HidnSeek is a tiny GPS tracker that’ll help you locate just about anything

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HidnSeek uses the SIGFOX network to provide users with accurate geo-localisation updates every five minutes.

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Developed by French entrepreneurs Stéphane Driussi and Xavier Torres-Tuset, HidnSeek is a smart GPS tracking device that connects to the low-cost SIGFOX network and provides users with accurate geo-localization updates.

The solution is comprised of a palm-sized, open source unit that attaches to any object in need of being monitored and a smartphone application. Based on an ATmega328P MCU, the lightweight tracker packs an accelerometer, a battery and a micro-USB port for recharging. Whereas most gadgets use GSM networks which tend to consume quite a bit of energy and heavily limit tracking capabilities, HidnSeek employs the ultra low-power SIGFOX network instead. Meanwhile, its accompanying app (available for IOS, Android and Windows) lets users easily manage the number of HidnSeek devices being logged, customize geo-fences and configure alert messages.

The system works by determining its position through GPS and transmitting up to 140 geo-localization updates per 24 hour period to its servers via the network. SIGFOX permits two-way communications with HidnSeek, giving users the ability to change their settings up to four times per day and to facilitate geo-localisation updates every five minutes, if necessary.

To get started, a user simply drops HidnSeek inside a suitcase, a child’s backpack or even a car’s door panel, then keeps tabs through its mobile app. Thanks to an embedded accelerometer, the tiny gadget boasts a range of additional features including a “Body Guard” mode that sends an alert if a device remains stationary for an extended period of time and a “Motion Sensor” security system that can inform a user if an doorway has been opened.

“Perhaps you can’t check on an elderly relative as often as you would like or you want to ensure your loved ones are safe during their sporting expeditions. By sharing your tracker ID and with ‘Body Guard’ mode activated, anyone you trust can be alerted directly and notified of the exact location should there be no movement observed for a period of time from 1-15 minutes,” its creators explain.

HidnSeek goes beyond just revealing the whereabouts of one’s belongings. With its built-in geo-fencing technology, users can predefine a set of boundaries, such as a school, neighborhood or workplace, and if a HidnSeek gadget enters or exits the area, a notification will be immediately sent to their phone. This function will be come in handy should a drone go out of reach as it will be able to assist the flier in retrieving their UAV when it goes down.

“HidnSeek determines its location accurately with GPS technology and broadcasts your data using SIGFOX network connectivity, meaning its range extends as far as the SIGFOX network coverage. SIGFOX have committed to rolling out their connectivity across the globe; Europe is nearly fully covered and America is on the way,” the team writes.

“This makes HidnSeek so versatile you can find just about anything, anywhere! Other tracking devices use Bluetooth or cellular tower technology to locate their devices, both of which have limitations. Bluetooth has a limited detection span of 40 meters maximum, and cellular tower technology has limited geo-localization accuracy, which may be greater than 500 meters.”

Whether you’re a worrywart or actually prone to losing things, your car or even grandma, head over to HidnSeek’s Kickstarter campaign to get a tracker of your own. Stéphane Driussi & Xavier Torres-Tuset are currently seeking $13,688. Shipment is expected to begin in October 2015.

The “three-legged stool” of cryptography

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Implementing true IoT requires a three-pronged approach, like a three-legged stool. 

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Implementing true security in Internet of Things (IoT) devices requires a three-pronged approach. Like a three-legged stool, each of these legs are required to properly achieve security with at least two of these so-called legs demanding a hardware-based approach.

These legs consist of:

• A strong cryptographic cipher for the job
• High entropy, cryptographically secure, random number generator (Crypto RNG)
• Persistent secure key storage with active tamper detection

Now, let’s go over these one by one.

A Strong Cryptographic Cipher for the Job

A cipher is a cryptographic algorithm for performing encryption and decryption, which needs to be strong enough for the application at hand. A one-time pad is considered the only unbreakable cipher, so theoretically all other ciphers can be eventually broken. Time and cost are the two usual measures of breaking any cipher.

Time

The cover time of a secret refers to the amount of time that the message needs to be kept secret. A tactical secret, such as a command to fire a particular missile at a particular target has a cover time from the moment the commander sends the message to the moment the missile strikes the target. After that, there isn’t much value in the secret. If an algorithm is known to be breakable within a few hours, even that algorithm provides enough cover time for the missile firing scenario.

