BLTouch is an auto leveling sensor for 3D printers

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Your 3D printer doesn’t have an automated bed leveling system? Not to worry! 

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As any Maker will tell you, having to manually level the bed of your 3D printer can be a rather tedious task. Between ensuring that it’s level and that the print nozzle is the right distance away, this is a headache that most of us would like to avoid. Unfortunately, despite all the technology being crammed inside these printers, many of today’s device still lack an automatic bed leveling system — a problem that Charles Lee is hoping to change.

BLTouch is an auto leveling sensor that can be easily installed on pretty much any open source FFF 3D printer, and will work with a range of materials from glass to metal. The unit consists of an ATtiny13A, a solenoid and a push pin, and uses the same servo signal as its previously attached servo motor.

“You can connect BLTouch with an existing servo motor connector (three-pin) and Zmin connector (two-pin). If your 3D printer does not have the auto leveling function, then you should have it updated, and add the two connectors which are enclosed [with our product]. In this process, soldering might be needed,” Lee explains.

The BLTouch is noiseless when in standby mode as well. Instead of emitting those annoying “servo motor” sounds like other leveling systems, this sensor makes just a small clicking noise as the push pin moves. The device also features an power saving system. While in idle mode, the power flow of the solenoid remains below 15mA, and around 800mA while in use.

Additionally, the push pin is capable of self-testing and will blink an LED light should a problem be found. According to Lee, the machine could be disassembled using nothing more than an Allen wrench, and any issue can likely be solved by simply wiping the pin.

Interested? Head over to BLTouch’s Indiegogo page, where its team is currently seeking $20,000. Pending all goes to plan, delivery is slated for November 2015.

PetBot will automatically send you selfies of your pet

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PetBot is a smart device that allows you to engage with your pet remotely and to detect when they’re active using artificial intelligence. 

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Ask any pet owner and they’ll all tell you the same thing: leaving your cat or dog can be tough. No matter if it’s heading out to the office in the morning or vacationing for a week, it’s quite normal to miss your companion. And whereas humans have FaceTime and Skype to converse with others while away, shouldn’t there be way that you could still connect with your furry companion in similar fashion?

Introducing PetBot, a smart device that lets you engage with your pet remotely — and have them send you selfies. Not only does its built-in camera provide you with a livestream of your beloved animal’s daily routine, it uses artificial (or “petificial”) intelligence to detect, record and notify you when they’re active. What’s more, an accompanying app allows you to communicate with your voice and dispense treats from afar.

PetBot’s AI technology works by recognizing when your cat or dog comes into the camera’s field of view, which triggers it to begin recording. It then uses audio you select to call your pet closer to get a good shot for a selfie. Once the photo is captured, you can share it with your Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram followers, while a treat is dispensed for them.

Aside from that, PetBot is an excellent way to train and incentive your pets. The unit enables you to play commands and reinforce behavior with a treat when they listen. The device also features bark recognition, which will perceive a sound from your pet and alert you so that you can stay on top of what’s going on at home. It can even reduce separation anxiety, too. Simply upload MP3 files or record an audio clip of your own for continual playback to good ol’ Fido or Whiskers.

Lastly, PetBot features integrated Bluetooth capabilities for connecting it to existing wearables, such as collars and trackers, and relay the information to PetBot’s soon-to-be-developed Pet Care Hub for automatic updates and real-time insight.

Alright, pet lovers… sound like something you’d love to have? Head over to PetBot’s Indiegogo page, where the team is currently seeking $80,000. Delivery is slated for next spring.

Sparks are weather-proof, sound-responsive LEDs

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Sparks are ruggedized, weather-proof, addressable LEDs that can be added anywhere — from the home to the office to the club. 

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Their kitchen. Their sofa. Their office. Their jackets. Their vehicles. These are just some of the places that the folks at San Diego startup JuiceJuice have affixed multicolor LEDs. In doing so, they found that although the lights were easy to install, they were often quite difficult to program. As a result, the team decided to create an app that would communicate with their rainbow LEDs over Bluetooth, enabling them to change patterns, adjust the speed and brightness, and sync multiple units together in real-time.

