This STEM kit will inspire the next generation of inventors

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Tio is a new way for kids to play, learn and explore their imagination. 

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What do you get when you combine plastic blocks, magnetic wheels and a mobile app? A car that can drive and race around your living room, a merry-go-round that can revolve and flash coded messages, a robot that can lift and carry objects, and a butterfly that can flap its wings, among countless other creations that Tio makes possible. 

With hopes of “inspiring tomorrow’s inventors,” Tio is a DIY kit that people of all ages can use to build smartphone-controlled gizmos and gadgets out of everyday objects, like recycled and craft materials, old LEGO bricks, obsolete toys and even 3D-printed parts.

The set includes a pair of motorized building blocks with built-in LEDs, magnetic mounts, two wheels, two pulleys, two adapters, four adhesive tabs, 30 stickers and a personalized storybook that will introduce children to the “imaginary worlds and guide them through their first creations.” It even includes nine pop-and-fold invention templates — a helicopter, a crawler and a windmill, to name a few — to help the youngsters get their feet wet before exploring more advanced materials.

What’s cool is that you can customize and program your projects wirelessly via Tio’s accompanying iOS/Android app. This app has several modes, each of which enable you to control features like speed, direction, LED colors, rotation and patterns. With a simple tap or swipe of your screen, Makers can configure their project to record and play back movements. Although more experienced users can code their devices, those just starting out will take comfort in knowing that this skill is not required to join in on the fun.

So whether you’re looking to unleash your creativity with 3D prints, build your own LEGO robot or breathe new life into old toys, Tio may be the connected platform for you. Help inspire the next generation of inventors and head over to its Kickstarter campaign, where the team is currently seeking $69,255. The first batch of units is expected to ship in September 2016.

Reach is an all-in-one 3D printer, laser cutter, plotter and mill

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… and it costs less than $300.

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If you’re like most of us, chances are you’ve played around with a 3D printer at some point. But as you know all too well, the market only has a few affordable options for the everyday enthusiast: there are the sub-$500 plastic units with non-accesible parts, and then there are RepRaps with their fragile fames that require frequent adjustments. With hopes of solving all of these issues, Nate Rogers and his team have developed the Reach — a high-quality, versatile machine with an all-alluminum frame, a large build area, as well as interchangeable modules for cutting, engraving, plotting and milling.

The Reach has everything you’d expect from a DIY 3D printer kit, such as auto-leveling, a 200mm x 200mm x 215mm volume, a heated bed and a geared extruder. It boasts V-Slot extrusions, Delrin V Wheels and a sturdy frame comprised of 1/8” laser-cut aluminum plates. With an Arduino Mega (ATmega2560) and RAMPS 1.4 shield at its core, NEMA 17 stepper motors, a precision 8mm lead screw and GT2-20 pulleys, the Reach is capable of achieving 90mm/second print speeds with an accuracy of 50 micron layers. As you would expect, the Reach works with pretty much all 1.75mm filaments ranging from PLA and ABS, to Nylon and NinjaFlex, to faux metal.

As a Maker himself, however, Rogers knew that a 3D printer in today’s market was a dime a dozen. And so, he and his crew enhanced the Reach’s capabilities using detachable toolheads: a laser for cutting and engraving, a plotter and a light mill, which together create the ultimate all-in-one machine that will be a welcomed fixture on any workbench or at any Makerspace.

An upgrade kit will soon also be available for an extra $70, which consists of a full graphics LCD screen with SD card reader, an MK2 heated bed, a 100K thermistor and an improved power supply. The Reach supports most open source software, including Sketchup, Meshlab, Repetier, Cura and Inkscape, and is currently compatible with Windows and most Mac operating systems.

Sound like the $259 device for you? Head over to its Kickstarter campaign, where Rogers and his team have already doubled their $40,000 goal. Delivery is slated for summer 2016.

27 smart crowdfunding campaigns you may want to back this week

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Every Friday, we take 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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YOUMO

This modular power strip gives you variety of charging options, which are customizable depending upon your needs. Good Gadgets has hit its $55,000 goal on Kickstarter.

Mighty

This first-of-its-kind device plays your Spotify music without having to be paired to a smartphone. Mighty Audio is currently seeking $250,000 on Kickstarter.

