Blacksmith Genesis is the world’s first rotary 3D printer and scanner

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3D scan + print + copy

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The world’s first compact 3D printer that can also scan items and create their digitized models has been launched and is expected to be delivered to the United States next month.

Developed by Nanyang Technological University-originated startup Blacksmith Group, the user-friendly device allows Makers of all levels to scan any item, then edit the digitized model on the computer and 3D print it. Aptly named Blacksmith Genesis, the all-in-one device first appeared last year on Indiegogo, where it successfully garnered over $80,000. With production now complete, the printer-cum-scanner was first unveiled at the American Association Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting in San Jose, California.

“We designed Blacksmith Genesis with the average hobbyist in mind. Most 3D printers sold on the market now are not really user-friendly as their 3D models and blueprints usually have to be designed from scratch on the computer,” explained co-founder Fang Kok Boon.

Resembling the body of a Keurig coffeemaker, the high-tech device is housed in black aluminum casing with an innovative rotary platform, which enables 360-degree scanning. Designed for both in-home and office use, the sleek Genesis can easily fit alongside any desktop computer or other appliances. In addition, it boasts a 2-inch LCD display, Wi-Fi, an integrated SD-card reader and a USB connection for instant printing. With a fine resolution of 50 micrometers, the Blacksmith Group says reproductions will be twice as detailed compared to other compact 3D printers, while its built-in 5 megapixel camera will scan objects in just six minutes — twice as fast as others on the market today.

What’s more, the Genesis offers remote monitoring and automatic error detection through its camera. This lets Makers manage the printing process right from their your smartphone. So, should you wish to stop printing, you can do so at the click of a button — anytime, anywhere.

• Printer size: 35cm x 25cm x 41cm
• Build volume: 23cm x 16cm
• Scan volume: 21cm x 16cm
• Printer weight:  6kg (13 lbs)
• Nozzle diameter: 0.4 mm
• Layer Resolution: 50-200 microns
• Filament type: PLA, 1.75 mm diameter
• Connectivity: USB, SD Card, Wi-Fi (coming soon)

Those interested, who have missed the Indiegogo campaign, can now pre-order their Genesis. While it will be a welcomed addition to any home, office or Makerspace, it will however set you back $2,200.

ORIGIBOT is an open-source telepresence robot with an articulated arm

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Goodbye, chores! 

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With all of this talk about the Internet of Things ushering in a Jetsons-like future, wouldn’t it be great if every household came equipped with their own Rosie the robot as well? Think about it, no more doing the dishes, folding the laundry, fetching drinks or taking out the trash. If it were up to Origin Robotics, we may be closer than you think. That’s because the Miami, Florida startup has launched an Indiegogo campaign for its ORIGIBOT, a fully-robotic platform that pairs with your Android device to perform everyday tasks such as watering plants or to bringing grandma her medicine.

The ORIGIBOT is a sleek and minimalist robot with a stable base attached to motorized wheels, an arm extension, a mobile device (with a display of up to 10”), as well as a gripper that opens to 7.8cm with a recess to accommodate cans, bottles and cups. The gadget features two-way audio and video, and impressively, complete remote control of its 5 degrees of freedom.

More importantly, the open-source robot was built using off-the-shelf components including standard and high-torque hobby servos, standard T-Slot aluminum framing, and an Atmel based Arduino for control. Its team also reveals that the Arduino sketch will be made available so anyone can customize commands and adjust parameters themselves. ORIGIBOT is powered by a set of NiMh batteries that are capable of providing nearly eight hours of standby time with moderate use. An included charger will safely recharge the batteries in under 4 hours.

The minimalist body is comprised of sleek aluminum and stainless steel extrusions for functionality and strength, as well as ABS plastic parts that were carefully designed for 3D printing for easy updates and modifications. In fact, all .stl files for the custom components will be available for download so users can modify and print replacements yourself. Meanwhile, ORIGIBOT’s body and arms are just the right length to be unobtrusive while navigating, yet can reach from a few inches off the ground to just above most counters, door knobs, and refrigerator water dispensers.

