This MIDI synth lets you create Nintendo-style chiptune music

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Connect this AVR-based board to a MIDI device and make your own NES-style chiptunes.

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Chiptunes are a type of synthesized, electronic music produced by old-school video game consoles, which became ubiquitous throughout arcades and living rooms in the ‘80s. Originally, 8-bit tunes were primarily practiced by game soundtrack composers like Rob Hubbard; yet, it wasn’t before long that tools like Karsten Obarski’s Ultimate Soundtracker were introduced, making the creation of such sounds much easier and widespread. While it mostly remained an underground genre, chiptunes certainly had their moments of moderate popularity, influencing the development of electronic dance music for years to come.

Who could forget the routine of pulling out your Mario Bros. cartridge, blowing into it, slipping it back in, and once successful, being welcomed by its catchy theme song? Well, those looking to spark up some nostalgia will surely get a kick out of the Arcano MIDI NES Chiptune Synthesizer, an AVR-based MIDI device that allows artists to make Nintendo-style chiptune music.

Each Arcano MIDI NES Chiptune Synthesizer is equipped with a 1/8” mono audio output jack, MIDI input through a standard DIN connector, a seven-segment LED waveform mode indicator, a simple two-button interface, and a preprogrammed ATmega328 for its brains. Beyond that, a six-pin AVR ISP header enables programmers to Flash the embedded MCU with their own custom software and create waveforms, envelopes, software low-frequency oscillators and PCM samples.

Unlike many other MCU-based synthesizers which use internal PWM peripherals to generate weak, scratchy audio signals, the Arcano MIDI NES Chiptune Synthesizer employs an auxiliary digital-to-analog converter chip to produce a clear, high-quality audio signal. The synth is capable of generating audio at an output rate of 44.1 KHz; however, for a more authentic chiptune sound, lower output rates are recommended.

“The hardware is capable of up to 8-bit quantization. A software bitcrusher is used to achieve the lower bit depths used in the NES. This bit-crushing effect is most evident in the Arcano NES Chiptune Synthensizer’s reproduction of the Nintendo Entertainment System’s 4-bit triangle wave channel, often used for bass lines and tom-tom drums,” its creators explain.

What’s more, the latest version of its software features additional white-noise-based percussion sounds, such as open and closed hi-hats, along with additional waveform modes that can emulate the detuned reverb effects characteristic of the music from the Mega Man series of NES games.

Ready to recreate some magical 8-bit music? Head over to the synthesizer’s Kickstarter page, where Arcano Systems successfully garnered well over its asking goal of $1,000. The first batch of units have already begun shipping.

The Helix hides your Bluetooth headphones on your wrist

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Thanks to the Helix, you’ll never have to deal with tangled earbuds again!

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Whereas many wearables on the market today want to track calories burned, steps taken and other sorts of performance data, a new wrist-adorned accessory is looking to do something a whole lot simpler: store your earbuds. Let’s face it, when it comes to your headsets, you typically have one of two options. You can either keep the buds in your ears at all times while attached to your phone, or you can unplug them, roll up the cord and then shove the tangled mess into your bag or pocket, only have to undo the process with every incoming call. With just about 50% of us rocking earpieces daily, Ashley Chloe feels it’s time to make a change.

Their solution? The Helix. While on the surface, it may look no different than any other bracelet intended for fitness, but in fact, the ergonomic and stylish wearable has a secret compartment that houses a pair of Bluetooth-enabled earbuds. The cuff features a loop design that lets it fit comfortably around your wrist, while three magnets clasp together to allow for easy size adjustments.

Unlike other gadgetry before it, Ashley Chloe sought to craft a headset that delivered on both value and aesthetics, yet also making it as convenient as possible to access your headphones. The Helix’s unique looping design lets you wrap the bud’s connecting cord into a groove on the cuff when the headset is not in use, while a tiny cache provides a place to put the earphones. In other words, more tangled messes!

“We created Helix knowing that the human wrist is valuable real estate. We knew we would have to provide a lot of value in order to persuade people use a wearable that they will see all the time. It’s a lot different from something you would carry in your pocket or purse,” the team writes.