Calendar Watch

This watch syncs with today’s most popular digital calendars so you can see your day at a glance. What? Watch is currently seeking $104,924 on Kickstarter.

OSSIC X

This pair of headphones instantly calibrate to your anatomy for the most accurate and immersive 3D audio. OSSIC has already well exceeded its $100,000 goal on Kickstarter.

Fishbit

This smart aquarium monitor and controller helps keep your tank thriving and fish happy. Current Labs is currently seeking $71,750 on Kickstarter.

SumoBoy

This programmable, Arduino-based sumo robotics kit lets you have your own Robot Wars. Guntis Kulikovskis is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

HexiWear

This wearable dev kit enables you to build your own sleek, low-power device packed with sensors to quantify yourself and the world around you. MikroElektronika is closing in on its $20,000 Kickstarter goal.

Netpure

This two-step system creates a child-safe Wi-Fi network for every device your children use. Netpure is currently seeking $80,000 on Kickstarter.

Reach 3D

This all-in-one $259 3D printer can be easily modified for laser cutting engraving, plotting and light milling. Nate Rogers has blown right by his $40,000 goal on Kickstarter.

ArcaBoard

This hoverboard is set on becoming the world’s first. ARCA Space Corporation is currently seeking $250,000 on Kickstarter.

KordBot

This music production assistant crams a chord generator, arpeggiator and step sequencer all into one unit. ISLA Instruments has nearly doubled its $55,000 goal on Kickstarter.

Allb

This wearable for infants acts like a babysitter that can help you keep an eye on your little ones from wherever you are. Allb is currently seeking $15,000 on Kickstarter.

Lylo

This smart, open source router provides easy Wi-Fi and home automation for everyone. Oneby is currently seeking $166,681 on Kickstarter.

CUBILE

This ‘invisible’ gadget doesn’t just monitor your sleep, but improves your overall health. CUBILE is currently seeking $143,287 on Kickstarter.

KeKePad

This plug-and-play platform replaces conductive thread with tiny connectors and thin cables. Michael Yang is currently seeking $2,000 on Indiegogo.

BRAIN One

This portable telemetry device for motorsports tracks your performance, offers feedback in real-time and stores your data to instantly share results. BRAIN is currently seeking $55,106 on Kickstarter.

YodelUp

This smartphone-connected wearable allows you to control your music and instantly talk to a friend or a group of friends — just like a walkie-talkie. YodelTECH is currently seeking $43,719 on Kickstarter.

Father.io

This augmented reality platform uses an app, a smartphone camera and an interceptor attachment to transform your mobile device into a virtual weapon for a game of next-gen laser tag. Father.io has already doubled its initial goal of $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Sleep Shepherd Blue

This headband employs brainwave sensors and binaural beats in a biofeedback loop to improve sleep quality and tracking accuracy. Michael Larson has already well surpassed his goal of $25,000 on Kickstarter.

Poof Bean and Pea

This pair of super tiny and long-lasting pet monitors will help you protect and keep tabs on your furry friends. The Poof Team is currently seeking $25,000 on Indiegogo.

MoodBox

This wireless, Bluetooth-enabled and voice-controlled speaker features emotion recognition capabilities, allowing to predict what music you’d like to listen to by gauging your mood. MoodBox is currently seeking $40,000 on Indiegogo.

WiCAM

This coin-sized, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-equipped camera can be installed anywhere. Armstart Inc. is currently seeking $28,989 on Kickstarter.

Panoporter

This camera provides you with 24/7 live video chat, streaming and recording capabilities in a 360-deegree HD view. Misafes is currently seeking $30,000 on Kickstarter.

 

TuneBox2

This unit instantly makes your classic home stereo system smarter, so you can listen to your favorite tunes wirelessly. TuneBox is currently seeking $30,000 on Indiegogo.

Tinusaur Project

This ATtiny85 kit gives you everything you need to start your first microcontroller project. Tinusaur is currently seeking $1,729 on Indiegogo.

RevolVR

This set of wireless VR controllers enhances the gaming experience, while providing complete immersion into the virtual world. RevolVR is currently seeking $25,000 on Indiegogo.