On the other hand, if the communication is the long term strategy of the entire war, this has a cover time significantly longer and a much stronger cipher would be required.

Cost

Generally, the time it takes to break any cipher is directly relates to the computation power of the system and the mathematical skills of your adversary. This usually directly coincides with the cost, so the value of your secret will, in a large part, determine how much effort is put into breaking your cryptography.

Therefore, you want to select a cipher which is well known to be strong, has been open to both academia and the public, and survived their scrutiny. Vigorously avoid proprietary algorithms claiming to be strong. The only thing which can speak to a cipher’s strength is for it to be fully open to scrutiny.

These types of proven ciphers are available within Atmel’s line of microcontrollers and microprocessors.

High Entropy, Cryptographically Secure, Random Number Generator

The importance of a Crypto RNG cannot be overstated. Some of the things which rely on the randomness of the random number include:

• Key stream in one-time pads
• Primes p, q in the RSA algorithm
• Private key in digital signature algorithms
• Initialization vectors for cipher modes

… The list of critically important requirements for high randomness is long.

Any modern cipher, regardless of intrinsic strength, is only as strong as the random number generator used. Lack of adequate entropy in the random number significantly reduces the computational energy needed for attacks. Cryptographically secure random number generators are important in every phase of public key cryptography.

To realize a cryptographically secure random number generator, a high quality deterministic random number generator and a high entropy source, or sources, are employed. The resulting generator needs to produce numbers statistically independent of each other. The output needs to survive the next bit test, which tests the possibility to predict the next bit of any sequence generated, while knowing all prior numbers generated, with a probability of success significantly greater than 0.5. This is no trivial task for randomly generating numbers as long as 2²⁵⁶.

It is incredibly hard to create a Crypto RNG. Even if you had the code right, there is not enough entropy sources in an embedded system to devise a cryptographically secure random number generator. Most embedded systems, especially IoT nodes are, well, pretty boring. At least when considered in the context of entropy. 2²⁵⁶ bits is a larger number than the number of all the stars in the entire universe. How much entropy do you really think exists in your battery powered sensor?

Companies serious about security put a lot of effort into their Crypto RNGs and have their generators validated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the government body overseeing cryptographic standards in the U.S. and jointly with Canada.

Any assurance or statements that a RNG is “compliant” or “meets standards” and is not validated by NIST is unacceptable within the cryptographic community. A Random Number Generator is either on NIST’s RNG Validation List or it isn’t. It’s as simple as that.

Atmel is just such a serious company. The Crypto RNG that Atmel has used in all if its CryptoAuthentication devices is validated by NIST and can be publicly found on the list here.

Persistent Secure Key Storage with Active Tamper Detection

Strong ciphers supported with high entropy random numbers are used to keep adversaries away from our secrets, but their value is zero if an adversary can easily obtain the keys used to authenticate and encrypt.

System security completely relies on the security of the keys. Protection and safeguarding of these keys and primary keying material is critically important to any cryptographic system. Your secret/private keys are, by far, the most rewarding prize to any adversary.

If your keys are compromised, an adversary will have access to every secret message you’ve ever sent, like a flower offering its nectar to a honeybee. To add insult to injury, nobody will inform you the keys have been compromised. You will go on sending “secret” messages, blissfully unaware your adversaries can read them at their leisure… completely unhindered.

A very well respected manager in our crypto business unit puts it this way; Keys need to be protected behind “guns, guards, and dogs.”

Holding cryptographic keys in software or firmware is akin to placing your house key under the front mat, or above the door, or in that one flowerpot nobody will ever think of looking in.

Adversaries will unleash a myriad of attacks on your system in an effort to obtain your keys.   If they can get their hands on your equipment, as is often the case with IoT devices, they will rip them apart. They will employ environmental attacks. They will decapsulate and probe the die of your microcontrollers. There is no limit to what they can and will do.

Atmel’s line of CryptoAuthentication devices offers a long list of active defenses to these attacks as well as providing an external tamper detect capability you can use to secure your devices from physical intrusion and warranty violation.

Summary

As stated in this brief of the three elements which enable truly secure systems, the security of the keys and the quality of the random numbers used will complete or compromise any cipher, no matter the mode used.