The aptly named Sparks are equipped with WS2812B modules running at 5V and a novel three-LED PCB format. With an Arduino at its core, its control unit (also known as the Brain) is embedded with Bluetooth connectivity, a real-time clock, and an SD slot for custom patterns — though it will come with at least 30 pre-programmed sequences. They’ve even added a microphone so the lights can respond to sound.

Aside from all that, JuiceJuice Sparks features a high-wattage 12V barrel plug for wall-socket applications, as well as times when more than 100 lights are being used. Otherwise, you can run up to 100 lights off USB, portable battery packs, car adapters and even your laptop.

“Our lights have lit our campsites at Burning Man, projects at dozens of festivals, DJ lighting in bars and nightclubs around San Diego, and vehicles from skateboards to yachts. They’ve survived hot tub parties in Mexico, the staircase of the ‘Charlie the Unicorn’ art-car, they accent shelves and desks in our homes and offices, and we even have them under my truck,” company co-founder Leeward Bound writes.

The Sparks were designed to withstand weather and to be flexible enough for installation in a wide range of settings  — whether that’s decorating the outside of your home for the holidays or illuminating your bike for a mesmerizing nighttime ride.

For its launch, backers can choose from one of two different kits. A basic set includes a pair of five-foot strands with 36 LEDs (12 three-inch segments of three lights), along with one Brain that can drive up to 500 LEDs and the necessary power supply. Meanwhile, a mega kit boasts twice as many LEDs for those with more elaborate ideas in mind.

“Want green explosions in your bookshelf, purple waves down your staircase and red lava around the tub? No problem. Switch your bed frame to red heartbeats, put on some Barry White, BOOM! Date night. And on a Saturday night, sound-activated rainbows turn absolutely any occasion into a dance party,” Bound adds.

Have a bright idea you’d like to get started on? Want to be the light of the party? Head over to Sparks’ Indiegogo campaign, where the JuiceJuice team is currently seeking $75,000. Pending all goes to plan, delivery is expected to begin in January 2016.

RageBridge 2 is a next-gen motor controller

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RageBridge 2 is a no-frills, robust dual-channel DC motor controller for robotic and vehicular drivetrain applications.

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Equals Zero Designs was 2012 by MIT mechanical engineering graduate Charles Guan and electric vehicle and robot builder Adam Bercu. The collaboration was initially launched with the hobbyist and Maker community in mind, with hopes of designing products that would fill the voids in the market for which no confident solutions exist. This ultimately led to the introduction of a DC controller they called RageBridge, which flew off the shelves in a matter of months.

“Motor controllers have been historically one weak leak in an otherwise robust design. They can be expensive, compication and often overrated,” Guan explains. And now a few years later, the duo has returned with the latest generation of their board.

RageBridge 2 is a no-frills and robust dual-channel DC motor controller for robotic and vehicular drivetrain applications, all integrated onto a single ATmega328P powered board. Each channel can drive motors between 8V and 40V at 50A continuously per channel. This ultra-wide input range maximizes versatility and enables it to be used in a variety of different systems. Meanwhile, a large and fully-isolated heat sink base allows you to attach it to a metal chassis for even better thermal performance.

Since the launch of their first version, they have taken the best traits of the earlier device’s design and enhanced its packaging, reliability, as well as the accuracy and speed of the current limiting algorithm. Among the noticeable upgrades include newer MOSFETs, optimized switching speeds, a “single channel” option, and automatically-selecting inputs that let you simply plug in an analog joystick and have an instant electric vehicle controller.

RageBridge 2 differs from most DC motor controllers available today because of its user-selected active current limiting feature. As its creators note, the ability to maintain a set current ceiling greatly can drastically improve the reliability of DC motor systems. With just a turn of a screwdriver, users can easily adjust the RageBridge 2’s current ceiling. The motor output current is sample 15,000 times every second, and if it is over the threshold, the output voltage is reduced each cycle until the current falls under the limit.

“The vast majority of controllers simply do not have any protection. That means a sudden short, drivetrain lockup, or motor failure will destroy the controller as it tries to flow the motor stall current. Sizing a controller to handle motor stall current is very impractical and expensive, often resulting in controllers being many times bigger than they need to be,” Bercu writes.