Tempus Fugit

This world clock interface board can be powered by an Arduino Nano or Raspberry Pi Zero. David Saul is currently seeking $2,861 on Kickstarter.

YOUMO is a smart modular power strip

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Think of it like the littleBits of charging. 

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These days, people have more than one device in their arsenal. From our phones to laptops, tablets and wearables, we need more than just the standard wall socket to power up our electronics. A power strip solves that problem, but what if it could do more for you? YOUOMO is the reinvented power strip you never knew you needed until now.

Like the littleBits of power strips, YOUMO boasts wireless charging, IoT capabilities, multi-USB ports, as well as U.S. and E.U. sockets. Due to its modular design, YOUMO allows you to custom build your own power strip with the power options you need by simply adding on the respective modules. Aptly named Good Gadgets, the Germany-based company behind YOUMO delivers a modern take on the power strip, while also offering stylish functionality.

YOUMO comes in seven base cord colors and three different lengths, in addition to various modules such as: solo (one socket and two USB ports), triple (three European plug type sockets), fiver (five U.S. plug type sockets), multi-USB (four USB ports), wireless charging (set devices on the surface of this module for cable-free charging) and the smart module. Modules could connect together, making it a power strip that is tailored exactly to your needs and is travel-friendly as separate pieces.

The smart module enables you to wirelessly control, monitor and communicate with the electronics that’s plugged into the other modules. The accompanying app will send power updates and suggestions for those connected electronics on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. For example, you can receive a warning message if you leave an appliance on or you can schedule different times for a lamp to automatically turn on or off.

All base cords and modules are suitable for electrical systems operating 100-240V at 50-60Hz. In the future, the Good Gadgets team plans to build additional modules including a wireless speaker, nightlight, Ethernet (LAN) and a Wi-Fi access point, sensor and more.

Interested? Then you should check out YOUMO’s Kickstarter campaign, where the Good Gadgets crew is seeking $55,560. You can expect to get your first smart modular power strip by February 2017.

SumoBoy is an Arduino-based fighting robot

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Build your own lean, mean fighting machine with this robot kit. 

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If you’re competitive, but not the fighting type, robot sumo may be the sport for you. Robot sumo is exactly what it sounds like – sumo wrestling for robots. Instead of you facing your opponent inside the ring, you have a robot attempting to push another out of the arena. Sound like something you’d be interested in? Luckily for you, a team of die-hard robotics enthusiasts have created a DIY kit to help jumpstart your new hobby – no technical skills required.

Meet SumoBoy, the world’s first mini sumo robotics kit that is intended for both sport and education. SumoBoy is the brainchild of RobotNest, a company started by a team of engineers and programmers who also happen to be world champions of mega and mini sumo robot tournaments in Japan, U.S. and Europe. Their goals are to popularize robot sumo worldwide while proving to the younger generation that programming and electronic engineering can be both fun and exciting.

The novelty of robot sumo is that the competing robots, called sumobots, are autonomous and not remote controlled during battle. Sumobots are successful based on the best strategy programmed prior to the competition. The SumoBoy kit comes with an assembled robot that complies with industry standards, and it includes additional components to tinker with the robot’s fighting capabilities. An instructional book will be available on the company’s website, which will address the basics of electronics, programming and other topics including artificial intelligence.

SumoBoy boasts an Arduino Micro (ATmega32U4) at its core, which can be programmed in C or C++ languages. Additionally, the kit includes a prototyping board that serves as a learning platform for the fundamentals of electronics and coding. With this board, users can play with dozens of components, combine them into numerous algorithms and learn how to program in order execute their own winning strategy.

The kit also provides a power supply, USB cable, a set of electronic components comprised of sensors, resistors, capacitors, transistors, wires, LEDs, motors and a high-quality screwdriver, and a cardboard dummy that serves as the opponent when testing the robot in action.

Ready to take on the sport of robot sumo? Head over to SumoBoy’s Kickstarter page, where the RobotNest team is currently seeking $100,000. Delivery is slated for September 2016.

 

Play GIFs and videos from your phone on this Bluetooth LED display

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Magic Pixel is an innovative, small form-factor digital sign that can display animations, scrolling texts and video from your PC or Mac.