Inadequate entropy in a random number generator compromises every aspect of cryptography, because it is relied upon from the generation of keys to supplying initialization vectors for cipher modes. Atmel’s hardware crypto-authentication devices ensure you have a NIST validated cryptographically secure random number generator.

Keys, signatures, and certificates require a persistent secure vault to protect them. The very elements which ensure the authority, security and integrity of your system cannot be left in the attackable open.

Keys held in software or firmware are easily recovered. Typical microcontrollers and microprocessors do not contain the protections needed to keep out adversaries. Even newer processors with secure zones have very limited key storage and no generation functionality. From software protocol attacks to environmental and hardware probing, the ways and means of an adversary to recover keys from your software/firmware are nearly unlimited. This is akin to hanging your house key in a flimsy silk pouch on your front door knob.

Hardware security offers a number of benefits:

• Secure storage of digital signatures and certificates
• Secure storage of key hierarchy
• Stopping adversaries from hacking your code
• Secure boot and program image checking
• Stopping unscrupulous contract manufacturers from over building your product
• Creating new revenue streams by allowing premium services to be purchased post deployment
• Limiting the life of products, e.g. the number of squirts an ink cartridge has, thereby thwarting refill/reuse
• Streamlining deployed product tracking and warranty services

With regards to creating a truly secure system, active hardware protection for keys and cryptographically secure random numbers are not an option — they are a necessity.

Atmel’s CryptoAuthentication devices offer a high security, tamper resistant, physical environment within which to store and use keys for digital signatures, key generation/exchange/management, and perform authentication. Atmel is very serious about security. In addition to testing, validations and approvals by certifying entities, we employ third party labs to apply the very latest attacks and intrusion methodologies to our extremely resilient devices. The methodologies and results of these tests are available to our customers under non-disclosure agreement.

Google patents Internet-connected toys that can control smart home devices

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Get ready for the IoT, the Internet of Toys. 

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Google just filed a patent for what may pan out to be one of the coolest or creepiest inventions to date. We’ll let you decide. That’s because, with aspirations of breaking into the toy industry, the tech giant has revealed a plan for stuff animals that can control other in-home devices such as TVs, DVRs, music players, thermostats and window curtains.

Fitted with sensors, microphones, speakers, motors and cameras, the teddy bear would hypothetically be able to detect whether someone was looking at it it, then rotate its head, make eye contact and speak to the person addressing them. Once the plush toy receives and recognizes a voice prompt, a user can instruct it to change the channel on a TV, skip a song and pull up the weather forecast, among many other commands.

“To express interest, an anthropomorphic device may open its eyes, lift its head, and/or focus its gaze on the user or object of its interest,” the patent filing reads. “To express curiosity, an anthropomorphic device may tilt its head, furrow its brow, and/or scratch its head with an arm. To express boredom, an anthropomorphic device may defocus its gaze, direct its gaze in a downward fashion, tap its foot, and/or close its eyes. To express surprise, an anthropomorphic device may make a sudden movement, sit or stand up straight, and/or dilate its pupils.”

The patent diagrams a stuffed teddy bear and a bunny, but notes that the gadgets could also apply to mythical creatures ranging from dragons to aliens. Keep in mind, though, this patent is not a surefire indication that Google will ever launch such a product. In fact, the document was originally filed back in February 2012 and granted the other day. However, should the company never choose to pursue this endeavor, one can only imagine that others will debut similar items in the very near future. Just this year alone, toy maker Mattel announced that it was developing a connected Barbie that can hold conversations with children, while startup Elemental Path took their Internet-enabled dinosaur to Kickstarter.

With the emergence of smart dolls, it’s only a matter of time before privacy issues will ensue. Coincidentally, Atmel resident security always explains that, although IoT is possible without security, without security it would really just be a toy. And recent exploits by hackers prove just that. Literally. One route Siri, the other route Chucky, it will be interesting to see which direction these toys will go.

This donut-like device analyzes your skin and gives you real-time advice

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Well, this is one WAY to bring the Internet of Things to your face!

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While a vast majority of our blog posts tend to trend on the masculine side of the spectrum, this recent Indiegogo project is ideal for female engineers. Created by one Seoul, South Korea-based startup, WAY is a pocket-sized, personal skincare companion that collects real-time data from your skin and delivers beauty tips directly to your smartphone via its accompanying mobile app.

