MOVI can add voice control to your Arduino projects

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MOVI is an offline speech recognizer and voice synthesizer shield that adds voice control functionality to any Arduino project.

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As popular as the easy-to-use Arduino has become throughout the Maker community, incorporating voice commands into these projects certainly comes with its fair share of challenges. In an effort to make this as seamless as possible, one startup out of Berkeley, California startup has developed a standalone speech recognition and synthesizer shield with full sentence capability.

The brainchild of Audeme, MOVI (which stands for “My Own Voice Interface”) is a plug-and-play solution that enables users to connect the shield to their Arduino or compatible board, add on an optional speaker and be on their way. The unit provides an alternative to buttons, remote controls and smartphones by allowing Makers to use full-sentence voice commands for tasks, whether that’s turning devices on and off, entering alarm codes or carrying on programmed conversations with projects. Impressively, MOVI will respond in the same manner to the same sentences, no matter who is speaking to it.

Whereas a majority of the voice recognition systems found in today’s consumer devices use cloud-based databases to understand what someone is saying, MOVI is equipped with a 2GB on-board dictionary of up to 200 customizable English phrases. What’s more, Audeme ensures user privacy as it does not connect to the Internet or an external PC, and can be employed as an off-the-grid solution. All of the processing is done on its 1GHz ARM-based processor.

Aside from sentences, Makers can interact naturally with their gizmos and gadgets by creating full dialogs using the built-in male or female voice synthesizer. In a quiet environment, Makers can even talk to their shield from up to 12 feet away, or should they find themselves in a noisy setting, they can throw on a pair of headset microphones.

MOVI is a true Arduino shield, in that it is completely stackable and all of its connections come from the header pins. Not only that, but the device has a programmable call sign, meaning that users can personalize how to refer to the device depending on the task at hand.

“The default call sign is ‘MOVI,’ but you can change it to ‘Computer,’ ‘Hello’ or anything you can think of! You can also turn it off and MOVI can just listen to any sound,” the team explains.

Are you looking to replace your digital entry keypad with speech or play old-school video games with a voice interface? If so, you’re in luck. Audeme has already surpassed its $12,000 goal on Kickstarter, and is expected to begin shipping the MOVI shields early next year.

DrinkMate is a mini breathalyzer that plugs into your iPhone

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Have you had a couple of drinks? Don’t worry, DrinkMate has got your BAC!

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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 30 people die every day in the U.S. as a result of drunk driving accidents. The most heartwrenching part of it all is that such instances can be prevented. Cognizant of this, the Edge Tech Labs team has set out to heavily reduce the number of drunk driving occurrences and corresponding fatalities with its latest innovation.

DrinkMate is a lipstick-sized breathalyzer — measuring 1.9″ x 0.6″ — that plugs directly into your iPhone’s lightning port. This prompts an accompanying app to launch, and seconds later, for you to blow into the end of the device. Your blood alcohol content (BAC) will then appear on the screen.

What’s more, the app enables you to easily connect with friends, partner apps and other programs currently in development. The idea behind DrinkMate is that, the more that the people around you are aware of your BAC and location, the better off he group will be as a whole. Peer pressure, either physically or digitally, can be used in positive way to make safer choices.

“DrinkMate and its app fundamentally change the image and goal of breathalyzers. Its design inherently draws in friends and people around you to see what you’re doing in a friendly manner. If your friend keeps blowing a high BAC number, can you really just sit there and let them make a mistake? You can’t — you’re forced to help them make the right choice,” its creators explain.

If the concept sounds familiar, that’s because Edge Tech Labs completed a successful Kickstarter campaign last year, for its proof-of-concept Android version, having garnered just shy of $100,000 from 2,800-plus backers. Since its debut, the team has significantly improved its circuitry, design and packaging for a retail-ready model that is compliant with Apple’s MFi program. Aside from that, the mobile app has been completely revamped with an enhanced user experience, interface and plenty of additional features.

With a tinyAVR MCU at its heart, the extremely portable and lightweight gadget (only 0.2 ounces) is powered entirely by your iPhone — no battery required. Not to mention, the specially-crafted air inlet on the end of DrinkMate is tasked with slowing down and directing air towards a built-in custom sensor to ensure accurate readings without any contact. In other words, this will be great news for germaphobes!