So, what can the ORIGIBOT do? As the video below demonstrates, the bot is equipped to handle mundane tasks ranging from getting water from the fridge and filling your pets bowl to locking/unlocking deadbolts and retrieving the TV remote. Each of the actions are easily facilitated through an intuitive joystick, which makes maneuvering the household bot as easy as playing an arcade game. In addition, sliders control movements for its arm, wrist and gripper, while tilting the neck forward and backward will enable a user to get a better view of the surrounding environment. Just lift the arm up and down, then turn the wrist to get just the right position. Finally, open and close the gripper to grasp or release.

By leveraging an existing device as its communications hub, display and camera, the Origin Robotics crew was able to create something easy to use and even easier to afford. Ready for a friendly robot in your smart home? ORIGIBOT is live on Indiegogo, where it is currently seeking $18,000.

Broogs Smart Lamp is a multi-purpose lamp for your connected home

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This multi-purpose smart lamp acts as a lantern, speaker, mobile notification center and much more.

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When it comes to traditional lamps, they’re often times one-dimensional. Other than brightening up your room, there’s not much more than these devices can do. However, with the rise of the Internet of Things, the need for smart gadgets that are multi-functional is becoming increasingly more popular, and sought after by consumers for their connected homes. That’s why the Broogs team, in collaboration with KSEED, have developed a multi-purpose intelligent lamp — an ideal addition to any bedroom, living room, dorm, or wherever else you may seek light.

It’s important to note that Broogs isn’t just smart lamp simply because the color of the LEDs can be changed to one of nearly 16 million hues. In fact, a variety of additional features are made available through its Bluetooth connectivity, such as streaming audio, setting alarms and pushing social media notifications. For instance, when you receive a call or text, the lamp was designed to provide audio and visual alerts through its lantern.

The lamp itself comes in two pieces, each packed with a number of its own unique functions. The lamp base is equipped with touch controls tasked with adjusting the level of brightness, turning it on/off, USB ports for charging and a Bluetooth speaker. Housed inside the base, the LED bulb is easily removable, which makes it super conveninent to move around in the dark — something that will surely come in handy if there is a sudden loss of power.

Broogs’ Smart Lamp was made to shift light away from a user’s eyes for when reading at night or looking around in the dark. This relieves any unnecessary stress keeping your eyes comfortable while you try to unwind.

Furthermore, a set of built-in USB ports will eliminate the need to take up outlet space with separate wall chargers. At the base of the lamp sits a downward facing high-quality Bluetooth speaker. Positioned slightly above the surface of wherever the lamp is placed, the speaker allows for superior acoustics by reflecting audio against the surface and dispersing it around the room.

One of, if not the, most important capabilities of the removable lantern is that it can provide nearly three to four hours of light. Not to mention, the LED lamp also uses 20 times less energy than a standard bulb so it can be used for over 20 years. With its additional USB ports, the lantern can also charge smart devices via USB until the power comes back on.

The functionality does not reside all in the lamp, however. Broogs has developed a mobile app, which is capable of setting the mood with various tones, receiving notifications and much more as the product matures. Interested in learning more? Head over to its official Indiegogo page, where the team is currently seeking $50,000. At the moment, the lamp will come in three different colors: all-white, all-black or a white and black combination. If all goes to plan, shipping is set to begin in May 2015.

11 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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Voltera

This conductive ink printer will let you go create circuit boards in less than an hour. Voltera is currently seeking $70,000 on Kickstarter.

PLAYBULB garden

This LED lighting system lets you add shining colors and special lighting effects to your home garden with one tap of your finger. The MIPOW team is currently seeking $10,000 on Kickstarter.

ENTACUP

These smart cups are bringing loved ones together through a series of sensors, Bluetooth 4.0, an LED strip and a little bit of coffee. When one cup is filled, the other will glow. ENTACUP is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Tempi

This small wearable Bluetooth device can accurately measure temperature and humidity, as well as display the data on your smartphone. Simply pair Tempi with your phone and begin tracking your environment. The Vencipio team is currently seeking $20,000 on Kickstarter.