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If you’re looking for a new way to display art or information, Magic Pixel may be the thing you’re looking for. Magic Pixel is a Bluetooth LED display that can stream animations, scrolling text and video from your smartphone and computer.

Whether you’re in need of signage or want eye-popping wall art, Magic Pixel will definitely attract attention. This thin panel supports 16.7 million colors, showing any imagery of your choice at high luminosity. Magic Pixel was created by a UK-based team of electronics aficionados, led by founder Jozef Gubo. Magic Pixel is their solution to displaying effective and dynamic visualizations.

Magic Pixel has various supported functions. Videos and animations in .GIF format can be streamed over USB 2.0 using a PC or Mac, or by inserting a microSD card into the panel. The accompanying mobile app allows for editable scrolling text display via Bluetooth, making it a useful addition to any store front for displaying advertisements or information. Users can adjust the text position, scrolling type, speed and direction, text size, color and font from a mobile device. Magic Pixel can also be used for fun as statement art, or be used practically to illuminate a space. Its creators used the Magic Pixel as a backlight for an aquarium by loading an animation of the deep sea onto the microSD card and placing the panel behind the tank.

At the core of Magic Pixel is an ARM Cortex-M4 MCU clocked at 120MHz, which enables the device to run a 64 x 48 pixel display at a refresh rate of 120Hz. Magic Pixel’s control card contains a module supporting Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy, USB 2.0 for computer connection, a microSD card slot, buttons for some of the functions as well as a 16-pin connector for the LED panels.

Magic Pixel is available in two sizes. The smaller model has a resolution of 64 x 32 pixels, and it measures 25.2” by 12.6”. The bigger model has a resolution of 64 x 48 pixels, and it measures 25.2” by 18.9″. Both versions feature a thin profile, and are only 1.2″ thick. Intrigued? Head over to Magic Pixel’s Kickstarter page, where Jozef and the team are currently seeking $21,450. Delivery is expected as early as May 2016.

21 smart crowdfunding campaigns you may want to back this week

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Every Friday, we take 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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Rook

This is the world’s first in-home drone that you can fly from anywhere in the world. Eighty Nine Robotics has flown right by its $20,000 goal on Indiegogo.

Sinclair Vega+

This handheld console has an LCD screen, a microSD card slot and comes with 1,000 licensed ZX Spectrum games. Retro Computers has already doubled its £100,000 goal on Indiegogo.

T8

This wearable instrument enables you to record, perform and remix from anywhere. Remidi is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Kamibot

This programmable paper robot teaches kids how to code. 3.14 is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Alcohoot Edge

This palm-sized, Bluetooth-equipped breathalyzer uses police-grade breath sensor technology to accurately track and measure your blood alcohol levels. Vertisense is currently seeking $25,000 on Indiegogo.

Sondors THIN Electric Bike

This lightweight, speedy and affordable electric bicycle boasts a sleek aluminum frame and revolutionary battery technology. Sondors has well surpassed its goal of $100,000 on Indiegogo.

Sense

This system interoperates with your smart home devices, and automatically adapts to your needs over time by learning from your preferences and habits. Silk Labs is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Monument

This gadget stores and automatically organizes your photos by time, location and faces. Monument Labs has hit its $60,000 goal on Kickstarter.

K Kit

This small, customizable and seven-piece connected home system can be controlled from your smartphone. Konke is currently seeking $100,000 on Indiegogo.

NexDock

This versatile 14-inch monitor with a built-in battery and Bluetooth keyboard transforms your Windows 10 smartphone, mini PC and tablet into a laptop. NexDock is currently seeking $300,000 on Indiegogo.

Magic Pixel

This small digital sign can display animations, scrolling texts and video from your PC and Mac. Magic Pixel is currently seeking $21,450 on Kickstarter.

Flipaw

This smart dog collar interacts with sensors around your house to let you know what your pet is doing. Pierre Moens is currently seeking $55,085 on Kickstarter.

HOT Band

This strap adds private calling capabilities to your Apple, Pebble or any other watch. PHTL is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

recSMART

This smart social dashcam allows you to capture, save and share moments from the road. RoadEyes is currently seeking $111,392 on Kickstarter.