“Our sensor manufacturer has created a brand new high-quality sensor for us and utilizes specialized quality control measures of our design. This new sensor is more accurate, robust, and has a quicker recovery time in between readings,” the team reveals.

Impressively, DrinkMate can produce results within 0.01% at a BAC of 0.02%. While the sensor has a maximum BAC limit of 0.20%, chances are that if you’re past that threshold, you’ll probably need help standing anyways.

“We compute BAC in a fundamentally different way than pre-existing breathalyzers so that DrinkMate is minimally affected by sensor changes over time. Our proprietary algorithm has been developed over months of testing, thousands of DrinkMates (Android units from last year), and accounts for sensor age effects in its operation.”

Want a mini iPhone breathalyzer of your own? Head over to DrinkMate’s Kickstarter page, where Edge Tech Labs is currently seeking $35,000. Units are expected to begin shipping in October 2015. Those with an Android phone can still purchase one as well.

Vortex lets kids program their own robotic toy

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Vortex is a smart and responsive robot that kids can play with and program themselves. 

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The emergence of robotic gadgets have inspired a new generation of toys that are not only fun but educational as well. Joining the likes of Sphero, Hackaball, Kibo, LocoRobo and several others, Shanghai-based startup DFRobot has introduced a smart and responsive device for kids. Named Vortex, the robot enables its young users to play various games, learn about programming and even create their own via an accompanying app.

Designed with the novice Maker community in mind, Vortex works right of the box and simply pairs to a smartphone (iOS and Android) over Bluetooth. Thanks to its built-in computer and a dozen sensors, it is capable of maneuvering around the floor, desk or table with a touch of the screen. Vortex features four pre-installed, multi-player games, which allow kids to compete against one another in sumo-like bumping fights, play a round of virtual golf, race throughout the house or partake in an immersive match of robot soccer.

While Vortex will certainly prove to be an amusing play-thing, its creators hope that it will encourage more children to pursue STEM-related disciplines and begin tinkering around with code. This is made possible through an easy-to-use, intuitive app that enables graphical programming in a simple drag and drop manner. Vortex also comes with pre-set courses that teach how to make use of its built-in capabilities, which include recognizing hand gestures and avoiding drop-offs.

Aside from being open source, Vortex is completely compatible with both Arduino and Scratch. This opens up a wide range of possibilities, such as seeing and speaking through infrared, grayscale and sound speakers, and navigating around obstacles, detecting lines and reporting back to its user. With an ATmega328 MCU at its heart, the robot is equipped with 10 sensors ( two infrared proximity, two speed control, six line following), 12 independent RGB LEDs, as well as Bluetooth, USB and I2C connectivity options. Beyond that, it is powered by four AA batteries, boasts a life of 40-90 minutes, and can even show its emotions with up to 32 different eye expressions.

“We believe kids can benefit a lot from robotics, in identifying their own challenges, learning how stuff works, solving new problems, motivating themselves to complete a project, working together, inspiring and sharing with others. That’s why we created Vortex to be more than just a toy,” the team writes.

Know of a young one who would love such a device? Head over to Vortex’s Kickstarter campaign, where DFRobot is currently seeking $54,035. Units are expected to begin shipping in October 2015.

Meet Buddy, your family’s future companion robot

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Buddy is a social robot that connects, protects and interacts with each member of your family.

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According to a recent study from Business Insider, the consumer robot market is projected to grow seven times faster than the market for manufacturing robots at a CAGR of 17% between 2014 and 2019. And apparently the report is right, as several companies have embarked on the journey of bringing Jetsons-like companion bots into homes — such as Jibo, Pepper and Musio, to name just a few.

Most recently, French startup Blue Frog Robotics has joined the growing list of startups that want you to have an artificially intelligent friend inside your humble abode in the near future. Their adorable prototype, named Buddy, is being billed as social robot for every member of the family with the ability to structure your day as a personal assistant, monitor your home as a security guard, entertain the kids as a nanny and help stay connected as a Wi-Fi network.

