Lean Hardware Startup Orqa FPV | From Incubator Prototyping to Production Line
Orqa FPV is a tech company that develops technologies and systems for remote reality and unmanned platforms such as drones or autonomous vehicles. Their first product – the Orqa FPV.One Goggles are now available on the market following a successful crowdfunding campaign.
After a time of bootstrapping and great success with Kickstarter campaign, Orqa is now fully operational with manufacturing their flagship product the Orqa FPV.One – an FPV goggles that were crafted with much of engineering ingenuity, passion and dedication – establishing the Orqa brand as one of the most innovative company in the FPV industry.
ORQA FOUNDATION
Company was started by three friends who had the idea to build the best FPV goggles on the market. Orqa FPV is actually a spinoff from Tenzor – an hardware development company that offered engineering services: consulting hardware startups to develop their product from ideas on paper to functional prototypes.
There the idea of the Orqa was born. They all shared interest in FPV Drone Racing and recognized that they could implement their skills to develop high-end FPV Goggles that will be better and cheaper than the competition. They say they were only 50% successful in that.
Srđan Kovačević (CEO)
MSc Maths Finance, Oxford. Former head of €150M fund.
Ivan Jelušić (COO)
Serial entrepreneur
Successful HW startup exit
Vlatko Matijevic (CTO)
Full-stack HW engineer
15+ years in product engineering
PROTOTYPING AND EQUIPMENT
Orqa development and production is based in in Osijek, Croatia. The prototyping lab in headquarters provides high-end equipment such as FDM 3D printer Stratsys F170, big SLS 3D Printer Formiga P110 Velocis, advanced laser cutters and CNC machining, as well as other relevant equipment needed for developing hardware devices. In addition, Orqa owns high end RF design and testing tools.
The Orqa team now consists of more than thirty employees, mechanical, electronics, R&D engineers, optoelectronics and optics engineer. The number is constantly growing as company entered the scaling phase within various industries.
Orqas technology pipeline is focused on innovating and developing all parts of FPV technology stack including antennas, radio controllers, headsets and most importantly, low latency video signal transport systems. Since inception, Orqas FPV technologies are implemented and used by world largest companies and services providers in consumer and enterprise sectors.
The decision to dedicate to FPV technology research and development was a great challenge. For example, developing and prototyping optics and lenses was quite demanding. The team visited one of Croatian quantum optics institutions to explain how to create the system for their goggles. However, after only a few days they were turned down saying it was something that makes no sense doing, because of its cost and complexity.
Facing the problem, Orqa team had no choice but to focus on learning about optic systems development or give up the whole idea. That’s why they concentrated on researching optical engineering and pioneering in the field that has not been widely and scientifically researched in Croatia. Only a year later, they developed their own optics for FPV goggles including prototyping and design know how – in house.
CROWDFUNDING CAMPAING
The Kickstarter campaing which launched in June 2019. was a big success. 606 backers pledged €364,306 to help bring this project to life. Orqa FPV.One was sold out to early backers €499 in just 7 minutes, reaching 800% of its goal in just 48 hours.
There were many ups and downs, but Orqa campaign is at the finish line. Despite all those delays caused by the lost packages, various technical and bureaucratic issues, and finally the virus all the FPV.One Units were delivered to it’s backers.
The kickstarter campaign also showed that Orqa closely listens to community needs. They want the users to tell them how they want to use the product and then they adjust and react accordingly.
THE CHALLENGE IS IN SCALING, NOT DEVELOPMENT
Reacting and adjusting to customer needs and developing a two-way relationship with product consumers is one of the highest values that Orqa as a company wants to achieve.
As a result of setting quality user experience for the main product goal, Orqa R&D team develops new and innovative technologies that will boost and improve First Person View experience. One of those features for immersive practice and usage is FPV.Connect.
FPV.Connect is a module with Wi-Fi connectivity which basically serves as a bridge between your goggles and the rest of the world. It’s going to be accompanied by an Orqa mobile app that you’ll be able to install on your smartphone. The app allows you to access media on your SD card. It will allow you to stream your session in real time to your smart device and seamlessly update your goggles. It’s a matter of really integrating the app with the any of the online services and basically being able to livestream your session to the world.