OpenKey

This device removes the hassle of remembering passwords and serves as a universal two-factor authentication platform that can replace multiple hardware tokens and apps. Tim Steiner just reached its $10,000 goal on Kickstarter.

Splitsecnd

This portable plug-and-play gadget provides crash response, 24/7 emergency assistance and GPS tracking in any vehicle. Splitsecnd is currently seeking $25,000 on Kickstarter.

AniFit

This wearable for dogs gives personalized health advice for your furry companion. AniFit is currently seeking $30,000 on Kickstarter.

PlantSitter

This portable unit makes sure your plants stay alive, no matter how exotic and demanding they are. MiGrow is currently seeking $60,000 on Kickstarter.

FDL-1

This 3D-printed, web-enabled and fully-automatic foam dart launcher is perfect for Makers. Jesse Kovarovics is currently seeking $15,000 on Kickstarter.

Hydra-Light PL500

This LED personal lantern works by adding water and a little ordinary table salt for instant light and DC charging power. HydraLight is currently seeking $25,000 on Kickstarter.

Camemory

This pair of smart glasses allow you to record videos, snap pictures and pair to your phone with defined gestures. Shawn Chen is currently seeking $5,000 on Kickstarter.

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

This may be the most elegant e-bike ever

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Faraday Cortland is the ultimate electric bike to power your commute in style.

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Biking to work has its perks. It helps reduce gas emissions in the environment, sometimes it’s faster than public transportation and it’s cost effective. The only downside is arriving to the office dripping in sweat. A small San Francisco-based team has created a solution to your commute with a bike that lets you ride in style and with ease — sweat-free.

All familiar to the hills of San Francisco, Adam Vollmer and his team wanted to build a bike that is fast and easy to ride in dense urban areas without riders breaking a sweat. With that in mind, they created Faraday Cortland, an elegant electric bicycle that doesn’t sacrifice the looks, feel and experience of bike riding.

The Faraday Cortland builds on the team’s award-winning design of the classic Porteur. This step-through bike has a higher capacity battery for 25 miles of assisted riding, updated software and a more efficient motor. Despite it being an electric bike, the Cortland maintains the look of a classically designed bike and weighs only 40 pounds, making it easy to mount and dismount. Cortland has a built-in LED headlight and taillight, perfect for riding at night especially after a long day at work. This bike is great for leisure riding on the weekends and is family-friendly with its child-seat compatible rear rack and front rack for groceries.

Like its namesake Michael Faraday, inventor of the electric motor, the Faraday Cortland operates on a powerful 250W motor, with a 350W peak. With an ATxmega32A4U at its heart, this set of wheels runs on a custom 43V, 290Wh removable Panasonic lithium-ion battery pack and the handle bar has a display to show battery life. It boasts a maintenance free drive train, consisting of a Shimano Alfine internally eight-speed geared hub and Gates carbon fiber belt drive, eliminating the possibility of getting grease stains on your clothes. The Cortland is an elegant bike, but tough. The body is a durable steel frame and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes for a smooth ride and bamboo fenders to keep the rider dry.

The Faraday team is also offering add-ons such as an auxiliary battery pack to double the Cortland’s range to over 40 miles, a GPS tracking device and an app for ride track and route mapping.

Ready to conquer your commute sweat-free? Head over to the Faraday Cortland’s Kickstarter page, where Adam and his crew are well above their $100,000 goal. In making things even more simple, bikes will be delivered fully assembled, no bike mechanic needed. Shipments are slated for July 2016, just in time for summer.

Monument is a personal cloud device for your photos and videos

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This solution uses AI to analyze and organize your pictures like Google Photos, but on your own storage device.

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People nowadays are taking more photos than ever before, whether it’s on their smartphones, their digital cameras or even their GoPros. This results in thousands of pieces of images and clips that need to be stored and organized, which of course, requires a computer and tons of time. And while cloud services offer a partial solution, these tend to cost money and sometimes your privacy.

However, one Chicago-based startup has devised a solution capable of collecting and automatically managing your fondest memories. Currently live on Kickstarter, Monument is a personal cloud device that effortlessly syncs and arranges content from your phone and camera, alleviating the headache of doing it yourself.