With a number of impressive built-in functions, the Arduino-compatible machine is packed with everything that a robot could possibly need to immerse itself into your daily life.

Aside from being fully mobile with three wheels and an assortment of sensors that allow it to travel, learn and interact with its surroundings, Buddy features an ATmega2560 MCU, a camera, a touchscreen face, a microphone, two speakers, a pair of driving motors, a series of RGB LEDs, along with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. Beyond that, the bot is equipped with audio, HDMI and USB outputs, as well as a rechargeable battery with a life of approximately eight to 10 hours.

Boasting many human-like traits, Buddy is capable of hearing, speaking, seeing and addressing someone with familiar facial expressions and movements. What’s also nice is that the bot can sync to practically any in-home smart device, enabling it to do everything from adjust the lights to the thermostat via voice commands or its accompanying mobile app. Among the gadgets currently supported include Parrot Flower Power, Withings blood pressure monitor, Nest thermostat, MyFox home alarm and LIFX lights.

Additionally, the charismatic robot can serve as a security system by watching over your home using its camera. This way, if danger or something out of the ordinary is detected, Buddy will instantaneously send an alert to its owner.

Not only is it open source, but Buddy is entirely modular and can be expanded upon with a range of plug-and-play accessories, like a docking station, arms and a pico-projector. Those with prior knowledge of Unity3D, C++, C# and JavaScript can even customize their robotic pal using its SDK. As for beginners, however, they can still develop basic apps and behaviors by simply dragging and dropping actions from its library.

Impressively, its creators have also designed Buddy to adapt to children with autism thanks to specialized software that will assist them in learning, communicating, interacting and becoming more independent. Caregivers and family members will be able to personalize the content within the robot’s application, whether that’s offering reminders and visual aids or congratulating them for tasks well done through fun animations.

So, are you ready for an A.I. pal of your own? Then head over to Buddy’s Indegogo page here, where Blue Frog Robotics is currently seeking $100,000. Delivery is slated for May 2016.

BLINKY.SHOES will turn your every step into a light show

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Add these reactive, customizable LEDs to your favorite shoes and be the life of the party wherever you go.

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Anyone who grew up in the 1990s can surely recall begging their parents to head out to the nearest Foot Locker to grab a pair of L.A. Lights. (If not, you may remember this commercial.) Well, get ready to spark up some nostalgia as a new Indiegogo campaign is looking to bring the brilliant trend back, enhanced with modern-day technologies.

The brainchild of Bay Area-based startup Ultimate Collection, BLINKY.SHOES are exactly what they sound like: LED strips that make your sneakers illuminate in bright patterns in response to your movement. With each step, a wave of light spreads out from the point where your foot touches the ground. This is made possible through the use of a three-axis accelerometer that senses the strength of your stride and determines whether you are tapping your toe or heel. In other words, the harder you step, the more energetic the pattern gets.

Whereas back in 1992 wearers were limited to having one illuminated pair of sneaks, BLINKY.SHOES strips can be attached with velcro to any set of existing kicks, enabling unlimited possibilities. What’s more, the strips can be cut to fit any size and are powered by rechargeable batteries. You can even rotate through various color patterns on the spot, while the strips can be easily taken off and swapped out.

BLINKY.SHOES are ready for use straight out of the box, and are fully customizable for the Maker-savvy crowd as well. While they come with six to eight different color patterns pre-installed, thanks to an embedded ATmega32U4 at its heart, the lights can be reprogrammed to do just about anything. The platform features WS2812B individually-addressable LEDs, which are controlled by the Arduino-compatible MCU and powered by 2600mAh lithium-ion battery pack. The controller can be reprogrammed via USB and Arduino IDE, while the default code that ships with the unit will be freely available on GitHub.

“We made BLINKY.SHOES because we wanted to wear them ourselves. Over the last few years we’ve spent a lot of time going to dance parties and wandering around the desert at night. We’ve seen a lot of cool light-up costumes, but never great light-up shoes. We knew we wanted shoes that reacted to movement, that had colorful and complex patterns, and that we could customize. When we couldn’t find a product that fit that bill, we decided to build it ourselves,” the Ultimate Celebration team explains.

