Hello HealthyPi 6 backers!
Here’s a short update on shipping. Our original target for reward fulfillment was May 1, 2026. That date is moving to June 20, 2026. We are sorry for the delay, and we want to explain why it’s necessary.
Background
While finalizing the production design, several components on our bill of materials went onto extended lead times with no firm restock window. On top of that, one of our key suppliers slipped their committed delivery by a few weeks, which pushed out the parts we were already counting on for the first build. Together, these two factors are the main reason the schedule has shifted.
We had two options: wait for the original parts to return, or substitute them with components that are available now and well supported for the long term. We chose the second. Open-ended waiting does not serve anyone, and the substitution gives us a date we can plan around. We are also broadening our supplier relationships so we have better visibility next time.
Engineering Work in Progress
The scope is small, this is not a redesign. The tri-core architecture, sensor front-ends, HealthyLink expansion, and the feature set you backed all remain as planned. The current work covers:
- Component selection. Equivalents that match the originals in pinout and function, with light circuit changes only where needed.
- Analog and power-integrity checks. Re-running the relevant simulations in the areas we touched, especially around power delivery and the analog front-end paths.
- Validation on a revision board. A short proving-out step before committing to the production run.
- Long-term availability. Confirming each replacement part will be sourceable for future production runs.
Once validation passes, we move directly into fabrication, in-house assembly, and bring-up as previously planned.
Design Improvements Along the Way
The revision cycle gave us a clean window to fold in a couple of improvements we had been holding for a future board. The main one is on the HealthyLink expansion side.
Dual HealthyLink slots. The original board had a single HealthyLink connector. The revised main board now carries two independent slots: Slot A and Slot B, side-by-side on the rear, so you can run up to two HealthyLink modules at the same time. In the photo above, the HealthyLink Compute module (with the STM32-based AI accelerator) sits in Slot A on the left, and Slot B on the right is open for a second module — for example a HealthyLink EEG front-end, another sensor module, or a future expansion.
What this enables:
- Inference and sensing in parallel — Compute module can do on-device classification (e.g., arrhythmia detection) while an EEG or specialty bio-AFE module streams from the second slot.
- Interchangeable slots — same connector, pinout, and power on both, so any HealthyLink module works in either position.
- Room for what comes next — the second slot is the natural home for future modules without another board revision.
We did look at other approaches before settling on this one: stackable HealthyLink modules and an M.2-style edge-connector form factor, both of which had real appeal. In the end we chose to keep things simple and compact; two flat side-by-side slots are easier to manufacture, easier to enclose, and easier for module designers (us and the community) to target than a stacking mechanical setup or a custom M.2-derivative.
What This Means for You
- Your reward is unchanged. Same specifications as pledged.
- June 20, 2026 includes some margin. We would rather give a date we are confident in than have to revisit it. If things go smoothly, some shipments may go out earlier.
- No action needed. Pledges, addresses, and rewards stay as they are. Crowd Supply will reach out closer to the ship date if anything is needed from your side.
Thank you for your patience and for the trust you have placed in this project. Open, medical-grade hardware in the current supply environment comes with the occasional detour, and the best we can do is keep you informed, take the time to do things properly, and keep moving.
The next update will go out once the revised boards are in hand and validation is under way, and that one will include the photos many of you have been waiting for.