17 smart crowdfunding campaigns you may want to back this week

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Every Friday, we’re taking a look at some of the smartest, most innovative projects that have caught our attention on Kickstarter and Indiegogo over the last seven days. 

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ReVault

This smartwatch doubles as a wireless storage device that allows you to securely access and sync all your files without an Internet connection. ReVault is currently seeking $65,000 on Indiegogo.

Musio

This artificially intelligent robot will learn, adapt and grow with you and your environment. Musio is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

SmartMatrix

This shield is an easy way to connect the popular Teensy microcontroller to RGB matrix display panels and create stunning LED visuals with just a few lines of code. Pixelmatrix is currently seeking $30,000 on Kickstarter.

Roby

This 3D-printed, Arduino-based robot kit can be modded, driven and even given a personality, all while teaching young Makers about programming and 3D design. Socially Shaped is currently seeking $25,000 on Kickstarter.

The BUTLER

This GSM and Wi-Fi-enabled video peephole/doorbell allows you to see, hear and speak to visitors directly from your smartphone. The BUTLER is currently seeking $40,000 on Kickstarter.

YotaPhone 2

This dual-screen, always-on smartphone features a fully-customizable display, hands-free messaging and e-reading for up to 100 hours on a single charge. YotaPhone is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Focus 3D Printer

This new 3D printer folds up like a briefcase and prints dozens of different materials. 3D By Flow is currently seeking $56,475 on Kickstarter.

LUMOPACK

This portable battery pack charges in 30 minutes and packs 6,000mAh of juice. Lyte Systems is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Ecoisme

This system will monitor your home’s electricity consumption and help you save money on your electric bill. Ecoisme is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

UNplug

This Arduino-driven device employs solar energy and electronics to reduce power usage and greenhouse gas emissions. Maker Markus Löffler is currently seeking $55,000 on Kickstarter.

TZOA

This wearable enviro-tracker monitors air pollution and UV exposure to help you stay healthy and explore your environment. TZOA is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Switcheroo

This board gives you the ability to connect and control just about anything, from your toys to your lights, right from your your smartphone. Dangerous Things is currently seeking $18,000 on Kickstarter.

ResisTrack

This gadget serves as an automatic muscle tracker, personal trainer and social motivator. Maker Marco Zoltan Daroczi is currently seeking $78,213 on Kickstarter.

Netonos Note

This amplifier integrates with your Sonos system to extend its capabilities to include surround sound receivers, group presets, doorbell chimes and playback of short announcements through its speakers. Netonos is currently seeking $80,000 on Kickstarter.

MODR

This modular system lets you personalize and add functionalities to your smartphone. MODR is currently seeking $70,000 on Indiegogo.

Geek Out V2

This device plugs directly into your computer’s USB port and replaces its mediocre sounds with high-def quality. Geek Out is currently seeking $28,888 on Indiegogo.

mimoodz

This multi-color LED smart bulb for your home can be controlled from anywhere via its accompanying smartphone app. Smart  Gator Labs is currently seeking $33,333 on Kickstarter.

Moodmetric

This piece of smart jewelry looks to enhance your overall well-being by measuring skin conductance and tracking emotional levels. Moodmetric is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Did you happen to miss last week’s notable campaigns? If so, you can check them out here. Also, if your project is powered by Atmel MCUs and you’ve been featured on our blog, be sure to download the respective badges here for use in your ongoing marketing efforts. 

This suitcase is actually a portable 3D printer

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Focus is a multi-material, ultra-portable 3D printer that fits within a suitcase. 

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When it comes to the utmost portability, nothing says “on the go” more than a piece of luggage, right? Have you ever thought about taking a 3D printer with you when you’re traveling? Probably not, mostly because a vast majority of machines are still relatively bulky. Aside from that, many devices are only capable of printing in a single type of filament — whether that’s plastic or paste-like materials — and require some sort of calibration. Luckily, in an effort to address this list of problems, Dutch startup 3D By Flow has debuted a new project called Focus. 

Essentially, it’s a 3D printer housed in a sleek, hipster-esque suitcase that opens up into a magnificent machine with minimal setup. Weighing in at just 15 pounds, the compact piece can be easily unfolded, warmed up and ready to print in less than 30 seconds. Like other devices on the market today, Makers can either connect the Focus to a PC or simply plug in an SD card with the STL files. What’s more, it doesn’t require any leveling or calibrating before hitting print.

While the portability of the gadget surely enhances its value when more people than ever prefer working on the go, perhaps what makes the FFF 3D printer truly stand out is its magnetic extruder switch. This enables a user to attach various extruder types, making it possible to print with different materials like PLA, ABS, wood, bio-rubber, nylon, bronze, ceramic, silicon as well as edible materials like chocolate.

Focus is also equipped with an extra endstop for accurate height adjustments. What’s more, the team has developed software with extruder recognition capabilities to ensure that despite which filament is employed for a print job, the printer will always be optimized for the intended material type. As for the bottom isolated print bed of this super mobile machine, it is entirely stationary, heated and allows for more accuracy, especially with soft materials such as ceramics.

From the looks of Focus, it would appear that the MIT duo who devised the PopFab a few years back were onto something, and rightfully so. Between traveling to and from hackerspaces, school and Maker Faires, lack of portability can certainly be a pain. Sound like a 3D printer you’d like? Head over to its official Kickstarter campaign, where the team is currently seeking $56,475. Shipment is expected to kick off in December 2015 — just in time for the holidays!