“Many popular DC motor controllers today advertise ‘overcurrent protection.’ But often, they mean is the controller will shut down upon a certain current threshold, and often requires a power cycle or the load to drop to zero before enabling again. This means that under heavy acceleration, your robot or vehicle might just turn off all of a sudden, leaving it (or you) stranded. Once again, the controller has to be many times overrated in order to handle the load.”

Interested? Guan and Bercu are currently seeking $5,000 on Indiegogo and plan to begin shipping the first batch of RageBridge 2s in late October 2015.

Bikiros is a smart guardian for your child’s bike

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Bikiros is a smart bicycle accessory and app that ensures children are safe while learning proper riding skills.

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Learning to ride a bike is one of the biggest milestones and challenges in your child’s life. But the question is, how can you teach your kid to bike while having a peace of mind? With cycling attributed as the top cause of children’s injuries, parents need a device that helps with safety awareness and teaches their children how to maneuver their bikes without getting hurt. This is a problem that one Hong Kong startup is looking to solve. Bikiros monitors, evaluates and educates children on biking safety.

The accessory uses four key features to teach children to be better cyclists: keeping an eye on risky biking behaviors, predicting immediate threats in the area, warning when risks are detected, and incentivizing through rewards and games. Risky biking behaviors could include late braking, tailgating, handling obstacles, high-speed cornering and more. After sensing dangerous behavior, Bikiros will then warn the biker by alerting them. After evaluating the rider’s weaknesses, its accompanying app will educate through games, comics and cartoons to teach the child better skills and ways to respond to risks while riding.

There are three components to the safety riding accessory: a rear, wheel and front module. The rear module is packed with an ARM Cortex-M3 MCU, supersonic sensors, a six-axis accelerometer and gyroscope, a warning LED, GSM and Bluetooth connectivity, GPS and a 6000mAh battery. The wheel module is equipped with a six-axis accelerometer and gyroscope speedometer. Lastly, the front boasts another ARM-based MCU and three supersonic sensors, along with a horn and buzzer, a photoresistor, and a temperature and humidity sensor.

The sensor-laden device is able to perceive all kinds of behaviors and match them according to the current biking environment to best determine if there is a potential risk that requires looking into. Through a proprietary algorithm and the embedded supersonic sensors, Bikiros can accurately pinpoint objects that may pose threats to the biker and take the necessary actions. And should impact be detected, it will trigger followup procedures to ensure help is on its way.

Tomy Chan, CEO of Bikiros, founded the company to provide others with second chances. He stated, “Last year, I was paralyzed and hospitalized for 11 hours due to thyrotoxic periodic paralysis. I felt like I was given a second chance and inspired to do what I believe in, technology could help to protect lives. And safety awareness is most important as bad choices leads to accidents and regrets.”

Want to keep your children safe? Head over to Bikiros’ Indiegogo campaign, where the startup is raising $45,000. Their estimated delivery date is set for March 2016.

Ohm is the world’s most intelligent car battery

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Ohm is a smart car battery that never needs jumping, works on the coldest days and weighs only six pounds.

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While just about every part of your vehicle has drastically improved since the inception of the automobile 100 years ago, the battery seems to remain stuck in the past. If you really think about, not much has changed from the one found in the Ford Model T. This is something one San Jose-based startup has set out to change. Ohm is a new kind of car battery that never needs to be jumpstarted, works reliably on the coldest winter days, lasts twice as long as the average lead-acid battery, and weighs only six pounds — a far cry from its 40-pound ancestors. According to its creators, its  seven-year battery life may even outlive your car.

Ohm is more than a battery, however, it is an entire energy storage and management system crammed inside a battery-sized case. A built-in processor monitors its power level and will automatically turn itself off when it gets critically low, and then switch back on when you go to start your car. Meaning, if you leave your lights on overnight or while at work, Ohm will shut down before dying. No more getting stranded because of your forgetfulness or running late because you had to find the jumper cables! Aside from that, it is also self-regulating which enables it to prolong its lifespan.