“Busy professional women and mothers lack time for themselves. Maintaining healthy, youthful skin takes time and dedication,” its creators write. “With WAY, you can easily analyze your skin condition in just three seconds and receive tips about your skincare routine, that save you time and help you to look your best.”

The donut-like gadget — which measures just only 2″ x 2” x 0.5” in size — not only easily slips inside any handbag or knapsack, but is embedded with a UV index and humidity sensors, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity and up to seven days of battery life thanks to its ultra low-power ARM Cortex-M0 MCU. In addition, WAY also packs a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) sensor that is tasked with detecting moisture and oil content in the layer beneath the surface of the user’s skin.

Aside from the dermis, WAY also collects data from a user’s immediate surroundings that is then aggregated and combined with other sorts of real-time information like weather to send useful advice to your smartphone via its app (iOS and Android). What’s nice is that the app will alert a user with notifications throughout the day, making recommendations such as applying applying moisturizer when humidity is low or putting on sunscreen if the UV index is on the rise.

“Most of know that dry conditions are not good for our skin, but it’s tough to qualify dryness levels and take appropriate action. WAY was designed to help you track both the moisture content of your skin and environment. By constantly monitoring conditions and providing qualified skincare tips, WAY takes the mystery out of skincare,” the team adds.

Want one for yourself? Head over to its official Indiegogo campaign, where the WAY team has already surpassed its $50,000 pledge goal. Delivery is expected to kick off in November 2015.

Quip brings simplicity and smarts to your electric toothbrush

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This startup wants to ensure that you replace your toothbrush every three months. 

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Evident by the sheer volume of new startups entering the market, innovative gadgets on display throughout tradeshow floors, and news stories suggesting everything in our world is connected, the IoT has surely arrived. However, while a vast majority of once-ordinary items embedded with next-gen technology are truly revolutionary, others may fall under the category of Internet of “Useless Things.” In an effort to steer clear of being labeled alongside some gimmicky oral hygiene companies that have emerged before, one New York City-based startup has found a way to blend a pretty conventional, everyday toothbrush with the latest tech advancements to reinvent the age-old bathroom accessory in a much more practical manner.

Like many electronic toothbrushes, Quip boasts an electric motor and vibrating bristles to reinforce the fundamentals of a proper technique. Yet, the benefits of the vibration don’t end there. Instead, they ensure that a user manages to clean their teeth for two uninterrupted minutes, pulsing every 30 seconds to allow for equal time to be spent on each quadrant of the mouth. Let’s face it, many of us — ourselves included — tend to favor one area a bit more than others.

And we know what you’re thinking, “Other electronic toothbrushes already do that.” Sure, but Quip’s slick business model enables it to do so at a much lower price-point. $40 for a kit that includes the brush, a case and a tube of toothpaste that is carefully measured out to last three months, which of course, is the duration at which dentists suggest you swap out for a new brush. Truth be told, sometimes that’s easier said than done. Now when that time arrives, Quip’s subscription model — much like Birchbox and Dollar Shave Club — will deliver a new head and toothpaste.

Speaking of the brush head, this was designed with simplicity in mind. In other words, they didn’t try to cram as much technology as possible into its handle. In fact, you won’t find any flashy features, such as wireless connectivity or social media and gaming integration. What you will find, though, is an Atmel chip.

It seems pretty clear that the startup isn’t pushing for the smartest tooth brush on the market, and doesn’t intend on being a leader in the so-called IoT, or Internet of Teeth. Rather, these guys are using embedded technology to provide a simple yet expedited solution for an everyday thing. And we love it. Looking to improve your dental hygiene? Check out Quip today.

Tah is a LEGO block for the Internet of Things

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Tah is an open-source dev board that lets Makers create their own projects and connect them to their mobile device.

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Developed by Indian startup Revealing Hour Creations, Tah is an Arduino-compatible, open-source development board that helps Makers build their own smart projects and connect them to their mobile device over Bluetooth Low Energy. Designed for use as a beacon, a microcontroller and an HID device, the platform employs a smartphone’s built-in accelerometer, gyroscope and other sensors to trigger events in the physical world.