The Helix can connect to up to eight devices within 30 feet, one at a time, using Bluetooth Low Energy. It is compatible with iOS, Android, Windows or any wearable unit that supports a connection to wireless headphones. What’s more, the cuff offers microphone control, enabling you to answer/reject calls, play/pause msusic, adjust volume, skip a track and even cancel out noise. Given its size, the Helix can only play for up to three hours, with 200 hours of standby time. However, it can be fully charged via USB in less than an hour.

For its Kickstarter launch, the classic edition comes in two unisex colors, white and black, which features accents of silver or champagne gold aluminum embellishments. Beyond that, the accessory will also come in a gold edition that is equipped with a bright red cuff and an 18k plated-gold embellishment. As its creators note, these embellishments cover the storage cache for the wireless signal receiver and the stereo sound-quality headphones when not in use.

Tired of losing your earbuds or dealing with tangled cords? Head over to the Helix’s Kickstarter page, where the Ashley Chloe crew is closing in on their $100,000 goal. Delivery is slated for December 2015.

15 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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HELIX

This stylish wearable cuff lets you store your headphones on your wrist when not in use, so they’re close by at all times. Ashley Chloe is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Branto

This augmented reality orb provides remote presence, advanced security and appliance control throughout your home or office. Branto is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

SKYPEN

This pen allows you to simultaneously 3D print in two different colors. SKY-TECH is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Nourish

This Wi-Fi connected countertop appliance offers personalized supplement suggestions and dispenses the right nutrients at the right times. FitNatic is currently seeking $65,000 on Indiegogo.

MOVE

This Bluetooth-controlled motor automates your existing indoor blinds and shades. Teptron is currently seeking $39,279 on Kickstarter.

Senth N1

This pair of AR cycling glasses enables riders to track activity, display real-time data, answer phone calls and record HD video. Senth N1 is currently seeking $40,000 on Indiegogo.

Snotbot

These custom-built drones are a less invasive way for researchers to study whales in the wild. The Ocean Alliance is currently seeking $225,000 on Kickstarter.

Lovlit Candle

This smart, flameless candle keeps you in touch with loved ones anywhere in the world through the gesture of light. Joshua Jameson is currently seeking $75,000 on Kickstarter.

Speedbox

This cubed gadget is designed for secure video conferencing, file sharing and text messaging. Struktur AG is currently seeking $25,141 on Kickstarter.

MediaBit

This cloud device tells you when your TV is on and delivers usage information straight to your smartphone or web browser. BDI Laboratories is currently seeking $6,500 on Kickstarter.

HypnoLights

This 12-foot strand of 50 LEDs automatically plays artistic, animated lighting sequences when plugged in. Hypnocube is currently seeking $10,000 on Kickstarter.

Klauf Light Bar

This modular bar can be used either as a standalone phosphor LED lamp or chained together, and magnetically attached to various metallic surfaces for ample lighting whenever necessary. Klauf Lighting is currently seeking $10,000 on Kickstarter.

Micro M3D Compatible Heated Print Bed

This thirdy-party heated bed for the Micro M3D brings full utilization to the printer with additional features. Chase Wichert is currently seeking $16,000 on Kickstarter.

petiteDuino Nimoy

This barebones Arduino Leonardo clone is about the size of a penny. Lou Rose is currently seeking $7,000 on Kickstarter.

ThynkBot

This miniature, mind-enabled robot can be controlled with your thoughts using its accompanying app. ThynkWare is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

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. 

BigBox is a large, hackable and open source 3D printer

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This 3D printer from E3D and LittleBox boasts an impressive build volume, modular design and hotend.

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It’s safe to assume that Makers who’ve dabbled with RepRap and other low-cost, open source 3D printers are most likely familiar with UK-based startup E3D. Combining their experience in crafting high-quality parts, the team has collaborated with fellow British company LittleBox, the designers of the MicroSlice desktop laser cutter, to introduce what they call the BigBox 3D Printer. 

Now live on Kickstarter, the BigBox is described as a no-compromise 3D printer that converges high-print resolution, a large build volume and an extrusion system that can spew out nearly every material on the market, all wrapped up in a clutter-free package with a powerful, easy-to-use toolchain. The machines will come in an assortment of DIY kits — Lite, Pro and Dual — or can ship fully-assembled for those seeking a more out-of-the-box experience. Nevertheless, all of the models boast a substantial print volume of about 12″ x 8″ x 11”, auto-leveling as a standard, and are capable of a layer thicknesses as fine as 50 microns.