Instead of lead plates, Ohm employs the combination of lithium iron phosphate batteries (LiFePO4) and EDLC supercapacitors. The LiFePO4s keep the supercapacitors charged when the car is off, allowing them to deliver the quick burst of electricity for starting the engine. Since it is both acid and lead-free, the battery will work just fine in low temperatures and eliminates the sole reliance on a chemical reaction. These two systems are controlled by its integrated electronics to ensure optimal performance over the lifetime of the device.

As great as it may be, it’s not invincible, though. Like all batteries, Ohm will eventually require replacement. When the system predicts a swap-out is necessary, it will provide you with a couple of days notice by periodically beeping. This provides you with an earlier and more accurate warning than the dashboard battery light you’ve grown accustomed to.

One of its only drawbacks is that it only has a reserve capacity of 10Ah — compared to the 45Ah hours of conventional units. The typical car stereo consumes about 2A of current at medium volume, which means that you could run it on Ohm with the engine off for hours, no problem. Headlights draw about 15A and the battery will let these run for about 30 minutes before Ohm disconnects the battery to retain energy for cranking.

In terms of size, Ohm comes in two different forms. The first will slip into an existing car’s Group 35 battery well and connect like its lead-acid counterparts, while the second can fit into smaller spaces.

Tired of frequently having to jumpstart or replace your car battery? Check out Ohm on Indiegogo, where the team is currently seeking $50,000. Shipments are expected to begin in August 2016.

PRISM adds SLA 3D printing to the FABtotum personal fabricator

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This add-on module is expanding the capabilities of FABtotum’s already impressive all-in-one machine. 

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You may recall FABtotum from the recent crowdfunding campaign for its low-cost, all-in-one fabrication device capable of 3D printing, scanning, CNC milling and engraving. Following the incredible success of the ATmega1280 powered machine, the Italian startup has returned to Indiegogo with an integrated SLA 3D printing platform.

Dubbed PRISM, the 6.5mm thick module will expand the FABtotum personal fabricator’s functionality by bringing high-resolution, stereolithography-based manufacturing to the desktop of Makers. The add-on features a swappable laser head along with a removable resin vat that can easily be mounted to the printing bed.

With PRISM, Makers can 3D print in a wide range of filaments including the ordinary PLA, PETG and ABS, as well as more advance materials such as nylon, brass, wood and aluminum. Aside from that, its built-in high-res camera, touch probe and laser allow users to acquire 3D point clouds and models via multiple 3D scanning methods.

“PRISM is a new manufacturing technology that merges the advantages of Selective Laser Synthering (SLS) with the precision of Digital Light Processing (DLP). Most DLP printers relies on integrating commercially available DLP home projectors wich are expensive and are not designed for 3D printing,” the team writes.

Resin is cured by shining a light with the right wavelength through an LCD matrix. Whereas similar systems use a simple yet expensive UV LED array, PRISM employs a a mirror and a set of collimated light emitters. This reduces the amount of energy consumed and tremendously speeds up the solidifying time.

Impressively, the PRISM can also produce an unprecedented level of detail at around 80µm in XY and 0.47µm in Z.

Like with the rest of their products, FABtotum has made the module entirely open source and encourages feedback from the Maker community to help further improve the platform and solve any issues. Interested? Head over to its official Indiegogo page here, with the team is currently seeking $50,000. Delivery is expected to get underway in February 2016.

21 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 caught our attention on Kickstarter and Indiegogo over the last seven days. 

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ŌURA

This ring-sized computer analyzes your daily activities to help you sleep and perform better. ŌURA has already well surpassed its $100,000 goal on Kickstarter.

Mycroft

This A.I. platform is an open source alternative to Amazon Echo that allows you to play media, control lights and much more. Mycroft is currently seeking $99,000 on Kickstarter.

Fotokite Phi

This GoPro-carrying quadcopter can capture bird’s-eye view photos while being leashed to your wrist. Fotokite is currently seeking $300,000 on Indiegogo.

Mayday

This standalone machine learning device can detect when your drone is about to crash and deploy a parachute. North UAV is currently seeking $12,000 on Kickstarter.

