Sensor-1 is a tiny powerful security system

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This movement tracking sensor is a thief’s worst enemy.

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Losing valuables or getting things stolen is a pain. Even though today’s smartphones and laptops come with GPS tracking apps, your lost device would still need to be online to pinpoint its exact location. What if you could just stop a thief in the moment and avoid the hassle of following their trail? The team at MetaSensor has taken a new approach to Bluetooth tracking to do just that.

Sensor-1 is a Bluetooth-powered motion sensor that can light up, sound an alarm and alert you the instant your belonging moves outside a certain pre-set radius. This quarter-sized gadget adheres to any item you want to protect, which means even your non-digital valuables can be protected, too. The idea came about when MetaSensor’s CEO Nick Warren’s family had their home burglarized, and few months later, a colleague’s laptop holding sensitive information was stolen.

The Sensor-1 contains an accelerometer, a gyroscopic stabilizer and a magnetometer that all together tracks the orientation and movement of the object you’re trying to guard. With the accompanying app, you can specify the movement sensitivity and proximity. The sensor will automatically be armed when you walk away, or you can be notified when you accidentally leave a belonging behind. It will also alert you when someone is attempting to remove the sensor. You can adjust the alarms settings such as having the sensor play a noise, flash light, and/or silently send an alert. Sensor-1 also logs motion events while you’re out of range.

This tiny, but very powerful security device is made of UV and impact resistant polycarbonate, and is waterproof. It’s Bluetooth Smart and iBeacon-compatible, and powered by a replaceable CR2032, giving it about a years of battery life. Sensor-1’s API is available for custom app development.

“Your Sensor-1 API key can be used to view and analyze the raw streaming data from Sensor-1 via the Aletha Web Platform, mobile app, and directly over Bluetooth,” MetaSensor explains. “Sensor-1 can communicate with Arduino (using a BLE shield), Raspberry Pi, Nordic dev kits, or any custom system capable of sending and receiving BLE communications.”

Interested? Head over to Sensor-1’s project page, where Warren and his team are currently seeking $10,000. You can get your own sensor for $79 and the first batch of units is slated for delivery by October 2016.

Maker gives his dad remote-controlled eyebrows

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This project will raise some brows…

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When you have a pair of formidable eyebrows like Alec Smecher’s father, it can probably get a bit tiring always having to raise them by yourself. What if there was a remote-control feature that could take of that for you? Well, this is exactly what the Maker decided to do as a birthday gift for his dad.

The simple circuit consists of an ATmega328 that runs a few 6V motors in response to IR signals, an L293D quad H-bridge for the power switching to the motor and a VS838 infrared receiver, all mounted to an old Petzl headlamp. Smecher then attached sewing bobbins to the motor spindles, and wound some thread around them.

“The eyebrows are attached by taping the thread to the skin just underneath — right above the eyelids — using a piece of band-aid adhesive. A little piece of toothpick tied to the end of the string helps prevent it from slipping out of the band-aid,” Smecher explains.

Okay, that’s enough writing. You gotta see the ‘brows in action below!

This Arduino-powered machine turns tweets into cocktails

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Who knew you could get drunk on data? 

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You’ve most likely read a tweet, you’ve probably even heard a tweet aloud, but chances are you’ve never tasted a tweet. But that may all soon change, because Clément Gault and Koi Koi Design have developed Data Cocktail, an Arduino-powered machine that whips up cocktails based on, you guessed it, Twitter activity.

Data Cocktail works by scouring the web for the five latest posts mentioning keywords that are linked to available ingredients, represented by differently colored bulbs. (The system will accept either words, hashtags and mentions.) These messages are then used to define the composition of the drink and fill the glass accordingly. The result is an original, crowdsourced concoction whose recipe can be printed out.

“If you’re wondering whether a tweet about Santa Claus in Winnipeg, Canada can take part in generating a cocktail in Nantes, we say yes! Data Cocktail is a machine but it doesn’t exclude a minimum of politeness,” its creators reveal. “Once the cocktail mix is realized, Data Cocktail will thank the tweeters who have, without knowing it, helped at realizing it.”

Its creators reveal that they can easily change the keywords, ingredients and proportions to suit specific events. Meaning, the robotic bartender can make drinks based on everything from election coverage (whether you’re experiencing a Trumpertantrum or feeling the Bern) to what’s trending at any particular moment.

In terms of software, Data Cocktail uses the Processing and Arduino programming languages. A first application, developed in Processing, pilots the device. The requests are performed using the Twitter4J library, while the app processes the data and commands the robotic gadget.

