2015 was quite the year. Here are just some of the awesome devices with mainstream appeal that caught our eye over the last 12 months.
Buddy
The first social robot that connects, protects and interacts with each member of your family.
Bistrobot
If you give this automated machine $2, it will craft a peanut butter sandwich on white bread with your choice of honey, blackberry jam, sweet chili or chocolate sauce.
Keyboardio
Finally, there’s an open source ergonomic keyboard that gives your overworked pinkies a break and puts your thumbs to work.
Voltera V-One
Tired of delays and unnecessary expenses? Then you’ll love this laptop-sized printer that can turn design files into prototype circuit boards in minutes.
PancakeBot
Design, print and eat your own pancakes.
PicoBrew Pico
Why head out to the package store when you can brew your own fresh, personalized craft beer right at home?
Forever 21 Thread Screen
The team of BREAKFAST and Forever 21 developed a massive, one-ton machine that turns your Instagram photos into thread artwork.
DrumPants
From hip-hop to dubstep, this wearable kit lets you play music right from your body using 100+ sounds and 300+ music applications.
Prometheus
While it may look like a 3D printer, this PCB milling machine enables you to prototype circuit boards right from your desk.
Tech Tats
Chaotic Moon Studios have devised a cutting-edge tattoo kit, which allows for the monitoring of your own body activity.
Layered Fabric 3D Printer
Who needs a toy store when you can 3D print your own soft and deformable stuffed animals from layers of off-the-shelf fabric?
BeachBot
Sand castles are so 2014. This turtlish autonomous robot can create large scale art on the beach.
OpenROV Trident
Whereas most drones are made for the sky, this remote-controlled, camera-equipped ROV is meant for underwater exploration.
Reality Editor
What if reprogramming your devices was as simple as drawing lines between them? Thanks to MIT’s Fluid Interfaces Group, it may soon be.
ONAGOfly
Sorry selfie sticks, your days are numbered. This palm-sized drone features GPS auto-following and a high-res camera.
BeON Home
There are smart lights, then there are out-smart lights. This system will make having a safer, smarter home as simple as screwing in a bulb.
PowerUp FPV
Your old-school paper airplane just got a whole heck of a lot cooler with a live-streaming camera.
Phree
A revolutionary pen that turns the world around you into a notepad.
The Things Network
Make your city smart with this global, crowdsourced and decentralized IoT network.
Ripple Maker
A 3D printing-inspired device that can etch art on the foam of your coffee.
FarmBot
Grow my gosh! This 2015 Hackaday Prize entry is the world’s first open source CNC farming machine.
Alpha 2
Could this humanoid robot become the newest addition to your family?
LifeQ
By tapping into the human sensor, this intelligent technology can significantly improve decision-making for anyone’s health and well-being.
Sesame
Replace your keys with your smartphone in just seconds.
UnaliWear
Like OnStar for seniors, this all-in-one, voice-controlled wearable will help keep the elderly independent, active and safe.
ShiftWear
The most adaptable shoes you’ll ever own, customized straight from your smartphone.
Flic
A wireless button that can control your favorite smart functions.
C.H.I.P.
A $9 computer. ‘nuff said.
DrinkMate Mini
Have you had a couple of drinks? Don’t worry, this tiny iPhone breathalyzer has got your BAC!
Opal
Love nugget ice? Hate buying bags? This affordable gadget is for you.
Dobot
This high-precision, Arduino-based desktop robotic arm can do pretty much anything.
RePhone
BYOD: Build your own device! Piece together your own phone and give inanimate objects the power of cellular communication.
Mycroft
Based on the Arduino and Raspberry Pi, this open source A.I. system plays media, controls lights and more.
Spinn Coffee
This appliance can whip up anything from drip coffee to espresso, depending on how fast the brewer spins.
Tempescope
Who needs weather apps when you can recreate the forecast from right inside your living room?
Makerarm
A complete personal fabrication system crammed into a single, sleek robotic arm for your desk.
Fibonacci Clock
Think reading an analog clock is tough? Tell time using glowing lights and the Fibonacci sequence.
Electroloom
Design and create seamless, ready-to-wear garments based on custom 3D geometries.
Fleye
Could this soccer ball-shaped drone be the safest flying bot to date?
Naviator
A drone that can fly and swim.
RoboHon
Sharp unveiled a new smartphone in the form of an adorable robot.
Dancing Paper
Bet you’ve never seen a bunch of origami bust a move.
jamStik+
A portable guitar that teaches you to play and lets you jam on the go.
Nexpaq
This modular case for your smartphone gives you the ability to add and remove physical modules whenever necessary.
OWOW
A new breed of instruments that can drop the beat at home, in the studio or live on stage.
Oval
What if you could play a handpan like an electronic musical instrument?
SensorWake
The world’s first olfactory alarm clock wakes you up with your favorite scents instead of sound.
Ario
This smart lamp learns your habits, syncs to your body clock and keeps you healthy through natural lighting patterns.
CMYK 4.0
If you’re looking to make your commute from home to the office a bit more efficient, then this foldable electric bike may be for you.
Musio
The world’s first artificially intelligent companion bot, designed to engage and grow with you.
LineFORM
This shape-changing soft robot can be a phone, a wristwatch, a keyboard, a lamp and more.
Cord UIs
Imagine if you could control your gadgetry using cords and cables.
Bruno
There’s finally an automated smart trashcan that not only opens with a wave of a hand but vacuums up dust and restocks itself.
Netflix
These smart socks will pause your binge-watching session when you fall asleep.
Pixelio
Goodbye, shaky hands! Transform your smartphone into a 3D scanner.
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