.
Who Are the Founders of Synnax?
The founders of Synnax bring an impressive array of experience from leading projects and companies in the aerospace and engineering sectors.
Emiliano Bonilla, the Co-Founder and CEO, is a classically trained Aerospace Engineer with a strong passion for developing and selling software that enhances the hardware development process. Emiliano's notable achievements include building the internal data processing tools for Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket launches, one of the few new-space companies to reach orbit repeatedly. Additionally, he has worked on autonomous electric vehicle prototypes and developed banking software for European startups, demonstrating his versatile expertise in both hardware and software.
Patrick Dotson, the Co-Founder and COO, has extensive experience in propulsion engineering, having worked on the Starship program at SpaceX. His background spans both hardware and software, making him an invaluable asset to the Synnax leadership team. Patrick is also a recent graduate of the University of Michigan, where he earned a degree in Aerospace Engineering, further solidifying his technical foundation.
Elham Islam, the Co-Founder and CTO, has contributed significantly to major projects such as writing flight software for NASA's Mars Sample Return Lander and developing embedded control systems for laser communication at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Elham's recent degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan, coupled with his expertise at the intersection of hardware and software, positions him perfectly to drive Synnax's technological advancements.
What Problems Does Synnax Solve?
Synnax addresses several critical challenges faced by hardware teams, including error prevention, cost reduction, and time-to-market acceleration. The platform's comprehensive approach unifies industrial control with sensor data storage and automated post-processing, providing an end-to-end operations and observability stack. This integration allows hardware teams to evaluate the performance of components and processes quickly and clearly, significantly reducing the likelihood of mistakes and associated costs.
How Does Synnax Enhance Anomaly Detection?
Anomaly detection is a vital component of hardware operations, and Synnax excels in this area. The platform's robust sensor database and operations framework enable real-time communication with thousands of sensors and actuators. This capability allows teams to analyze terabytes of telemetry and automate control and analysis workflows, ensuring that anomalies are detected and addressed promptly. By providing a seamless flow of data and control, Synnax enhances the accuracy and efficiency of anomaly detection processes.
What Are the Key Features of Synnax’s Sensor Database?
Synnax boasts the only time-series database specifically built for hardware, designed from the ground up to deliver high-performance, reliable sensor data acquisition and actuator control. The key features include:
- Unparalleled Performance: Synnax operates under demanding conditions with single-node read and write speeds exceeding 10 million samples per second, ensuring rapid and efficient data processing.
- Real-Time Readiness: The platform's low latency data streaming capabilities allow for continuous visualization of sensor telemetry, actuator control, and real-time analysis, providing immediate insights and feedback.
- Scalability: Synnax can be utilized on a bench-top with fifty channels or scaled to support a dispersed team with thousands of channels and dozens of data acquisition devices, offering flexibility to accommodate various operational needs.
- Seamless Control Handoff: The powerful control negotiation system of Synnax transitions actuator authority seamlessly between automated and manual operations, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted control.
- Simple Deployment: Packaged as a single binary, Synnax can be operational with just one command, and it is deployable in the cloud, on-premises, or at the edge, providing ease of use and versatility.
How Does Synnax Integrate with Existing Hardware?
Synnax is designed for seamless integration with existing hardware systems. Its drivers automatically detect and connect to data acquisition and control devices, providing a unified interface for hardware operations. Users can visualize real-time and historical data, configure instrumentation, and run operations from a single console, making the integration process straightforward and efficient.
What Makes Synnax’s Visualization Engine Stand Out?
The visualization capabilities of Synnax are among its most impressive features, thanks to its GPU-accelerated visualization engine. This engine allows users to plot millions of points in real-time, offering the fastest plotting available in the industry. Additional features include:
- Search and Command Palette: This feature enables instant access to any data set, sensor, or metadata, streamlining the process of finding and analyzing data.
- Resource Organization Tools: Synnax allows users to categorize data sets, instrument devices, manage roles, and more, facilitating efficient organization and management of resources.
- Diagram Assembler: This tool enables users to configure and control actuators, monitor system states, and perform real-time analysis, enhancing operational efficiency and control.
How Does Synnax Support Data Analysis and Workflow Automation?
Synnax ensures that all data is immediately available for analysis, allowing users to post-process telemetry as it is acquired, query and compare data across operations, and perform analysis using industry-standard tools. The platform supports attaching metadata to provide context and enhance analysis operations. Additionally, Synnax's workflow automation capabilities, known as Signals, allow users to hook into operational events or data conditions to trigger analysis, start autosequences, send notifications, and more, streamlining and automating complex workflows.
What Makes Synnax Open Source and Extensible?
Synnax prides itself on being open source, modular, and extensible. The platform does not rely on proprietary programming languages, ensuring high-quality client libraries and documentation. Users can build custom user interfaces, operational consoles, and visualizations with Synnax's React component library. Moreover, developers can create drivers, data applications, and AI enhancements using C++, Python, and Typescript libraries, allowing for tailored software development to meet specific use cases.
How Is Synnax Positioned in the Industry?
Synnax is positioned as a game-changer in the hardware and software integration space. By providing a robust platform that unifies industrial control with sensor data storage and automated post-processing, Synnax empowers hardware teams to operate more efficiently and effectively. Its focus on performance, scalability, and ease of integration makes it an indispensable tool for next-generation hardware teams.
In conclusion, Synnax is transforming how hardware teams evaluate and manage their operations. With its innovative solutions and experienced leadership, Synnax is poised to lead the way in control and sensor data processing for high-cadence hardware teams. The platform's unique features, such as unparalleled performance, real-time readiness, and seamless integration with existing hardware, set it apart in the industry. By addressing critical challenges and enhancing operational efficiency, Synnax is well-positioned to make a significant impact in the hardware development landscape.