Ready to light up your steps? Head over to BLINKY.SHOES’ official Kickstarter page, where the team is currently seeking $5,000. A basic kit will ship with enough components to light up a pair of your favorite sneakers, which means two of everything: LED strips with built-in PCBs, light-difficusing sheaths to cover the strips, rolls of velcro, rechargeable batteries, USB cables and plastic clips. Delivery is expected to kick off in November 2015.

Zodiac FX is the world’s smallest OpenFlow SDN switch

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Zodiac FX is the first OpenFlow switch designed to sit on your desk, not in a data center.

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Up until now the power of Software Defined Networking (SDN) was only available to the administrators of large corporate networks like Google and Facebook. However, one Australian company has shrunken those capabilities down to a palm-sized form factor of just 10cm x 8cm to create what they’re calling the world’s smallest OpenFlow-capable switch.

With aspirations of getting SDN into the hands of Makers, students and hobbyists, the Zodiac FX is the first OpenFlow switch meant to sit on your desk, not in a data center. The idea was initially conceived by Northbound Networks founder Paul Zanna after finding that there was a persistent gap between SDN controllers and simulation software and OpenFlow-capable hardware.

What’s nice is that the Zodiac FX packs many of the features of an OpenFlow switch all for a fraction of the cost and size. Based on an Atmel | SMART SAM4E Cortex-M4 MCU, the board includes four 10/100 Fast Ethernet ports with integrated magnetics and indicator LEDs along with a command line interface accessible via USB virtual serial port. Aside from all that, the Zodiac FX is equipped with the layer 2 and 3 switching capabilities of the Micrel KSZ8795 Ethernet controller.

Designed with the SDN development and Maker communities in mind, the Zodiac FX firmware is completely open source. This means that anyone can download the code and use Atmel Studio to produce their own custom version. From there, it can be reloaded onto the board via USB.

“The Zodiac FX firmware utilizes the Atmel Software Framework (ASF) for generic device drivers such as USB, SPI, etc. On top of this it then adds a custom written driver for the KSZ8795. FreeRTOS is used to provide task and memory management for the three core processes; Command (CLI), Switching and OpenFlow,” the team writes.

It should be noted that, although the Zodiac FX may be the company’s first foray into the hardware world, Northbound Networks has been extensively involved with SDN development utilities. Are you looking to develop an SDN application? Head over to Zodiac FX’s Kickstarter page, where the crew is seeking $30,693. While delivery for the beta version is expected to kick off in October 2015, the final units aren’t slated to ship until January 2016.

HamShield turns an Arduino into a VHF/UHF transceiver

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HamShield lets your Arduino communicate with far away people and things using amateur radio bands.

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Nowadays, ham radio represents a great opportunity for Makers and engineers alike to explore the world around them. Whether it’s text messaging over APRS while backpacking or communicating with the space station as it flies overhead, one Seattle startup is on a mission to enable your Arduino to talk with people and things far away using VHF and UHF frequencies with the aptly named HamShield.

Have you ever wanted to innovate with amateur radio but could not figure out what band to choose or which was the easiest to hack into to gain more advanced features? In an effort to simplify this, the HamShield is super easy to control. To get started, Makers can write their own Arduino sketch and turn their board into a transceiver in a matter of minutes. This allows users to build APRS trackers, transmit and interpret Morse code, race remote-controlled cars, or even transform the Arduino into a serial-controlled radio and work with a computer interface. Thanks to its accompanying Chrome app, any PC with a web browser can become a packet radio station. In other words, users can download and write new laptop applications that leverage the flexibility of the HamShield, but may require the user interface or special processing power of a laptop.

“We have also written an application that runs in any Chrome browser and can talk directly to the HamShield. This means that you can also use a low cost, low powered laptop (such as a Chromebook) to control your Ham Radio on the go,” team member Casey Halverson writes.