BROOGS

This multi-purpose, Bluetooth-enabled smart lamp can serve as a lantern, speaker and mobile notification center, among many other things. BROOGS is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

KegSmarts

This Wi-Fi-enabled device can attach to an existing beer fridge or part of PicoBrew’s kegerator unit to give you readings on exactly what’s happening with your brew via its OLED screen. PicoBrew is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

InBody Band

This snap-on device features a simple touchscreen display and four sensors located on its front and back that allow you to retrieve a body composition reading in just seconds. InBody is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Coolest Clock

This highly-versatile projection clock is designed to project a lot more than time. Coolest Clock is currently seeking $20,000 on Indiegogo.

RasPiO Duino

This add-on board is allowing Makers to experience the capabilities of Arduino right on a Raspberry Pi. RasPiO Duino is currently seeking £3,456 on Kickstarter.

ELECTRICMOOD

This light, foldable and fully-equipped urban e-scooter hopes to shake up the portable transportation mark. ELECTRICMOOD is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

tago arc

This wearable band is putting a customizable curved e-ink screen right on your wrist. Liber8 Technology is currently seeking $40,000 on Indiegogo.

Did you happen to miss last week’s notable campaigns? If so, you can check them out there.

5 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 launched on Kickstarter and Indiegogo in the last seven days. 

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Paragon Induction Cooktop

Designed to ease sous-vide cooking for the masses, this smart induction hotplate pairs with a wireless sensor to precisely monitor and maintain temperatures. The FirstBuild team is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

CarVi

This mountable device is bringing a virtual driving system to older vehicles by simply connecting to a user’s smartphone. CarVi is currently seeking $100,000 on Indiegogo.

Sophia

The smart skipping rope, Sophia counts how active you are and makes it easy to get more exercise during the day. FitFox is currently seeking €28,500 on Kickstarter.

Keepbo

A combination of ‘keep’ and ‘robot,’ this wireless button can track, locate and notify users of a lost item or child in real-time. Keepbo is currently seeking $30,000 on Indiegogo.

Neoh

Billed as the first wearable home theater system, the headphones provide a spatial sound simulation using embedded motion sensors. Neoh is currently seeking $80,000 on Kickstarter.

Did you happen to miss last week’s notable campaigns? If so, you can check them out there.

CarVi wants to help make your old car smarter

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One San Jose startup has just unveiled a sophisticated virtual driving system, with advanced safety features.

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While several of today’s car are equipped with sensors, cameras and other next-gen technologies, what about that old 10-year-old Chevy Cavalier or Ford Taurus of yours? Though many modern-day vehicles may be embedded with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that can aid in everything from parking and navigating to steering and preventing accidents, a majority of drivers are not fortunate enough to have such enhanced mobiles. That was until CarVi came along.

The San Jose startup has developed a mountable ADAS for older vehicles that simply connects to your smartphone via Wi-Fi. The module — which is affixed inside a windshield below the rearview mirror — uses vision-based safety features to gather real-time data from your mobile device and a single lens camera. This allows the system to communicate with its corresponding app so that CarVi can detect a wide-range of possible situations, giving visual and audio alerts in the event one shall arise.

While CarVi may not be synced to your car’s computer, it can certainly can provide an extra set of eyes while at the wheel. It knows if you happen to drift outside of a lane and senses brake lights ahead. More impressively, the ARM-based device is capable of learning your driving patterns and can give your car just enough gas to efficiently ease into the flow of traffic. At the end of the day, the mobile app will let you see just how safely you’ve been driving, or not, so you can hone your skills in the future.

The team has geared the technological co-pilot towards elderly and teenage drivers, as well as those just looking for a little extra peace of mind while on the road. What’s nice about CarVi is that it offers a cheaper, more flexible option for those looking for a more connected ride. It’s compatible with more than 95% of cars and has been successfully tested in Ford, Nissan, Toyota, BMW and other major brands.

Looking to give your old whip some new smarts? Head over to the project’s official Indiegogo page, where the team is currently seeking $100,000. Pending all goes to plan, delivery is expected to begin in August 2015. Those interested in CarVi may also want to check out this latest interview on the future of vehicles in the IoT.

Akolyt is a smart sensor that doubles as a personal driving assistant

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“It’s not your car getting connected, it’s you becoming a better driver.”

