Software and Hardware Development of Surfboard Electronics

Industry: Telemetry

Technologies and processes we used during this project: Hardware development, Software development, STM32, LTE, GNSS, E Ink, CAN,

WAAS set out to develop an electric, jet-propelled surfboard called WAAS.BOARD, designed so that anyone could rent it and ride it.

The board needed to be equipped with LTE and GPS connectivity as well as an E Ink display to provide information to the rider.

Byte Lab was selected as the design and manufacturing partner for the electronics due to its proven experience in developing and deploying similar solutions.

WAAS is a watersports rental ecosystem that brings sharing economy, digitalization, and sustainability to the water.

Their unique Leisure Tech ecosystem and disruptive business model create a digitalized, easy, and fun experience around the world.

Through a mobile app, people can rent the WAAS.BOARD, ensuring the experience remains intuitive, easy, and zero-emission.

Developing the surfboard’s electronics required solving several complex engineering challenges. At its core, the hardware relies on strong CAN bus communication to control the motor and interface smoothly with the battery and Battery Management System (BMS).

To support WAAS’ rental partners, the board required constant monitoring capabilities. It connects to the LTE network to transmit its real-time location and enable geofencing for rides. If cellular connectivity ever drops, an internal storage module ensures all route data is safely logged locally.

Additionally, the board is operated using a remote controller. This required integrating a Zigbee radio directly onboard for reliable communication between the rider and the WAAS.BOARD. Because the system utilizes multiple wireless protocols (LTE, GPS, and Zigbee) in a challenging aquatic environment, special consideration was given to the precise design and placement of the antennas.

The electronics had to solve several requirements:

• It had to control the motor and communicate with the battery and BMS
• It does this via CAN communication
• It also had to communicate with LTE network and transmit its location and allow for geofencing of the ride and also so that WAAS rental partners can monitor their boards at all time.
• The board is driver with a remote controller which communicates with over ZigBee, so the board had to have a ZigBee radio also onboard
• Internal storage was added to log the routes when connectivity is not available
• Special considerations were given to antenna design and placement

WAAS successfully launched its connected electric surfboard with a reliable, production-ready electronics system developed in collaboration with Byte Lab.

The solution combines embedded hardware and software development with LTE and GPS connectivity, enabling real-time tracking, geofencing, and a seamless riding experience.

Following the development phase, Byte Lab supported WAAS through the full CE certification process, ensuring all wireless components met regulatory standards.

Today, WAAS continues to scale its unique rental ecosystem globally, with Byte Lab providing ongoing electronics manufacturing and production support.