The HamShield Arduino library gives users the ability to control every aspect of the radio, handling all communication between the Arduino and the shield so that the only thing needed is its simple API. The team has even created ready-to-use functions for common amateur radio modes, such as Morse code, packet radio, SSTV, scanning, white space channel seeking and empty channel detection. Additionally, Audio can be accessed in one of two ways, either through the HamShield’s built-in TRRS jack or by directly interfacing with the Arduino. The HamShield employs the existing Arduino audio capability to transmit and receive packet radio data, which can be found in the library.

In terms of hardware, the HamShield is based on the Auctus 1846S radio transceiver IC, which boasts a fully integrated FM radio transceiver. With its software defined radio core, users have access to several features like sub-audio CTCSS/CDCSS modes, DTMF encoding and decoding, tail noise elimination, RSSI, squelch, VOX, volumes, and even a very powerful tone encoder and decode.

The Arduino-compatible, open source HamShield supports both voice and packet radio modes, as well as a wide range of VHF and UHF frequencies: 134-174 MHz, 200-260 MHz and 400-520 MHz. This, of course, covers three amateur bands: 2-meter (144-148 MHz), 1.25-meter (220-225 MHz) and 70-centimeter (420-450 MHz).

What’s more, the HamShield eliminates the need for a dedicated radio or piece of equipment for each type of operating mode. The unit is compact, lightweight and fully compatible with any board that supports Uno-style shields. Due to the amount of power required, though, it must be connected to an external power supply at all times.

“Care was taken to make sure that the input voltage range was also within the output range of several different types of battery technologies, including 4xAA battery packs and 7.4 volt LiPo battery packs. The HamShield can operate between 5-30 volts DC, and is typically powered by a 12 VDC power adapter,” Halverson adds.

As a bonus, the HamShield’s power supply is also fed into VIN on the Arduino. Portable options, such as GPS trackers, hidden transmitter hunting, and laptop APRS and packet radio are now made possible.

Interested? Head over to its official Kickstarter page, where its creators have already nearly doubled its initial pledge goal. Delivery of the shields is expected to begin in October 2015.

DECKO is an LED watch that bares its parts on a circuit board face

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This 60-LED watch may be the geekiest timepiece ever. And we love it.

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Aside from the pocket protector, the wristwatch has become a staple for any true geek. And we’re not just talking about any ordinary wrist-adorned device, it has to be unique — the dorkier, the better. So whether you’re a businessman, an athlete or an engineer, anyone looking to show off their geekery will surely love the latest creation from Terminus Electronics: a wearable that displays time using LEDs rather than the typical pair of rotating hands or digits.

Dubbed DECKO, the half-dollar-sized watch reveals the time by animating 60 LEDs on a circuit board face. Admittedly, it is as basic of a “smartwatch” as they come with only a few features like motion and tap detection for wake-up, and light sensing for auto-brightness. Unlike most of its teched-out counterparts, however, the device boasts a low profile and can last for six to 12 months on a single coin-cell battery.

In order to tell time, the hour winds from 12 o’clock around to the current hour, while the minute hand animates in place after the hour hand stops. This allows both the hour and minute to be distinguishable even when they overlap.

The low-power timepiece sleeps to save power when not in use, and wakes up when put into the usual horizontal viewing position. The watch can also be turned on and off by double-tapping the side of its case.

Time set mode is accessed with a quadruple tap of the watch, while a subsequent tap is required to start the process. This will cause the minute hand to begin rolling like a marble around the clock. From there, the time can be adjusted by simply rolling your wrist forward or backwards, and locked in by holding it steady.

An interesting feature of the DECKO is that it not only shows the time but how its embedded electronics work. Based on an Atmel | SMART SAM D21 MCU (which could be found the center of the face), the watch packs a 32 kHz crystal oscillator to keep time, an accelerometer to detect orientation and movement, and a light sensor to measure ambient light. The electronics are soldered to the board and housed inside a rugged metal case that is available in aluminum (black or silver) and brass.

What’s more, the wearable is water-resistant and fully customizable. The case fits standard 18mm NATO and ZULU straps, enabling you to mix and match various styles — ranging from steampunk for Maker Faire to patriotic for 4th of July celebrations. DECKO is available in a caseless version as well, which gives Makers the choice of designing their own enclosure for the inner PCB face.