Beyond just the storage gadget itself, Monument features an accompanying mobile app that is responsible for seamlessly relaying the images and footage in lightning speed. By default, syncing begins once your Monument is connected to your home’s wireless network; however, you can also enable your app’s settings for remote syncing. The system even supports SD cards for file transfers.

What’s really interesting, though, is Monument’s advanced AI algorithms which sort through your photos using date, time, location and faces, as well as by camera. And since everything is organized, the app offers a variety of ways to view your memories including a ‘time machine’ tool (like Timehop) that shows you what you were doing on that day up to 10 years ago and ‘world map,’ which displays all your pics on a globe. Plus, you can search through results using keywords, such as beach or outdoor.

Monument is expandable, too. You can add your own external USB drives, as well as connect a pair of disk drives for RAID-1 backup.

Interested? Head over to its crowdfunding campaign, where the Monument Labs team is currently seeking $60,000. Delivery is expected to get underway in September 2016.

T8 is the world’s first wearable instrument that records, performs and remixes music

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Designed for musicians, DJs and live performers, Remidi’s wearable MIDI controller that turns your hand into a whole new type of instrument.

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Tapping your fingers to the rhythm of your favorite songs on a desk, table or even your steering wheel can help pass time while at work, in class or stuck in traffic. But how much cooler would it be if you could turn your hand into an actual, fully-functional musical instrument? That was the idea behind Austin-based startup Remidi’s latest wearable device, T8.

T8 is a MIDI controller that allows you to command a wide range of digital music with your hands. The system consists of two parts: a sensor-laden glove and an embedded wristband that wirelessly sync to a laptop or mobile device running music creation software.

The bracelet includes a pair of select buttons (to hit play/pause, choose between modes, etc.) and a knob on top for scrolling through note or chord sets, samples and parameters. Housed inside the band is an accelerometer for detecting mid-air gestural controls and expressive pitch bends, as well as an ATmega32U4 and Bluetooth 4.0 module for communication with any laptop, PC, smartphone or tablet. There’s also an RGB LED and a 110mAh battery, which boasts a life of around five to 10 hours and can be recharged via microUSB in about a half an hour.

“The controller also has the ability to sense the physical movements of your wrist and arms. Rotate your wrist to distort your audible output using any effect, or move it up and down to cause a reverberation,” Remidi writes. “The circular dial, located on the top of the T8’s controller, allows you to program another complete set of notes, so with a twist of the dial, you can instantly flip to an entirely new note-set.”

The wristband magnetically links to a snug-fitting Spandex glove, which is home to eight pressure sensitive trigger zones — one in each of the fingers, another in the thumb and the rest in the palm area. These ‘skeleton’ sensors are made of human-friendly PET and TPU, along with proprietary smart textile components. According to its creators, “no other ‘musical glove’ can come close to the T8’s electronic sensitivity and physical durability.”

Users can configure each sensor to trigger samples, notes or presets when the sensor hits any surface, which enables you to control up to 16 different sounds with one hand. For instance, you can sound a kick drum with your thumb or use you palm to bring in a hi-hat and snare. Additionally, the pressure sensitivity of the sensors can be defined by the user and the T8 knows exactly when — and at what pressure — you’re pushing the palm of your hand against a surface as well as how soft or hard you’re putting two or more sensors together.

To get started, simply out your T8, sync it to your mobile device and begin jamming right there on the spot. Based on percussion algorithms, the T8 can sense when any one of the eight sensors makes contact with a desk, wall, subway seat, car window, yourself or another human, and triggers the corresponding, programmed sound to play. In fact, did you know it only takes one hand to record the instrumentals for 2Pac’s California Love?

Meanwhile, an accompanying app lets users customize functionality and configure the system; however, Remidi’s controller even integrates with third party music software and digital audio workstations, like Ableton Live, Animoog, GarageBand or any other program that supports MIDI.

Does this sound (no pun intended) like the MIDI controller for you? Then head over to T8’s Kickstarter campaign, where the Remidi crew is currently seeking $50,000. Delivery is slated for September 2016. Speaking of wearable instruments, you can get a little Fancy with DrumPants, too!