Embedded with an ATmega32U4, Makers can easily apply their Arduino programming skills to the Tah. The megaAVR MCU at its heart features on-board USB 2.0 support, which directly programs the Tah without the need of a USB-to-Serial converter. In addition, the board can act as a USB human interface device (HID), thus enabling a user to devise their own keyboard, mouse, joystick, or other input devices without having to install special software on the host computer.

“We’ve already made sample applications that allow you to control your PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation and Xbox (coming soon) without ever needing to write any code for those platforms — all you need to do is program your Tah board and make a smartphone app, for which we’ve also provided open source examples for both iOS and Android to get you started,” its creators add.

Each Tah can serve as a Bluetooth beacon as well, which communicates a smartphone to reveal its exact location based on its unique identifier — something that can be quite useful for indoor navigation and contextual notifications.

And what’s more, the open-source board is expandable through a relay and sensor, IR transceiver and Arduino Uno breakout shields. For instance, a user can devise a universal remote for their smart appliances or control their gaming system right from their phone.

Late last year, Revealing Hour Creations launched a crowdfunding campaign for its project, where it quickly surpassed its initial pledge goal. If you’d like to get your hands on one, head on over to its CrowdSupply page here. Tah is now shipping to backers.

Automatic launches a next-gen smart car adapter and third-party app support

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The Automatic dongle brings your car into the future.

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In today’s age of smart cars with their infotainment systems, backup assistance and self-parallel parking capabilities, it’s hard to envision a time when electronic windows were considered high-tech. As an increasing number of vehicles become connected, what about those dating back to the late ‘90s? Fortunately, Automatic has found a way to bring that ’99 Civic of yours into the Internet of Things.

Two years ago, the Bay Area-based company released a Bluetooth-enabled adapter along with an accompanying mobile app that provided drivers with all sorts of real-time insight about their vehicle, such as tracking trips, gauging fuel consumption, locating a parking spot, or calling for assistance in the event of an emergency.

Now, Automatic has launched an app store — called the Automatic App Gallery — with over 20 programs including the likes of IFTTT, Yo and License+. Then, there’s YourMechanic, which monitors your car’s performance and diagnoses any issues remotely. Should a problem be discovered, you’ll receive a quote from the mechanic informing you of what’s wrong and an estimated cost for the repair.

With support for both Android and iOS devices, Automatic can even sync with a range of gadgetry, such as your Jawbone fitness band to track steps and ride mileage, your Nest thermostat to properly heat or cool your home upon arrival, and Pebble watch to help recall where you last parked.

What’s more, Automatic is enabling programmers to build apps of their own as part of their developer platform, which features rich APIs with access to all kinds of driving data. And since the adapter works with any OBD-II port-equipped car, that means the apps will be compatible with a vast majority of vehicles out there — or at least those after 1996.

To make all of this possible, the company has created the next-generation of its in-vehicle dongle that supports dual Bluetooth streams: one to the mobile app, the other to the third-party app. Making matters even better, the original Automatic hardware is compatible with the new App Gallery software; however, the streaming SDK will require the latest iteration of hardware. The adapter protects all wireless data using 128-bit AES encryption — meaning, each one gets a unique key to prevent unauthorized access to a vehicle’s system.

Automatic can also detect an accident and know when to send help. This is done through a built-in accelerometer that measures a car’s 3D orientation 100 times per second and uses signal processing algorithms to sense a serious collision. Ready to make your dumb ride smart? Head over to Automatic’s official page to learn more.

TZOA is a wearable tracker that will help you find clean air

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This elegant wearable device wants to help you breathe cleaner air and plan your day accordingly. 

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While a majority of the wearable space has been focused on tracking what’s inside of our bodies, such as activity and stress levels, a new kind of device is emerging, one in which monitors what’s going on outside of us — specifically in our environment. Unlike others on the market today, TZOA is a gadget that measures air pollution in a user’s immediate surrounding area using advanced sensor technology.

The tiny, round tracker — which recently made its Indiegogo debut — is equipped with an optical laser that quantifies air quality, as well as an assortment of sensors to keep tabs on things like UV light, humidity and temperature, all of which transmit data to a companion smartphone app via Bluetooth. With these tidbits of information, a user can determine whether they need to open a window in their home, step outside to catch a few rays, or simply take a different route on their way to the office.