As mentioned, building a two-way communication between consumers and manufacturers is a crucial business modus operandi for Orqa. Enabling consumers easy access to all information needed to enhance FPV experience and fast responding to their desires and questions is one of the reasons why Orqa’s customer support is generously considered as one of the best in the business.
Building a customer support team is an ongoing process and the team is constantly working and defining new ways so they can scale fast, while maintaining high quality standards of the service.
Ivan Jelušić
Orqa FPV / COO
Besides that, Jelušić told us that: The team behind the customer support is actually building the goggles, they also sit in the same room as our engineers. All of this means that you can be sure that your feedback will be heard by all those in Orqa that need to hear it.
ORQA FPV.ONE OVERVIEW
Superbly engineered optics set a new benchmark for immersive FPV experience. The FPV.one goggles feature a large 1280×960 OLED screen for incredible clarity, picture and color.
It has a a wide IPD range (56-74 mm) to ensure a good fit for all faces, and a large FOV of 44 degrees giving you an immersive FPV experience
The high-quality optics provide a clear and sharp picture from edge to edge; no edge blur. High quality 0.5″ Sony micro OLED displays in 2×4-piece all-glass optical engines.
They seem impressive; minimalistic and simple: this thing looks like a part of stealth fighter equipment.
The ORQ FPV.One goggles are packed with features like support for 16:9 and 4:3 display output, HD DVR, power button, built in de-fogging fan and more.
These goggles have 1280×960 resolution with large 44° FOV, and optics is made of glass.
Orqa FPV.One has 4:3 aspect ratio by default (considering 1280×960 resolutions), although it’s possible to switch to 16:9 ratio. Switching to 16:9 removes top and bottom of the screen, which results in 1280×720 resolution in 16:9 mode.
Module bay is compatible with all standard receiver modules. Diopters must be acquired separately, as with all the FPV goggles, so consumers who wear eyeglasses won’t be able to use the goggles without them. Orqa FPV.One supports standard diopters slot that fits for all the goggles.
Orqa FPV.One is equipped with a three mode power switch and anti-fog fan. It’s also equipped with a very intuitive light sensor which detects if the person is wearing the goggles to put it in the stand-by mode to save battery and save OLEDs from burning in.
It can turn the OLED screen off automatically to save battery. Head-Tracker is built-in and it’s not necessary to purchase extra modules for H-T.
Inputs and outputs included are: AV in and AV out, digital video input, Stereo audio output (3.5mm jack), H-T output and battery input (5.5mm barrel connector).
Goggles are available in three colors: standard black, navy blue and white.
New models of headsets are now in development phase of calibrating and adjusting for diverse usage in primary industry fields, but also for drone racing and freestyle.
ORQA VS. COMPETITORS
The difference between Orqa FPV.One and competitors models is the fact that FPV.One goggles have more advanced computing power and custom expansions – so naturally, their motto rightfully is “Built to be the best”.
| Features | Orqa FPV.One | Fatshark HDO 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |  |
| Display Technology | Oled | Oled |
| Display Resolution | 1280×960 | 1280×960 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9/4:3 | 16:9/4:3 |
| FOV | 30/44º | 46˚ |
| Receiver | Modular RX (receiver to be bought separately) | Modular RX (receiver to be bought separately) |
| IPD Adjustment (mm) | 56-74 | 56-74 |
| Weight (g) | 232 | 207 |
| Battery supplied | Yes | No |
If you’re interested in detailed comparsion head over to Orqa FPV One Goggles Review.
PLANS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF ORQA
The Orqa Team has some great plans and wishes for the future – the main plan is to produce a product for wide range industry usage and penetrate all the industry fields with First Person View technologies which will improve and impact all the major industries.
All their products are labelled as “Made in Europe”. The goggles are made 95% in Croatia. Everything is developed in their halls in Osijek, except micro-displays, which they have to purchase overseas. All other manufacturers produce their goggles in China.
Their initial goal is placing 2500 pairs of goggles on the market in the first run. In less than 6 months of manufacturing, they claim to have sold large chunk of their target. There’s actually a lot of interest for them to build the goggles in Croatia. What makes it worthwhile is the FPV community in Croatia and growing interest in drone racing and freestyle, as well as other uses like defense industries.
Their philosophy has created a completely new level when it comes to upgrading goggles. We’re talking premium here and that level hasn’t been achieved by other manufacturers.
Featured image Credit: Dinko Kadi
Product Photos: Orqa FPV
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