LightBug

This solar-powered tracker lets you find nearly anything (or anyone) using GPS. LightBug is currently seeking $77,782 on Kickstarter.

Ohm

This intelligent car battery will never need to be jumpstarted, works reliably on the coldest winter days, and lasts twice as long as the average lead-acid battery. Ohm is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Formaker

This four-in-one machine allows you to laser cut, mill, etch and 3D print a wide range of materials. Zhuhai CTC Electronic Co. is currently seeking $35,000 on Kickstarter.

Exploride

This futuristic head-up display provides hands-free access to maps, phone calls, text messages, notifications, music and on-board diagnostics for your car. Exploride is currently seeking $100,000 on Indiegogo.

OnCourse Goggles

This pair of point-and-click goggles allow athletes to stay on course, swim in a straight line in open water and receive real-time feedback. OnCourse Goggles is currently seeking $60,000 on Kickstarter.

uStepper

This ultra-compact, Arduino-compatible board features an integrated stepper driver and 12-bit rotary encoder, enabling it to be mounted directly on the back of your Nema 17 motor. ON Development IVS is currently seeking $8,882 on Kickstarter.

OMO+

This portable battery-powered gadget can illuminate your pool or hot tub for an awesome light show along with sound through its Bluetooth speakers. Andreas Haase is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Pearbuds

This pair of super small, Bluetooth-enabled buds fit comfortably in your ear without a single cord and boasts a battery life of six hours. Pear Designs has already well surpassed its $50,000 goal on Kickstarter.

Trekz Titanium

This pair of wireless, open ear headphones offer runners, cyclists, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts superior safety, comfort and high-quality sound through bone conduction technology. AfterShokz has already well surpassed its $65,000 goal on Indiegogo.

Verti

This Bluetooth tag clips and sticks onto anything you’d like to keep tabs on, all of which can easily be tracked right from your smartphone. Verti is currently seeking $10,000 on Indiegogo.

OrbMi

This voice messaging system is reinventing the answering machine by having you communicate with family and friends using an orb. Retropreneur Labs is currently seeking $75,000 on Kickstarter.

go-e ONwheel

This lightweight, add-on motor can transform your bike into an e-bike in a matter of seconds. Frank Fox has already well surpassed his goal of $55,253 on Kickstarter.

Lumma

This smart appliance tracks, sorts and dispenses your pills whenever it’s time to take them. LITE is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Knut Water

This connected detector can sense water, temperature and humidity to protect your home from water damage. Amperic is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Luvit

This standalone “like” button gives you the ability to express your adoration for anything and everything, while also collecting input and other forms of crowdsourced data. Luvit is currently seeking $25,000 on Kickstarter.

iGia

This smart home security kit is comprised of a central control unit, an HD camera, a motion sensor, a door/windows sensor, a smoke detector and an alarm trigger. iGia is currently seeking $10,000 on Indiegogo.

Nixie

This highly-customizable, privacy-enhanced robot not only can serve as your personal companion, but can learn by doing, keep an eye on things, snap photos, receive weather and traffic reports, connect to household devices, and much more. Nxt Robotics is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

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. 

Fotokite Phi is a GoPro-carrying drone on a leash

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The Fotokite Phi is essentially a flying selfie stick that eliminates the need to pilot a camera-mounted drone. 

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Oxford Dictionaries declared “selfie” the word of the year in 2013. Selfie sticks became the must-have item of 2014. Now, one Swiss startup is hoping that airborne selfies will become the major trend of 2015.

Now live on Indiegogo, the Fotokite Phi is a smart, tethered flying camera that anyone can deploy in a matter of seconds. While camera-mounted drones are nothing new, the intelligent kite eliminates the need of learning how to pilot a quadcopter. Not to mention, you’ll no longer have to worry about losing control of your expensive UAV and having it end up in the water or shattered to pieces on the ground. Just turn it on, point it where you want it to go, give it a twist and let out the retractable leash.

