Urwerk presents its new concept – the Urwerk EMC (Electro Mechanical Control) – which is the world's first high-end mechanical timepiece with artificial intelligence.
Urwerk EMC, the new concept watch, is now fully developed in Urwerk's U-Research Division – the brand’s ‘experimental laboratory. The watch is inspired by a Witschi instrument, which is a test and measurement tool used in watch construction and repair service. What makes it very special is that this is the first precision mechanical wristwatch that enables timing to be easily adjusted by the wearer. Urwerk EMC is an interactive timepiece, and its owners will even be able to adjust the timing of their watches, so that it suits their own personal rhythm. This is possible thanks to the EMC system, which is actually an electronic brain of the wristwatch, even though fully independent of its mechanical movement. Using the information obtained at the touch of a button, the wearer can now fine-tune its mechanical wristwatch all by himself.
We have already seen something similar with Urwerk’s UR-210 Maltese Falcon, which displays the rate at which the watch is being automatically wound, alarming the wearer that the adjustment of the rotor is required to provide even winding. This time, Urwerk goes one step further, introducing the EMC movement which can measure its own accuracy and allows the wearer to adjust the balance rate regulator on-the –go.
As you can see, Urwerk EMC comes with a deconstructed dial with four indicators. From top left to the right, the indicators are: on demand, precision indicator (instantaneous rate delta δ; seconds dial with counterbalanced seconds hand; hours and minutes; and 80-hour power reserve indicator. Underneath hidden is the EMC in-house movement fully conceived, developed and crafted in Urwerk’s manufactures in Zurich and Geneva. The movement features a balance wheel made of ARCAP alloy, which is known for its non-magnetic and anti-corrosion properties. Two large mainspring barrels are enough for 80 hours of power reserve, while the timing adjustment screw (on the back) allows the wearer to adjust the balance rate regulator and change the active length of the balance spring.
The measurements and evaluation of the mechanical movement’s performance are conducted by the EMC's electronic "brain", which was envisioned by Olivier Evalet. He relied on precision optics (light) to measure the precision of a mechanical movement, thus achieving the accuracy of more than 10 microseconds. The computer is fitted with an optical sensor which captures the exact rate of oscillation of the 28,000 vph regulator, over a period of 3 seconds. A 16,000,000-hertz electronic oscillator is responsible for EMC’s reference timing rate. The exact measurements and evaluation of the movement’s performance are determined by the computer, which compares the difference between the timing rate of the movement and that of the reference oscillator. The result is shown on a precision indicator on the dial, and expressed as a gain or loss of a second per day of the timing rate (for the example, a 0.0000014 variation is expressed as a variation of a second per day).
Urwerk EMC is crafted from titanium and steel, and it measures 43mm in width, 51mm in length, and 15.8mm in height. Its water resistance level is tested to pressure of 30 meters. The interesting thing is that the electronic brain of the EMC is not powered by battery but by a hand-cranked Maxton generator. See how it works:
Author: Marina Milojevic If you like our blog why don't you join our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter @luxoiscom. If you use one of my articles on your own website or blog, then please credit me and provide a link back to the original.
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