Each of the BigBox units are equipped with a heated bed, a max print speed of 100mm/second and a E3D-v6 hotend that can reach temperatures up to 572°F (300°C), except for the barebones Lite version which lacks the heated bed, has half the max print speed and employs a “mostly metal” hotend. And as its name would imply, the Dual features two printheads to allow users to print in various colors or two totally different materials simultaneously.

When taking a look at the printer, one of, if not, the most noticeable attribute is its enormous build volume with a 17-liter space that provides everyone the freedom to create big objects without sacrificing quality. What’s more, the build volume has been configured to not just be large in one direction, like many other plus-sized printers, but balanced in all axes with a huge usable surface.

“Objects built in the plane of the bed are stronger than tall objects built away from the bed so this is a real practical advantage,”  E3D’s Sanjay Mortimer and Josh Rowley explain. “Having a larger bed also means that you can pack more items into a single print for high-volume printing. So BigBox has not just a large build space, but a well-proportioned, more useful build space.”

The motion system of the BigBox 3D printers have been designed by LittleBox to offer the right combination of both mechanical reduction and higher resolution motors to achieve twice the standard positional resolution, low drag motion and consistency across every axis. Any vibration and unnecessary wobbling is eliminated thanks to bearings on every corner, which in turn, offers users extreme precision and a smooth experience.

The company’s flagship E3D-v6 extruder has the ability to spit out just about every filament available on the market, ranging from flexible, rubber-like resin to metal and carbon-filled materials. And of course, Makers can still choose to use PLA and ABS.  On top of that, the hotends have interchangeable nozzles depending on if someone is looking for higher resolution or increased print times.

In terms of its electronics, the user-friendly machines include a couple of Atmel MCUs: an ATmega2560 at its core, an ATmega16U2 for managing communications, as well as an ATtiny to be added for “something else that as yet to be announced.” Each device is packed with an LCD display and an integrated SD card reader for untethered printing. Aside from the classic USB connectivity options, BigBox can also interact over the web with OctoPrint and Raspberry Pi.

Sound like a 3D printer you’d like for your Makerspace? Head over to BigBox’s Kickstarter page, where E3D and LittleBox have already well surpassed their initial goal of $46,870. The first batch of units is expected to ship in December 2015 — just in time for the holidays!

This device offers safety at the touch of a button

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Wearsafe Tag instantly alerts, informs and connects your most trusted network so they can send help when you need it.

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We’ve come a long way since the days of LifeAlert’s earliest commercials with a helpless Mrs. Fletcher yelling, “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!” And though technology has certainly progressed over the years, one thing that continues to remain constant is the reassurance that our loved ones are kept safe. Whether it’s a child, an elder or a significant other, Wearsafe is just the platform to help provide you with a peace of mind.

The Wearsafe Tag is a small, unobtrusive accessory that can be thrown in a pocket, clipped onto a belt or worn as a lanyard around the neck. Ideal for just about everyone — whether a frequent traveler, an adventurous hiker or a freshman in college — it’s super simple to use. First, you create a trusted network of friends and family for any situation, and with a press of a button, the one-touch lifeline sends an alert to them in scenarios that may not warrant taking out a smartphone.

The Tag works by pairing with your smartphone via Bluetooth Low Energy to connect with an accompanying app. Once activated, Wearsafe puts the mobile device to work by tracking the user’s GPS location, rate of speed and even recording the last minute of conversations. When pressed, the button will send this information by way of a text message, email and screen notification to the members of your pre-defined network.

Studies reveal that in times of distress, even if your smartphone is taken away, it will typically remain within 35 feet of the owner. With this in mind, the Wearsafe Tag boasts a range of up to 200 feet to ensure you’re connected and able to send out an alert. What’s more, a private chat can also be set up between contacts, allowing them to coordinate responses. Anytime a call for help is transmitted, you will be informed that the alert was successfully sent via a silent vibration, and the Tag offers feedback each time someone opens the message to respond. You can even program different networks for different occasions, like one for home, one for school and another for business trips. This way, depending on where you are, alerts will go to the most relevant people.

The water-resistant Tag houses a Bluetooth Smart module and is powered by coin cell battery that can last about six months with regular use. Aside from that, Wearsafe will soon integrate with other gadgets such as your fitness bands and smartwatches.

