Multimodal Physiological Research Platform

01

Overview

CoBuild Labs developed a compact, research-grade multimodal biofeedback platform capable of simultaneously acquiring and synchronizing multiple physiological signals. Designed for neuroscience research, human performance studies, rehabilitation, and digital health applications, the system provides high-quality, time-synchronized biosignal acquisition in a portable and cost-effective form factor.

02

The Challenge

Building a multimodal biosensing platform involves much more than integrating multiple sensors. The client required a reliable, portable, and affordable system capable of capturing synchronized physiological data across several sensing modalities. The major engineering challenges included:

• Integrating EEG, EMG, ECG, PPG, GSR, IMU, Force, and Temperature sensors into a single compact device.
• Designing an ergonomic enclosure suitable for wearable and laboratory applications.
• Developing comfortable, low-noise electrodes for reliable long-duration recordings.
• Achieving precise timestamp synchronization across all sensor streams.
• Ensuring lossless real-time data streaming over Bluetooth.
• Supporting both wireless and USB communication.
• Operating from battery power as well as external power without introducing electrical noise.
• Delivering a research-grade system at a cost significantly lower than conventional laboratory equipment.

03

Our Engineering Solution

We developed an end-to-end hardware and software architecture engineered for portable high-throughput research:

• Unified Sensor Array: Simultaneously processes EEG, EMG, ECG, PPG, GSR, IMU, Force, and Temperature data streams.
• Hardware-Level Clock Sync: Built a custom time-stamping architecture in firmware to guarantee zero data drift across all 8 channels.
• Dual Power & Data Paths: Engineered low-noise isolated power circuitry supporting both internal battery operation and direct USB power without introducing line noise.

04

Our Contribution

• Hardware Architecture & Multilayer PCB Layout Design
• Low-Noise Analog Front-End (AFE) Signal Isolation
• Hardware-Level Synchronization Firmware
• Enclosure Engineering & Industrial Design
• System Fabrication, Calibration, & Validation Testing

Key Features

What the platform delivers

• Simultaneous acquisition of 8 physiological signals
• EEG, EMG, ECG, PPG, GSR, IMU, Force, and Temperature sensing
• Research-grade synchronized data acquisition
• Bluetooth Low Energy and USB communication
• Battery-powered and external power operation
• Compact and portable design
• Low-noise analog front-end
• Real-time streaming with timestamp synchronization
• Modular architecture for future sensor expansion

Technologies

Technologies used

Outcome

Results

• Successfully developed a fully functional multimodal biofeedback platform.
• Delivered synchronized acquisition of eight physiological signals.
• Achieved reliable real-time Bluetooth and USB streaming with minimal latency.
• Created a compact, portable, and scalable architecture suitable for research and commercial product development.
• Enabled a cost-effective alternative to expensive laboratory-grade physiological data acquisition systems.