Its creators are touting the product as a “no-frills aerial camera,” and it is exactly that. It should be noted, though, that you will first need to have a GoPro device in order to operate the Phi. The Fotokite features two buttons on its leash handle that communicate to the drone over Bluetooth. A button on its back turns on the ‘copter and then starts up the attached camera, while another enables hand gesture commands that move the leash in the direction you want it to go.

And unlike other drones, it doesn’t rely on GPS or radio signal to get around. Instead, it works by using the tether tension as a positioning guide, as well as the motions of your wrist to adjust the viewing angle. The housing can be aimed straight down for shots directly overhead or tilted up for getting out in front or behind a subject.

Designed with portability in mind, the Fotokite Phi can be easily folded and slipped inside its Pringles-like carrying tube. With a GoPro in place, the smart kite weighs a little over 12 ounces in total. The Phi’s tether is 26-feet long, which is plenty for taking aerial photos or some pretty incredible selfies, but probably not enough to capture the kind of bird’s-eye view videos that have become common among drone users. Since it’s tethered, there’s no need for GPS or other sensors to keep the Phi hovering in place. The leash control system is equipped with an ARM Cortex processor at its core along with an ATtiny43 and sensors to constantly measure the angle of the tether relative to you.

“The Fotokite Phi is built for the hobby photographer, the action sports enthusiast, the guerrilla journalist and the gadget aficionado. Thanks to its small size and foldability, you can take the Fotokite Phi anywhere – whether you’re hiking in the mountains, going to a festival, visiting an archaeological site or sledding,” its makers write.

At the moment, the Phi’s flight time is only around 15 minutes. Sure, you’ll be able to capture some pretty remarkable shots, but unfortunately don’t expect it to last more than three songs at a concert or the first quarter of a sporting event. However, the device can be charged either by USB or via removable batteries.

Intrigued? Fly over to its official Indiegogo page, where the Fotokite team is currently seeking $300,000. The first batch of units are expected to begin shipping in March 2016. In the video below, you can see how easy it is to pass around, from person to person, and how safe its soft propellers are to touch. The best part? It costs less than $350.

Airboxlab is an open source indoor air quality monitor

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This device is certainly a breath of fresh air!

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Watery eyes. Itchy nose. Soar throat. Headaches. Do you always seem to feel a bit ill yet are not sure why? The answer may be found in the air around you. While we’re all aware of the pollutants that we breathe in on a regular basis outdoors, do you ever wonder what exactly you’re inhaling inside right your home? This is where Airboxlab comes in.

Airboxlab is a smart, cylindrical device that monitors indoor air quality and reports on how much volatile organic compounds (VOC), CO2, CO and particulate matter surrounds you on a regular basis. These embedded sensors continually measure the various sources and levels of your indoor pollution around the clock, while the results are safely collated and stored in the cloud for analysis. On top of that, it is completely modular. With support for I2C and analog already built-in, adding more sensors to your unit is super simple.

In addition to its sensors, the airflow gadget is equipped with an ATmega32U4 at its core, a Wi-Fi module for wireless communication, RGB LEDs for displaying air quality, and a microUSB port for power. Each Airboxlab is designed specifically for use in living spaces, where it will send data to the cloud every five minutes and relay results along with helpful advice to your smartphone.

“The firmware was written with Atmel Studio, a powerful and free software tool, slightly more complicated than Arduino but which allowed [us] to write way faster code. We also provide the tool to configure the device from a computer and to flash its firmware,” its creators reveal.

If the name sounds familiar, that’s because you may stumbled upon their successful Indiegogo campaign back in 2013. The team had garnered over €13,000, and has continued to work on enhancing its features. For instance, you can now receive instant measurements by double-clicking on the top of the household accessory.

While the concept of indoor air quality is nothing new, what’s intriguing about Airboxlab is that it is entirely open source and is tailored towards the burgeoning Maker community. Not only is it based on easy-to-use AVR chips, the team has crafted its enclosure in such a way that it can be recreated in any Makerspace or fablab with a laser cutter, a drill and a few other tools. They have shared all of their files, including their CAD, on GitHub.

Interested in learning more about the air you breathe in 90% of the day? Then head over to Airboxlab’s official page here.