“Shortly after launch, you will be able to use the Pebble smartwatch or the new Pebble Time watch to send an alert.  In addition, compatibility with Garmin, the Apple Watch and Android Wear will be available in the very near future.  Our goal is to make integrating Wearsafe into your life as easy as possible. The future of wearables is limitless, and we’ll continue to work to ensure that Wearsafe will work with whatever wearable you choose,” its creators write.

Sound like a safety device you’d like to have? Head over to its Kickstarter page, where the Wearsafe Labs is currently seeking $75,000. The first batch of units is expected to begin shipping in September 2015.

ilumi is a smart bulb that just got even smarter

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These smart bulbs won’t just light up your house, they’ll improve your sleep, set the mood and connect your devices.

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Wouldn’t it be nice if your in-home lighting knew just how to pick you up when you were feeling down? Or could turn on right as you walk through the door with your arms full of groceries? Thanks to the ilumi, that and much more are all possible. The Dallas-based, Shark Tank-supported startup has unveiled the latest generation of its intelligent bulbs that offer complete lighting control.

If the name sounds familiar, that’s because ilumi is no stranger to the smart lighting world. Since originally making its debut on Kickstarter back in 2013 and catching the attention of Mark Cuban on the ABC hit show last year, the team has returned to the drawing board and revamped their bulbs with a new and improved design, interface, and of course, a more affordable price. And the timing couldn’t be better, as recent reports forecast the market to reach 2.5 billion units by 2020 and reduce energy costs as much as 90%.

Aside from being able to customize which shade of light the bulb emits via a color wheel, user can also select from a series of pre-defined themes to best suit their daily routines. For instance, you can support your body’s circadian rhythm by automating the bulbs to emulate the sun’s natural cycle, wake up to your own personal sunrise, or find the right brightness/color combination to best set the mood.

What’s more, ilumi boasts several fun integrations including the ability to connect to Spotify and sync with the beat of your favorite tunes — ideal for Friday night parties or Halloween festivities. They also work with some other popular IoT products and services, including IFTTT and Nest thermostats. Arguably one of its most standout features, however, is its Home Alone-like capability of giving off the impression that an owner is inside, even when away on vacation, to deter any potential burglars. ilumi can detect presence in a room and will flick itself on and off automatically, too.

Packed inside the bulb are a set of RGBW LEDs, a high-power antenna with a range of up 150 feet, Flash memory and a real-time clock for stored settings, as well as a Bluetooth Smart chip for wireless control. What’s neat is that, since each bulb is equipped with Bluetooth, it creates a mesh network that links to your phone, thereby eliminating the need for a hub. Simply screw them into a socket, pair them with your mobile device, and you’re ready to go. Each bulb will act as a node that can send and receive a signal.

For its Kickstarter return, which has already tripled its initial pledge goal, the company has introduced two new smart bulbs: the A19 Standard with 800 lumens and 10 watts, and the BR30 Flood with 1,150 lumens and 14 watts. Oh, and remember the days of “Clap on, clap off, The Clapper?” Well, iiumi lets its users turn the lights on with a simple shake of their phone.

Interested in some for your home? Head over to its official Kickstarter page. Delivery is slated for September 2015.

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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Lumos

This bicycle helmet is equipped with turn signals and automatic brake lights to help cyclists stay visible on the road. Lumos is currently seeking $125,000 on Kickstarter.

Ilumi

These color-tunable, Bluetooth bulbs offer complete lighting control with an assortment of additional features, ranging from presence detection to pre-set daily routines. Ilumi Solutions is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Remix Mini

This palm-sized Android PC packs a 1.2GHz quad-core 64-bit chipset along with 1GB/2GB of RAM and a price tag of only $30. Jide Tech is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Freaks3D

This 3D printer isn’t only affordable but portable as well, measuring just 11.4” x 12.6” x 12.8” in size and weighing a little over six pounds. ElecFreaks Tech is currently seeking $20,000 on Indiegogo.

Impact Wrap

This punching bag tracks how hard you hit, builds customized workouts and allows you to compete against others training around the world. Dan Fradin is currently seeking $112,000 on Kickstarter.

Wearsafe

This wearable button puts your most trusted friends and family only one click away should danger or an emergency present itself. Wearsafe Labs is currently seeking $75,000 on Kickstarter.

Candle Charger

This compact, minitature power plant provides on-demand electricity for USB devices when the grid can’t. Team FlameStower is currently seeking $30,000 on Kickstarter.

