When Sergey Antonovich, an embedded systems engineer, revisited his childhood interest in music, he unexpectedly found a way to combine his technical skills with his love for the accordion. After years focused on engineering for autonomous vehicles, Antonovich has begun creating custom digital accordions that reflect both his musical talents and engineering expertise.
Growing up in Chekhov, a small town outside Moscow, Antonovich’s early exposure to music came from his mother, who enrolled him in accordion lessons at the age of eight. While he was a dedicated student, his teenage years saw him gravitating towards electronics rather than music, culminating in a career that included developing environmental-monitoring devices and sensor systems for autonomous vehicles at Avride, a company spun off from Yandex in 2021.
Antonovich’s journey took a turn when he rediscovered the accordion while living in Russia. He was inspired by a new generation of digital accordions emerging on the market, leading him to modify his own acoustic instrument. “I thought, why not try to modify my own [acoustic] accordion?” he recalls. This sparked not only a renewed interest in music but also a creative endeavor that bridges his two worlds.
From Electronics to Music
Antonovich’s engineering background has equipped him with a unique perspective on musical instrument design. In his work at Avride, he develops sensor systems for self-driving cars, focusing on data that informs vehicle perception algorithms, including radar and lidar technologies. He compares the challenges of creating responsive digital accordions to those faced in autonomous vehicle technology, particularly in managing latency in signal processing.
“Both systems, self-driving cars and accordions, are real-time embedded systems,” Antonovich explains. He emphasizes the importance of minimizing delay in both contexts. A digital accordion must process input from multiple buttons and keys with less than 10 milliseconds of latency to ensure a seamless playing experience.
In 2017, while still in Russia, Antonovich began exploring how to enhance the capabilities of traditional accordions. He aimed to create a self-contained instrument that addressed common issues found in commercial digital models, such as size, weight, and reliance on cumbersome external modules. His innovations included incorporating a synthesizer, internal microphones for capturing acoustic sound, and wireless transmitters, allowing musicians to perform freely without being tethered to amplifiers.
Embracing New Opportunities
Relocating to Austin, Texas, has further fueled Antonovich’s dual passions. The availability of electronic components and a vibrant maker community has inspired him to delve deeper into both music and technology. He describes the United States as a “paradise” for makers, citing the ease of acquiring parts for his projects.
Antonovich’s growing collection of hybrid acoustic-digital and fully digital accordions reflects his commitment to craftsmanship and innovation. Although he has created instruments for friends, he remains hesitant to commercialize his creations. “Making them a commercial product will turn my curiosity into necessity,” he notes, highlighting the potential shift in motivation that comes with turning a passion into a profession.
Ultimately, Antonovich’s story illustrates the harmonious intersection of music and technology. His journey from a young accordion player to a skilled engineer illustrates how personal interests can evolve and intertwine, leading to unexpected and fulfilling outcomes.