As for its electronics, Data Cocktail is comprised of a robot, solenoid valves and LEDs. The robot is built around a modified Pololu Zumo chassis with a motor shield, a Bluetooth module and an Arduino Pro (ATmega328). Meanwhile, the valves and lights are controlled by an Arduino Due (SAM3X8E) connected via USB.

Intrigued? Head over to the project’s page here, or watch it in action below.

Carv is a wearable that helps you ski better

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This Atmel-powered system analyzes motion and pressure data to give skiers real-time feedback on how to improve.

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Throughout the world, approximately 120 million people will hit the slopes each year. This doesn’t include the countless others who are dying to learn how to ski either. Whether a novice or professional or somewhere in between, how cool would it be to have a coach that could be right there with you trail after trail? Well, UK-based startup MotionMetrics has come up with the perfect solution.

Meet Carv, a digital ski coach that combines a wearable device and a smartphone app with intuitive analysis algorithms to help you improve your technique. Inspired by Olympic technology, Carv gives you access to the feedback and knowledge that only elite skiers have had access to so far.

Carv itself is comprised of two parts. The first is a wearable that attaches to a ski boot, while the second is a ~1mm insert that’s actually placed inside the boot. All the data is then analyzed through an accompanying mobile app, which allows skiers to receive feedback on their performance either on-screen or in real-time, through earphones or heads-up displays. And for more sophisticated athletes, Carv can automatically synchronize video from your GoPro with the data, enabling instructors and coaches to scrutinize the footage alongside the overlaid information.

The solution employs a series of sensors, hidden under the boot liners. Each sensor unit packs 48 independent pressure sensors, meant to pick up even the most minute changes in the pressure distribution, along with an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a magnetometer that provides Carv with information related to the motion and orientation of the skis. Communication is handled by Bluetooth Low Energy.

The sensor unit is powered and controlled by the boot-mounted Carv trackers, which serve as the brains of the system. These trackers are responsible for coordinating data collection, performing calculations for pressure and motion at high frequencies (220Hz), and overseeing wireless communication with the smartphone.

As high-tech of a platform Carv may be, you’ll barely notice that it’s even there. Inspired from current snow sports wear accessories such as customized insoles and boot warmers, the smart insert is super thin and can be slipped in without affecting the way you ski. What’s more, the Carv tracker can be quickly and easily clipped and unclipped whenever it needs to be charged (via USB).

“The idea for Carv began when I was looking at how recording and analysis of data can help people do things better during my PhD. It was an academic problem that got out of hand,” founder Jamie Grant explains. “Coming from a physics background, I was particularly interested in the telemetry side of things – looking at how you can measure movement. Then, whilst studying for a PhD in financial statistics, I worked on the data analysis side – what can you actually do with those measurements once you’ve recorded them? As a keen skier myself, I soon started applying this to my experience on the slopes.”

Grant and his team had a secured a place at HAX, an exclusive hardware accelerator in Shenzhen. With this mentorship, the MotionMetrics crew was not just able to bring their idea to life, but to further develop their unique pressure and motion sensing system that can now measure metrics like weight distribution. Ultimately, this development helps users spot common mistakes such as leaning too heavily on a turn, an action that can slow the skier down, or even worse, cause cranes.

Sound like the 24/7 coach you’ve been looking for? Race over to Carv’s Kickstrater campaign, where the team of PhD students from the University of Imperial College London is currently seeking $50,000. Delivery is expected to get underway in November 2016, just in time for next year’s snow season.

The iBoardbot is an Internet-controlled whiteboard robot

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This ATmega32U4-powered bot can precisely draw images, write text and more.

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The iBoardbot is an Internet-controlled, whiteboard marker-equipped robot that can write, draw and erase on a colorful glass surface. Developed by Scottish startup JJ Robots, the device was designed to serve as a fun and interactive way to keep in touch with family and friends.

Whether you’re using it as a Twitter wall or to simply doodle nifty graphics, the system is managed through an accompanying app which enables users to easily create and send images directly to their iBoardbot via the cloud. With three different modes to choose from, users can do everything from draw pictures, to write messages, to upload graphics. It even boasts a multi-user interface so folks can collaborate on a project or compete against one another in a game of tic-tac-toe at the same time.

Beyond that, the iBoardbot comes with an open API that allows developers to explore their imagination. This opens up a realm of endless possibilities, from displaying local weather forecasts, motivational quotes and reviews for a store. It can be integrated with an IFTTT recipe, too.

