From Performance Bottlenecks to Seamless Riding Experiences
Verge Motorcycles had very ambitious goals for its electric motorcycle and even more so for the human machine interface (HMI), which powers the user experience.
Starmatter is one of the most advanced systems available on motorcycles. It is powered by six cameras and two radars that provide a 360° view around the bike, as well as an accelerometer, GPS, cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity. It is accessed via an interface called StarOS, where the rider can access performance data, real-time safety alerts, a seamless infotainment system, and much more. It is truly transforming the riding experience.
Verge developed StarOS using a different system. During the testing phase, they realized that there were critical limitations and that the performance did not meet the high goals the company set for the motorcycle.
What was happening is that the memory usage was creeping up over time. So, at first it was running well, but over time it would start taking up more and more memory, maxing out the device, and crashing. We spent time troubleshooting the issue but found out that the root cause could only be fixed by recreating the entire software with another tool, says Tero Ohranen.
Equally important, there were concerns about the possibility of delivering updates to the system Over-The-Air (OTA), which was one of the main needs to keep the riding experience fresh and new over time. Most OTA updates from motorcycle manufacturers are intended for service-level improvements. Verge, however, wanted to do more than just add new features to the user-facing software; they planned to enhance the capabilities of the motorcycle, such as how the traction control works and how the motor operates.
At this point, Verge was facing a tight timeline and needed to find an alternative solution that would provide better performance, rapid development without compromising quality, and the capability to deliver on their vision for OTA updates. That’s when they engaged with Qt.
Complete migration in six weeks, powered by Qt
To overcome these challenges, Verge Motorcycles partnered with Qt.
They successfully ported StarOS from the previous system in just six weeks, while simultaneously making some revisions and improvements by leveraging the ease of use of Qt Design Studio and the versatility of Qt Framework. This quick turnaround allowed the company to stay on schedule and fulfill its commitments.
Verge and Qt decided to use containerization, which significantly simplified OTA updates—a traditionally complex and resource-intensive process in the automotive industry.
After those six weeks, the result was even better than what we had before with the previous solution. It was faster, more reliable, and it did not cause any headaches in terms of memory consumption, continues Tero Ohranen.
The flexibility of Qt Framework and Qt 6 also proved invaluable. Even as Verge transitioned between operating systems, they were able to reuse much of their previous development work, thus avoiding the need to start from scratch and preventing costly rework.
During the migration, Verge utilized Qt Design Studio to enable designers without coding skills to create and refine user interfaces directly. The live preview feature allowed Verge’s team to see layouts and interactions in real time, accelerating development cycles and ensuring complete alignment between vision and implementation.
For me, the best tool is the one that does not get in the way of the creative process. I use Figma and Qt Design Studio in parallel, and I have a streamlined workflow. I like Qt Design Studio because it is much more intuitive and interactive when creating and laying the components out. It enables me to develop the product rapidly, particularly when I have a clear vision for the desired outcome, says Tero Ohranen.
A Premium Riding Experience
StarOS and Starmatter offer a sophisticated, automotive-grade experience for riders on Verge’s motorbikes.
Beyond the TS Pro, the upcoming TS Ultra will feature two large screens that integrate traditional vehicle status indicators with smartphone connectivity, rear-facing camera feeds, and advanced rider assistance features like blind-spot monitoring – all built with Qt. The fluidity and responsiveness of the HMI, driven by the optimized performance of Qt 6, create a natural and intuitive interaction for riders.
All of this is achieved with low energy consumption, as the two displays operate from a single unit, preserving battery life without sacrificing graphical richness and functionality – a key factor for electric vehicles.
We reached a point with the previous solution where we were consuming more than 4GB of RAM. With Qt, we found immediately we were using less than 0.5GB, and it is consistent over time. That is 85% memory saved, which is an improvement of a magnitude, explains Tero Ohranen.
Moreover, Qt Design Studio’s versatile styling and theming capabilities allowed Verge to completely customize the look and feel of StarOS, creating a distinctive brand signature that distinctly highlights the TS Pro and TS Ultra motorcycles in the competitive electric mobility market.
Looking toward the future, Verge’s success with Qt goes beyond a single model. Thanks to the cross-platform capabilities of the Qt Framework, Verge has established a foundation for easily adapting their HMI across various models and variants with minimal redevelopment effort.
As Verge expands globally, the collaboration with Qt positions them strongly to lead the future of electric mobility.
The Qt team has been incredibly receptive, understanding, and easy to work with. We made some observations during the use of Qt Design Studio and Qt Framework, and every question or concern we raised was addressed by the team. So much so, the software has actually been refined to better fit our specific needs, concludes Tero Ohranen.
About Verge Motorcycles
Verge Motorcycles develops and manufactures the world's most advanced electric superbike. With its patented motor technology and innovative design, Verge challenges conventional ways of thinking with the clear goal of creating the world’s best electric motorcycle from the ground up. Not a motorcycle that looks like yesterday, but a motorcycle that feels like the future.
Verge has developed Starmatter, the new groundbreaking software and intelligence platform that’s transforming the way people ride. A commitment to innovation that extends beyond the motorcycle itself, Starmatter signifies the company's dedication to continuously enhancing the riding experience.
Oh, there's more
Verge | Built with Qt
Verge has built a superior riding experience on their electric motorcycles, reducing the memory footprint by 85%.
Read more
Sauber | Built with Qt
Learn how Sauber uses Qt for rapid implementation of high-performance monitoring applications, pilot training, and advanced aerodynamic research.
Read more