Does this look like a watch you’d love to have? Head over to DECKO’s Kickstarter page, where the team is currently seeking $60,000. The first batch of devices is slated to begin shipping in November 2015.

Silk LED bulb mimics natural sunlight to help you live better

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Silk by Saffron is a smart LED bulb that automatically adjusts its color temperature so you get light tailored to your circadian rhythm.

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It goes without saying that our mood and general well-being are directly related with the light in our environment. Yet, the advent of artificial lighting and digital screens has wreaked havoc on our innate circadian rhythm throughout the years. With this in mind, the Saffron crew has developed an LED bulb that can actually sync to its users’ internal clocks to emulate the natural shifting color spectrum of the sun.

Called Silk, the smart LED is said to enhance performance and sleep patterns by providing users with the optimal kind of light over the course of a 24-hour period. Unlike other smart lights on the market today, this 800-lumen unit doesn’t require any management throughout the day. Once it’s turned on, Silk adjusts itself based on the sun and time, shifting from a midday’s cool blue intensity to a warmer, much more soothing tones for the evening.

“You’ve probably read up on the effects of late-night screen use, but the problem is much bigger than that since it extends to all the mundane everyday lights in our homes and offices too,” the Utah-based startup explains.

Each bulb has two banks of LEDs inside — one that contains cool colors and another with warmer hues — that mix together to create the right balance. Simply screw them into a lamp and overhead lights, then control them wirelessly from a central ZigBee bridge. Using Saffron’s unique nClick program, which allows for an existing light switch to control the bulb, a user can also toggle their Silk between dimmer/brighter and cooler/warmer settings with a single click, or via its accompanying app.

The Silk app, which is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, enables a user to create their own zone-based schedules and switch behaviors to meet the lighting needs of any given situation, whether that’s a morning yoga session or an afterwork dinner gathering.

Currently live on Kickstarter, Saffron is seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter. The only downside is that you’ll have to wait until January 2016 to get your hands on them.

OKO is a smart frame with a social life

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This multimedia frame allows you to share all of your content with friends via Wi-Fi. 

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The picture frame has been a fixture on mantels for decades. Yet, most of us can admit that looking at the same photo can get old rather quickly. So as the world becomes increasingly connected, one Barcelona startup has made it their mission to revolutionize the seemingly unchanged accessory. Instead of manually having to take apart the back of frame and insert a new photo, OKO enables its users to wirelessly beam the content that they want to see straight from their smartphone.

And it’s not just personalized photos either. Instead, the “first online multimedia touchscreen frame” connects to its accompanying mobile app via Wi-Fi, allowing owners to share their music playlists and favorite videos with other units in their network.

Unlike those before it, OKO has bolstered its social savviness as well. In doing so, the frame gives users the ability to update, change and replace its pictures and footage by pulling content based on various hashtags — meaning, it can display everything from a user’s Instagram streams to their latest Vine loops.

OKO even allows for the transmission of text and voice messages, whether that’s a friendly reminder upon arriving home or a video of the grandchildren for grandma. What’s more, users can dress up their place a bit with a collection of artwork for a dinner party or set the mood for a romantic evening for two. The possibilities are endless.

“To send other kind of text messages, there are already other applications (WhatsApp and Facebook) but you sometimes need to send a text message that you need them to be read when they are or arrive home, and you can’t risk them having their smartphone off or not reading the text,” the team writes.

“Or, maybe you are thinking of using a Post-It, but if you’re not home, how are you going to put it? Sometimes Post-Its remain unnoticed… with OKO the message will be received.”

The gadget is comprised of a high-quality color touchscreen, a removable and completely customizable case, Wi-Fi connectivity and can be powered either through its built-in battery or an AC plug. While the frame currently comes in only one size (10”), the team reveals that a larger one (21”) is in the works. In addition, future iterations may include voice recognition, cloud compatibility and a camera for video chat and gestural interaction.

Want to add an OKO to your home’s decor? Head over to its Kickstarter campaign, where the CIMNE TIC team is currently seeking $70,000. Delivery is expected to get underway in May 2016.