TZOA comes with a social component, too. Once the device is activated, not only will the user access information specifically catered to their surroundings, that data is also relayed to a crowdsourced pollution map of their area. Should the levels of any tracked metric rise, the app will send a notification to the user’s phone to alert them.

At the heart of TZOA lies a custom optical quality sensor that is tasked with detecting tiny particles (known Particulate Matter 2.5 and 10), many of which have been proven to cause permanent damage to respiratory and cardiac systems. The palm-sized instrument features a fan directly beneath its triangular cover that swoops up the air in its vicinity, and a laser tasked with counting the pollutants. It can even identify larger particles in the air, including allergens, which can be rather useful this time of year.

“The air can be worse inside your home than outside (2-5 times worse on average). You spend the majority of your life in your home, we all have the right to know if its a safe environment,” the team writes. “If you suffer from asthma or allergies you’re already greatly affected by the air you breathe, if you have more data you can help to manage your condition and enjoy the air once again.”

What’s nice is that, even on the go, users can receive instant feedback without ever having to delve into their pockets for a smartphone. For instance, when riding a bike or jogging through the park, looking down at a mobile device isn’t always convenient. Instead, a simple tap will emit a color-coded system that fluctuates based on air quality levels. This data, in combination with GPS, can offer up real-time suggestions on the best pathways and neighborhoods for outdoor activities.

Seeing as though people often spend upwards of 90% of their daily lives indoors, even the littlest environmental changes can have a positive effect on mood and productivity levels, not to mention long-term health.. Interested? Head over to TZOA’s official Indiegogo page, where the team is currently seeking $50,000. Delivery is expected to begin in May 2016.

Project Jarvis is your very own Tony Stark-like home automation system

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This A.I. assistant can make smart decisions based on environmental factors.

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A Maker by the name of IamTeknik once again has his sights set on the Hackaday Prize crown with the latest iteration of Project Jarvis, an affordable, Arduino-powered home automation system. Inspired by Iron Man’s A.I. assistant, the DIY solution is capable of controlling nearly every aspect of a modern-day house, while helping save on electricity. Great for you, your wallet and your environment, it’s no wonder the hacker’s artificial intelligence-based system was named a semi-finalist in last year’s Hackaday contest.

As the world around us becomes increasingly connected, this environmental home manager can make even the ‘dumbest’ of houses smart. Not only can the system help save energy and reduce monthly bills, IamTeknik says his project can lend a helping hand in a number of daily tasks. These include fetching a coffee in the morning, waking you up with the weather forecast or keeping you company when alone. Having trouble with some homework or just too lazy to go hit the light switch? Lucky for you, Jarvis can solve complex math problems and command home lighting through verbal cues — all for under $200.

“It’s all driven by sophisticated hardware and software to help make your life, and the life of others, much better,” the Maker notes. What’s more, Jarvis can handle reading notifications, SMS messages and social network feeds, and can go as far as replying to each of them if told what to write through its built-in speech-to-text technology.

“This is present on the mobile and computer apps but the Android app can even use text if you are not in the mood to speak. If you have speakers and microphones set-up in you house or room, Jarvis is accessible simply by saying his name at any time,” IamTeknik adds.

Aside from being controlled via voice recognition, its accompanying computer app works on Linux, Mac, Windows and Solaris, and can be configured for remote access. According to the Maker, he has already embedded NFC technology into the solution and is currently working on employing gesture recognition, too. This way, a homeowner can have Jarvis perform an action by tapping a smartphone to a tag or waving a hand.

In order to be both energy and cost-effective, electricity usage from each room is logged by an SD card on an Arduino Mega (ATmega2560). The code on the board interacts with a more complex neural network, which has been programmed in a separate application. Using the environment and its sensors, its software can then make intelligent decisions to help beat the current month’s data that is still on the SD card.

“You don’t need to pull out your phone and ask Jarvis to do something, he is always there. Jarvis is wherever you are, in the home, office and in your pocket if you use our Android mobile app.”

Jarvis can also manage a home’s infrastructure in order to ensure environmental efficiency. Say for instance a light is left on or a charger is left plugged in, Jarvis can sense this and turn off the device, thus lowering the home’s energy consumption. Tired of having to turn back around to make sure you turned off the stove? With Project Jarvis, just log in to the app and switch ’em off manually — or let the system do it automatically.