In true Maker spirit, JJ Robots has made the iBoardbot’s electronics, 3D-printable frame and code entirely open source. The robot is based on an ATmega32U4 along with a Wi-Fi module for communication, and employs a set of stepper motors, bearings and timing belts for its mechanics. Additionally, the iBoardbot has an integrated eraser in its drawing head so it can wipe away the glass and proceed to jot down new text and pictures.

Intrigued? The iBoardbot ships in one of three different kit forms and can found on Kickstarter, where the JJ Robots crew is currently $15,962. Delivery is slated for April 2016. If you loved this, you may want to check out the team’s air hockey-playing robot hack as well.

Unlock your car door with a fistbump

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Maker Pierre Charlier shows how he was able to add NFC control to his car door with a KeyDuino.

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In the year 2016, the idea of having to use an actual key to lock and unlock your car is as obsolete as listening to a cassette tape. Pretty much every vehicle these days comes with a remote, which lets you wirelessly control your doors from afar. Not to mention, some whips can even sense when you’re in close proximity and automatically unlock as you approach.

Pierre Charlier, on the hand, decided to retrofit his old ride with a KeyDuino and a relay shield, which enabled him to experience keyless entry in the form of a fistbump via an NFC ring. To accomplish this, the Maker removed his car’s internal lock switch and modified the wire harness to take the connection to the ‘duino. For a permanent 12V power supply, he plugged a wire directly on a fuse and another to the ground of the vehicle. (However, it should be noted that connections differ from car to car.)

As you can see in the video below, the system also works with a smartphone for those who rather not wear a ring. Charlier has shared all of the code and a step-by-step breakdown of the project for those interested in adding NFC-enabled entry to your set of wheels. Looking ahead, the Maker hopes to have an improved prototype with a BLE+NFC board right on the door handle.

The brainchild of Charlier himself, KeyDuino is Arduino-like board with built-in NFC capabilities that was successfully launched on Kickstarter late last year. Based on the ATmega32U4, the KeyDuino shares pretty much the same form factor and DNA as the Leonardo, and is compatible with most shields.

 

 

 

3Doodler Start is a child-safe 3D printing pen

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Kids can now draw their own 3D creations in thin air.

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With aspirations of bring 3D printing to the everyday consumer, the WobbleWorks team launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to help fund its 3Doodler 3D printing pen back in 2013. This handheld device lets Makers draw in mid-air or on most surfaces, heating and solidifying plastic material so that the thing being drawn is able to come to life as an actual object.

And after upgrading its pen in 2015, which yet again garnered more than $1.5 million on Kickstarter, the Boston-based startup has returned with a child-friendly version of its popular drawing tool, which will enable those ages 8 to 13 to explore their creativity beyond using just crayons and paper. Instead, the 3Doodler Start will allow children to design their own figurines, art, jewelry and pretty much any other 3D model that comes to mind. This should come as great news to parents, because let’s face it, the sight of a discarded toys is all too common these days.

“3Doodler Start inspires creativity, design, building and spatial understanding, opening up 3D creation to a whole new generation. This is not a fad toy; we believe that, like LEGO and now Minecraft, the 3Doodler Start will become part of every kid’s upbringing,” company co-founder Daniel Cowen explains. 

The most notable thing about the 3Doodler Start, however, is that has no hot parts, and uses an environmentally-friendly filament that melts with barely any heat. Just pick up the single-temperature, one-speed device and it’s ready to go. Click once on its main orange button to extrude the plastic automatically, click again to stop, and double click to reverse the plastic — it’s as simple as that. Meanwhile, LEDs will indicate warming up, ready, forward flow and reverse.

The 3Doodler Start dispenses with the conventional pen shape, but has adopted a shorter, thicker and more ergonomically-designed frame that’s suitable for smaller hands. Weighing under a quarter of a pound and measuring 5.4” x 1.4”, the turquoise unit can operate wirelessly for 45 minutes per charge or run while plugged in via a micro-USB port.

“The core values of 3Doodler are creative freedom and limitless imagination, so it was a natural progression to create a pen for a younger audience. The 3Doodler Start provides the perfect educational platform for kids around the world and we cannot wait to see what the next generation creates,” Cowen adds.

What’s also nice is that those just starting out can follow along with what’s called a DoodleBlock, which is similar to a 3D coloring book and allows users to draw in grooves to form a shape, then pop them out. Once they’ve traced all the pieces, they can then use their 3Doodler Start to join them together to form a finished three-dimensional creation.