Keezel

This device creates a secure Wi-Fi network with the press of a button, keeping your online identity and activities protected. Keezel is currently seeking $60,000 on Indiegogo.

Stary

This lightweight, electric skateboard can ride up to 10 miles on single charge and features a unique remote-controlled braking system. Stary Boards is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

HackerBoxes

This subscription box delivers new boards, games, tools and an assortment of other modules to Makers every month. HackerBoxes is currently seeking $60,000 on Kickstarter.

Bright Grill

This grill syncs to your Pebble Time, iPad and Android smartphone via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, letting you monitor your dinner from afar. Bright Grill is currently seeking $41,250 on Kickstarter.

Hicosy

This open source, Arduino-powered platform enables you to easily tabs on your solar energy use. Hicosy is currently seeking $85,000 on Indiegogo.

Probot Chiller

This chiller can cool up to six warm beverages in a matter of five minutes, while juicing up your electronic gadgets with dual USB chargers. Probot Chiller is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

BSEEN

The LED waist pack not only keeps you safe as you head out for a jog or ride, but includes a 4000mAh battery to charge your phone on the go. BSEEN is currently seeking $25,000 on Indiegogo.

SparkBlocks

This modular system allows you to customize your speaker based on your listening needs. SparkBlocks is currently seeking $79,046 on Kickstarter.

TUNE

These sensor-laden insoles measure both feet simultaneously and produces a personalized exercise plan to help improve running technique. Kinematix is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

GNARBOX

This mobile solution lets you view, back up, edit and share your HD footage from any GoPro HERO and DSLR camera in seconds. GNARBOX is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Brinco

This device connects to an international seismograph network to warn you when an earthquake or tsunami is detected in your area. Brinco is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

BigBox

This fully-hackable 3D printer boasts a large build volume and an extrusion system capable of pretty much any material. E3D and LittleBox are currently seeking $46,870 on Kickstarter.

Scriba

This stylus is specially designed around the natural movements of your hand with a flexible body and dynamic squeeze motion. David Crag is currently seeking $72,337 on Kickstarter.

Speakerplug

This amp modernizes your favorite speakers and streams music wirelessly from your smartphone via Bluetooth. Hybrios is currently seeking $102,705 on Kickstarter.

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. 

Reify lets you hear, see and hold music

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Reify is a new medium of creative expression for artists, and a deeper, connected music experience for fans.

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As enjoyable as listening to music may be, it is often times just one-dimensional. But what if, instead of simply hearing your favorite tunes, you were able to actually see and feel them at the same time? That is idea behind one Brooklyn-based startup’s latest innovation dubbed Reify — a term that refers to the act of making something abstract more real.

Led by Allison Wood and Kei Gowda, the team of designers and engineers have launched a Kickstarter campaign for what they hope will usher in a new age of cross-sensory experiences, strengthening the bonds between musicians and their fans.

The process begins by collaborating with an artist on a range of visual interpretations of a specific song which take the form of abstract 3D models. These models, also known as totems, are created via Harmony — a custom audio-to-physical engine and parametric design software — and then 3D-printed.

From there, Reify encodes these objects using Unity and Vuforia with the original tunes and a series of intense, mind-blowing visuals. Along with an accompanying mobile app called Stylus, these totems morph right before a user’s eyes, taking them on a augmented reality journey like never before imagined — unless, of course, you’re Kanye West. As the song plays through Stylus, users have the ability to move the screen around to see all sides of the transforming, psychedelic sculpture as it changes shapes, bounces around and pulsates in sync with the audio track being played.

So far, the team has designed hundreds of experimental totems spanning across different music genres, with each one as unique as the song it represents.

“Each experience is unique in style and content. Some are game-like. Some are conceptual explorations. Others are both…and neither. All are direct expressions of the artist’s creative vision,” its creators note.

The NYC startup has taken to Kickstarter to help fund their project, where they are currently seeking $150,000. Whether or not, Reify achieves its goal, one thing is for certain: it’s awesome to see the Maker Movement continue to inspire engineers, designers and hobbyists to dream up ways to bring music to life.

Lumos is the world’s smartest bicycle helmet

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Lumos is the ultimate bicycle helmet that helps cyclists stay safe and visible on the road.