Jarvis truly is the next step in home automation. When watching an Iron Man movie, you can’t help but wonder what it would be like to have a personal assistant like Tony Stark’s. And thanks to projects like this one, the omnipresent virtual assistant is inching closer and closer to reality.

When complete, Jarvis will feature a fingerprint scanner, an automated door lock and a wall-mounted tablet. With plenty of parts still in development, the Maker has rendered a black box that will house all of the system’s wireless transceivers and hardware. Moving ahead, he hopes to incorporate sensors that track sleep patterns and monitor temperature, humidity and light. Intrigued by this futuristic project? Head over to its official Hackaday.io page here for a more detailed breakdown of the build.

22 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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Makey Makey GO

This DIY invention kit enables you to transform nearly any ordinary object into a touchpad. The JoyLabz team is currently seeking $10,000 on Kickstarter.

DrumPants 2.0

This open-source wearable controller allows you to make music and play games with your body. Tappur is currently seeking $35,000 on Indiegogo.

LightUp

This kit combines circuit building blocks with an app that lets anyone learn to code with wireless drag-and-drop programming and a friendly tutor. LightUp is currently seeking $96,485 on Kickstarter.

Phree

This unrestricted, high-resolution mobile input device enables you to write virtually anywhere. OTM Technologies is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Bocusini

This plug-and-play food printing system is comprised of a special head mounted to a standard 3D printer, interchangeable food cartridges, an intuitive Wi-Fi user interface and a supporting web-based platform. Bocusini is currently seeking $33,477 on Kickstarter.

Nuimo

This universal interface works with any Bluetooth device or application to control music, lights, locks and more in your home. Senic is currently seeking $61,374 on Kickstarter.

Noki

This Europe-focused smart lock opens your door when you come home and locks it when you leave. Noki is currently seeking $139,486 on Kickstarter.

Hyperalarm

This smart alarm is designed for heavy sleepers, which connects seamlessly to your smartphone and only shuts off by actually getting out of bed. Hyperalarm is currently seeking €210,000 on Indiegogo.

Atmoph Window

This digital window opens to beautiful scenery from around the world with 4K-shot videos and sound, without ever having to leave your house. Atmoph is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

BuddyGuard

This smart home security system uses artificial intelligence to protect you and your loved ones. BuddyGuard is currently seeking $89,271 on Kickstarter.

WeKey

This tablet keyboard is being billed as the world’s thinnest and lightest with an added touchpad and wheel for extra convenience. Woorin Corporation is currently seeking $10,000 on Indiegogo.

Electroloom

This machine was inspired by 3D printers to devise and create seamless, ready-to-wear garments based on custom 3D geometries right from your desktop. Electroloom is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Halo

This smart home-integrated smoke detector features customizable natural disaster alerts that are sent directly to your mobile device. Halo is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Nano Tornado Drone

This super portable and safe drone can be flown by just about anyone — simply take it out and throw into the air. Nano is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

TrackCup

This smart glass monitors drinking behavior and uses that information to build custom health plans. TrackCup is currently seeking $10,000 on Indiegogo.

Kien

This modular, multi-room sound system gives you Hi-Fi sound wherever you go. Kien is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

WAY

This personal skincare companion collects real-time data from your skin and the environment, then provides beauty tips on your smartphone. WAY is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Spectrum I2C Expansion Board

This expansion board for Arduino and AVR MCUs packs a real-time clock, a three-axis accelerometer, a digital potentiometer, a four LED driver, EEPROM and more. Maker Frank Fox is currently seeking $6,000 on Kickstarter.

NEXTtoME

This magic box of sensors, coupled with any smartphone via Bluetooth, transforms citizens into constant motion detectors that can share real-time environmental data. NEXTtoME is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

The WellBe

This bracelet monitors your heart rate and uses a patent-pending algorithm to determine your stress and calmness levels based on time, location and people you meet throughout your day. The WellBe is currently seeking $100,000 on Indiegogo.

Peeple

This small camera mounts on an existing peephole to serve as a caller ID for your door. Peeple is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Trivo

This tiny, affordable tracker boasts both GPS and Bluetooth to help ensure you’ll find any lost object. Trivo is currently seeking €100,000 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.