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As smart devices continue to infiltrate our daily lives from the house to the workplace, it won’t be long before they enter our vehicles as well with  approximately 250 million connected cars on the road by 2020. And, while a number of manufacturers have already begun embedding next-gen technology into our automobiles, new solutions are emerging that can make older ones smart, too. Good news for anyone with a ride that dates back to 2001.

Among the latest startups to take aim on this market is Drust. The Paris-based startup has developed Akolyt, a smart sensor that plugs directly a car’s OBD connector and gathers data on all things under the hood, such as brake patterns, gear changes, and speed. That data is then transmitted via Bluetooth to the user’s smartphone and is displayed in easy-to-digest bits of real-time data. Almost as if it were your personal driving assistant, the sensor can enhance driver efficiency, increase the reliability of the car, and reduce up to 30% fuel consumption.

In the event that something is wrong — and after all, with older vehicles it’s bound to happen — a light will immediately appear on the dashboard, indicating the problem. This means no more sifting through the glove box clutter to locate the the owner’s manual, just to learn that the you still have no idea what the vague light means. Instead, Akolyt explains clearly the origin of any problem so you can handle the situation properly — and better yet, not be ripped off by mechanics! Additionally, the sensor will examine your car before each trip to ensure that everything is indeed okay as you head off to work, class or the grocery store.

The accompanying app also keeps tabs on a driver’s daily route, maintenance schedules, appointments, and a number of other key reminders. More importantly, the device is equipped with an emergency assistance feature as well. If in a fender bender, Akolyt will immediately verify that you’re okay, and when help is necessary, will automatically notify authorities of the incident.

At the end of each journey, the mobile app collects on-the-road data and generates statistics based on performance, updating your “driving score.” This is certainly something that can come in handy for parents with teenage drivers or bantering with friends over who’s the better driver.

Based on an ARM Cortex-M3 MCU, the plug-in device is packed with Bluetooth 4.0 to communicate with its companion app, a long-range module to connect to the Internet, Flash memory so trip data can be stored, and a built-in accelerometer to track information precisely.

Those wishing to become more intelligent, well-informed drivers can head over to the project’s official Indiegogo page where the team is currently seeking €30,000. What’s more, Drust has a few stretch goals as well — one of which includes adding support for American-made cars. If all goes to plan, initial tests will begin in April 2015 with production slated for August 2015.

11 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 launched on Kickstarter and Indiegogo in the last seven days. 

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EasyPlug Air

This shield enables Makers to wirelessly connect their Arduino in under a minute. inXus interactive is currently seeking $20,000 on Kickstarter.

Akolyt

This smart sensor plugs right into your car and gathers important data enhancing both safety and convenience. Drust is currently seeking €30,000 on Indiegogo.

Hive

This automation system wants to make smart home devices, security, and entertainment accessible for everyone. Hive is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Safeti

This personal security device is designed to keep you safe in any situation by tracking your exact location and guiding you through any emergency situation. Safeti is currently seeking $60,000 on Indiegogo.

Qmote

Access your smart devices with just a click of this water-resistant remote. Qblinks is currently seeking $20,000 on Kickstarter.

Luna

This mattress cover will make any bed smart, ranging from intelligently managing temperature to tracking your sleep, and integrate with your existing connected home devices. Luna is currently seeking $100,000 on Indiegogo.

EinScan-S

The EinScan-S aims to serve as the world’s first high-resolution desktop 3D scanner that gives Makers industrial-grade resolutions. The team is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Coolbox

A complete reinvention of the toolbox, this latest product packs all of the classic storage compartments a handyman would expect — along with several next-gen features. Coolbox, in partnership with Project Copilot, is currently seeking $50,000.

Wishbone

Read your baby’s temperature with the world’s smallest, easiest-to-use and smartest thermometer. Joywing is currently seeking $20,000 on Kickstarter.

Flicks

This portable boombox projector wants you to bring the party anywhere you go with big-time video and sound. Dashbon is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Glow

The world’s first smart headphones glow with laser light while pulsing to the beat of your music or rhythm of your heart. Glow is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Pinto lets you carry files on your wrist

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This wearable device is ensuring that you never forget your documents and data again.