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Biking at night, especially on roads, can be downright dangerous. Just how dangerous, you ask? Every year, more than 49,000 cyclists are seriously injured in the United States alone — a large number of them as a result of a collision with a motorist. And although there have been several innovations geared towards making riding in the dark safer, a new helmet from one Boston-based startup may be the most clever yet. As a way to draw the attention of traffic, Lumos is equipped with wirelessly-controlled turn signal indicators and brake lights that automatically illuminate as speed is decreased.

It’s a pretty smart idea, and we wouldn’t expect anything less from former Harvard students Euwen Ding and Jeff Chen. Whereas modern-day light attachments can be easily left behind, not too many will venture out onto the roads without grabbing their helmet. Even better, Lumos has been designed to look no different than its more conventional counterparts.

The front of the helmet is equipped with series of 14 ultra-bright white LEDs, enabling them to be seen much more clearly than typical bike-mounted units. What’s more, 16 red LED are arranged in the back to form a triangle — a commonly used warning symbol on the road. An accelerometer embedded inside the helmet is able to detect whenever a cyclist is braking, which instantly turns the rear triangle solid and intensifies in brightness, just like a car.

One of, if not, the most standout features of the Lumos has to be its turn signal lights. These arrows are made up of 15 LEDs on either side of the rear triangle and headlight strip, and are activated through a two-button wireless remote attached to the handlebar, which runs on a CR2032 battery. Once triggered, vibrant yellow lights are turned on to form an arrow and a dash from the front indicating the direction a rider wishes to turn. Another press of the button will switch the signal off.

“The wireless remote works off a 2.4 GHz RF chip. These RF chips are more than powerful enough to handle the signaling feature and are also robust, reliable, and consume very little power, making it ideal for this use case. The remote is perpetually in sleep mode by default,” its creators note. “But when you press it, it instantly wakes up, sends its signal to the helmet it is paired with (a 1-1 pairing with the helmet that just needs to be done once during first use), and then powers down again after you turn the turn signal off. Since the remote is off for the vast majority of the time, this allows the remote to last for months before its coin cell battery would need to be replaced.”

The water-resistant helmet is currently available in two colors — charcoal black and pearl white — and comes with an integrated battery, which can be recharged via microUSB. According to both Ding and Chen, if Lumos is used for 30 minutes every day, each charge should last about a week.

Ready to stay safe while riding your bike at night? Then race over to Lumos’ Kickstarter page, where the team is seeking $125,000.

Monitor this grill right from your smartphone

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Bright Grill connects via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to your Pebble Time, iPad and smartphone. 

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While firing up the grill may be a summertime tradition, unfortunately not everyone is skilled in the art of barbecue. If you’re like the majority of folks, chances are that you’re tired of constantly wondering how long you should cook a piece of chicken or steak, without it becoming too “well done.” Luckily, one Miami-based entrepreneur has devised a clever solution that can turn anyone into a grill master in no time.

Created by Robert Mora, the aptly named Bright Grill pairs with an accompanying mobile app to bring wireless monitoring straight to the palm of your hand or wrist. With a striking resemblance to the popular indoor/outdoor George Foreman Grill, the Bright Grill boasts a 240-square-inch, non-stick cooking area and can be mounted on its pedestal for the deck, patio or near the RV, and removed for the countertop.

The Bright Grill itself is an electric, plug-in unit equipped with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as an Atmel CPU chipset, temperature sensors and signal electronics. While the device can be paired to any iOS, Android or Pebble gadget, it also comes with a power cord for indoor use where gas and charcoal grills are prohibited. Simply turn it on and off from your phone, adjust the temperature and time, and then let it take care of the rest as you monitor your meal from afar.

What’s nice is that you can forget about having to always hover over the hot grill worrying if the food is okay. Bright Grill provides users with step-by-step guides, flip notifications, a customizable safety shutoff, as well as an auto warm feature that allows you to keep tossing the football for a few more minutes or play one last hand in cards. Aside from all that, it also comes with a “crowdgrilling” community element, which enables you to share your own speciality dish with friends or browse through others’ for dinner inspiration. Its app can even teach new grillers about healthier food choices and recipes that are ideal for those just starting out.

With summer in full swing, what better time to head over to Bright Grill’s Kickstarter page? Mora is currently seeking $41,250, and shipment is slated for March 2016. Depending on the success of its campaign, you will be able to choose from a range of colors including lime green, red, blue, black, orange and silver.