Does this sound like the 3D printing instrument for your youngsters or perhaps even you? Head over to WobbleWorks’ page here to get your hands on one today.

 

Dad builds a talking and transforming birthday cake for his son

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Maker Russell Munro created an Optimus Prime cake that actually transforms.

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While Jeff Highsmith may have been the unofficial Maker dad of the year in 2014 with his impressive mission control desk, it looks like we just found 2015’s undisputed champion. That’s because Russell Munro recently created the ultimate birthday cake for his six-year-old son: a talking Optimus Prime cake that actually transforms.

According to Munro, the animated cake consists of a 3D-printed skeleton: a chest, thighs, arms and lower legs. The thighs and the chest are the only animatronic pieces, as the lower legs remain in place to support all of the movement. Metal fishing wire is wound up by a stepper motor which pulls the chassis to a standing position. A pair of arms pop out from the chest once the robot is fully upright.

The entire operation is controlled by an Arduino, along with an EasyDriver from SparkFun, a 2A DC motor driver and an MP3 player module. The platform for the cake is made from 8mm MDF.

With the help of his wife, the chocolate mud cake was then baked around the mechanism and ultimately topped off with an amazing icing job. Safe to say, this Maker will probably be receiving countless invites to birthday parties in the very near future. Intrigued? Read all about the build on his log, as well as his latest writeup in MAKE: Magazine.

And now sans the cake…

Set the mood with 512 LEDs in this smart lamp

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Tittle Light is the ultimate home lighting décor.

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As we make the move towards smarter homes, why not add a decorative, element to it? Tittle Light is a connected, color-changing LED lamp that can transform your home environment with custom 3D light animations.

Made up of 512 LED lights, Tittle is an interactive lamp that can illuminate into music visualizations, custom emoji messages and vibrant mood lights, and seeks to serve as a decorative centerpiece for your smart home. The team at Spin-R is the brains behind this connected lamp. Although the startup has focused solely on high-end watch-winding devices, CEO and co-founder Kinsen Au and his crew are dedicated to bringing entertaining consumer electronics and IoT concepts to reality.

Using Tittle’s accompanying mobile and web app, you can design your own engaging lighting effects in three dimensions, or watch the lights animate on its own as Tittle matches the lighting to the sound in your home. Tittle will move and pulse alongside the tunes you’re playing, making it the ultimate party favor. This high-end designed lamp boasts it has something for every moment. Tittle also has its practical use as a clock and timer.

Housed inside Tittle’s unique glass encasing are RGB LED lights in an 8” x 8” x 8” cube structure. It’s equipped with a built-in microphone to perform music visualization animations, 16MB flash memory and Wi-Fi to control all functions via its companion app. Tittle requires no assembly, and could be powered straight out of the box with its plug-and-play A/C adaptor.

After showcasing a prototype at CES 2016, Spin-R is seeking funds to bring Tittle to life. Intrigued? Head over to Au and his team’s project page, where you can get a Tittle Light at an early bird special price of $199. Delivery to initial backers is slated for September 2016.

Seeeduino Cloud is an Arduino Yún-compatible Wi-Fi board

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This new MCU is built around the Dragino HE IoT module and the ATmega32U4.

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Adafruit has announced the arrival of the Seeeduino Cloud, an Arduino Yún-compatible MCU based on the ATmega32U4 and Dragino HE IoT module.

The board features both built-in Ethernet and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi support, as well as USB-A port that makes it perfect for prototype designs requiring network connection and mass storage. The HE — which means “core” in Chinese — is a minimal system installed with OpenWrt.

The 802.11 b/g/n-capable MCU boasts a rich interface with Ethernet, USB, UART and plenty of GPIO pins, which offers compatibility with Grove shields. Makers can even use the Seeeduino Cloud as an IoT gateway.

Similar to the Arduino Yún, the Seeeduino Cloud eases the interface between Arduino firmware and complex web services. Makers can use the Yún Bridge library which delegates all network connections and processing of HTTP transactions to the Linux machine.

“Historically, interfacing Arduino with complex web services has been quite a challenge due to the limited memory available. Web services tend to use verbose text based formats like XML that require quite a lot of RAM to parse,” Adafruit explains.

What’s more, the Seeeduino Cloud can be programmed with Arduino IDE via a USB cable or over the Wi-Fi connection without the need to physically access the board. Interested? Head over to Adafruit to get your hands on one today, or delve deeper into the Cloud’s specs on Seeed Studio’s Wiki page.