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When it comes to saving files nowadays, we have several options ranging from good ol’ flash drives and discs to cloud storage. However, let’s face it. How many pocket-sized USB devices have you lost in the past, leaving you no choice but to go buy another? This was the premise behind the world’s first storage wristband.

Created by the Bean Beam team, Pinto aspires to modify the way people think about storing their files safely. The device itself is a waterproof Bluetooth-enabled wristband, that’s both comfortable and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. What’s more, the wearable has no USB plug, port or other annoyances, allowing it to converge each of the good qualities of cloud storage and flash drives — nothing more.

“This is a something we have dedicated a huge amount of time to and that we feel incredibly passionate about,” a company rep explained. “Pinto is truly a better and more secure way of storing important files. It can be kept on the wrist 24 hours a day. How much more secure can something get? The technology is very exciting and we think people are going to really love Pinto, for all the best reasons.”

According to Bean Beam, the one-size-fits-all band was designed to be a “true wearable” in the sense that it can literally be worn 24 hours a day if its owner desired to, from the bedroom, to work, to play and back home again. Aside from being able to walk to class on a rainy day, go into the shower or swim a couple of laps in the pool, the robust device also charges wirelessly, meaning it can refuel without ever leaving your arm.

Charging can be accomplished in one of two ways, either through what the company calls a “Charging CAP” or “Charging PAD.” The CAP is a round adapter that magnetizes on the bottom of Pinto’s rubber band, whereas the PAD can be placed alongside a keyboard or laptop allowing a wearer to rest their wrist on its comfortable silicone layer.

How it works is simple. The device is clasped onto the wrist of a user. Bluetooth technology allows files on Pinto to be accessed anywhere and everywhere, and operates at the touch of a single button. Equipped with LEDs, the wristband will emit a white light to indicate that the power is on, green that operation is idle, and blue that an incoming connection is pending approval. Pinto currently comes in both 32GB and 64GB of storage for you to jam-pack with all of your latest white papers, projects and documents. And, all files stored on it are password protected, so there’s no need to worry if somehow misplaced.

At its core lies an Cortex-M4-based MCU; however, in its earliest testing stages, the team tells us that they prototyped using an Atmel | SMART SAM3X8E. We will wait and see what the future holds as this wearable is brought to market!

Interested in wearing your files on your wrist? You’ll want to hurry over to its official Indiegogo page, where the team is currently seeking $190,000.

Luna is turning your mattress into a smart bed

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The newest sleep tracker on the market doesn’t have to be worn.

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Everything in and our around our home is becoming connected, and that includes our beds. Imagine as you lie down for a good night’s rest, the lights, thermostat and music all adjust to a setting of your liking, while the doors lock themselves. Then, as you sleep, the room stays at an optimal temperature. That’s the idea behind the newest tracker on the market, one in which you won’t find adorned to any wrist.

Luna is the world’s first cover that can monitor your sleep, intelligently heat your mattress and make your bed smart. Over the course of the night, it will track everything from sleeping patterns to heart and breathing rates, let you know how well you slept, and use those insights to offer suggestions on ways to improve future slumbers.

Through its accompanying mobile app, users can control the warmth of their bed including dual-zone temperatures for those who have differing preferences from their partners. Or, when needed on those cold winter nights, Luna can be set remotely, allowing you to come home to an already warm bed. Luna is also equipped with a built-in alarm clock that wakes you up during the lightest sleep cycle along with some light tunes and a freshly brewed pot of coffee.

Luna is also integrated with a number of household devices, such as smart lightbulbs, thermostats, air vents and speakers. Meaning, through its IFTTT service, users can trigger actions like turning on a coffee machine once awake or activating a smart door lock when the user is in bed. Luna is already integrated with Nest, Philips Hue, Lockitron, Emberlight and Beep but can be connected to other Wi-Fi-enabled gadgets creating recipes on IFTTT as well.

With convenience and security in mind, the mattress cover uses public key cryptography and include HTTPS, SSL, and 128-bit encryption. “Luna stores a small amount of data locally and as soon as an internet connection becomes available, encrypts the data and sends it to our servers in the cloud,” the company writes.

Just launched on Indiegogo, the team has already well exceeded its $100,000 goal. Interested in learning more or pre-ordering one of your own? Head over to Luna’s official page here.