SwitchBot’s new smart lock opens with voice commands, fingerprints, passcodes, and even your Apple Watch

It’s 2024 and if you’re bummed that you can start your EV with your mobile phone, but can’t open the door to your house with it, the folks at SwitchBot just designed the perfect little accessory. Designed to retrofit onto your existing deadbolt door lock, the SwitchBot Lock Pro has 15 different unlocking options, from letting you use your phone or Apple Watch, to voice commands, biometrics, numeric PINs, or hey, even your regular key if you’re feeling a little old-fashioned. Or maybe get it to unlock when you say “Open Sesame” if you’re feeling extra whimsical!

Designer: Switchbot

Click Here to Buy Now: $89.99 $119.99 (Use Coupon Code on the Site to get $30 off). Hurry, deal ends soon!

The Lock Pro follows in the footsteps of the original SwitchBot Lock, which retrofitted onto deadbolt locks to turn them into smart IoT locks. The new Pro variant still transforms deadbolt locks into smart ones, but comes with a sleeker design that integrates right into your door frame, a higher torque output that unlocks and locks doors with absolute ease, and even the inclusion of a number pad and biometric sensor that lets you unlock doors with a PIN or your fingerprint. There’s a minimal amount of assembly, the Lock Pro runs on replaceable AA batteries, and it also supports the Matter IoT protocol which means the Lock Pro can seamlessly communicate with all your other smart home devices, whether they’re from Google, Apple, Amazon, or any other third party company running on the Matter protocol.

Designed with both American and European markets in mind, this retrofit smart lock integrates seamlessly into existing hardware, supporting all common deadbolt locks. Installation is a breeze, taking a mere 5 minutes – for US deadbolts, SwitchBot Lock Pro comes equipped with tailored adapters that allow for effortless cylinder changes, while European users can opt for different mounting plates based on the protrusion of their cylinder. This ingenious design eliminates the need for complex DIY modifications, making the transition to a smart lock a minimal-effort experience without any specialist tools or even requiring calling a handyman. You visit SwitchBot’s website to check whether the Lock Pro is compatible with your door lock for the US or the EU.

At the core of the SwitchBot Lock Pro lies an upgraded motor that boasts an impressive 20 kgf/cm² of torque – more than double the force of its predecessor. This increased power ensures smooth operation, even with multiple locks, and faster unlocking times, providing effortless entry every time. Whether you’re a tenant, apartment resident, or a smart home enthusiast, the SwitchBot Lock Pro is a must-have addition to your connected living space.

Fingerprint Enabled

In essence, the Lock Pro builds on the sheer elegance of its predecessor, which allowed wireless locking and unlocking using Bluetooth devices like your phone or Apple Watch, or through smart home commands via the SwitchBot Hub. Retaining those existing features, the Lock Pro adds a few more for good measure, including a numeric keypad that sits on the outside, allowing residents (or any of your guests) to enter the house with a bespoke PIN code. Aside from the keypad, the SwitchBot Lock Pro sports a biometric sensor too, with a lightning-fast fingerprint recognition time of just 0.3 seconds. It can store up to 100 fingerprints and supports virtual passwords, emergency passwords, and fingerprints for enhanced security.

With up to 15 unlocking solutions available, including one-time passcodes, expiration passcodes, remote unlocking, voice unlocking, and Apple Watch unlocking, the SwitchBot Lock Pro offers a variety of usage methods that cater to pretty much all kinds of people whether they’re tech-savvy or tech-averse. Yes, you can still use your regular key, just in case you’re wondering! Support for Matter means your Lock Pro can also communicate with all your smart home devices, allowing you to remote lock/unlock your door or even set up routines (like automatically locking all doors after midnight). The Lock Pro, however, still requires the use of SwitchBot’s Hub to communicate via WiFi with other devices.

The SwitchBot Lock Pro runs on standard 4 x AA batteries, offering an impressive battery life of 6-9 months, 1.5 times longer than other retrofit smart locks. An optional SwitchBot Dual Power Pack offers an eco-friendly alternative to standard single-use batteries, with a rechargeable design and an ingenious relay power system that ensures uninterrupted use by letting you hot-swap one battery pack at a time while the Lock Pro runs solely on the second battery pack while one of them charges. Additionally, the Lock Pro features passive power supply unlocking, allowing access even if battery replacement is delayed.

Employing AES-128-CTR encryption at the software level, the Lock Pro provides robust protection against potential virtual threats. On the hardware front, the lock sports an auto-lock feature that utilizes a magnetic sensor, ensuring heightened safety and reliability by automatically securing the door based on its open/closed state, and surpassing the effectiveness of timer locks. Users can stay informed with real-time updates on lock and door statuses via their phones, and receive automatic reminders, ensuring peace of mind with every exit.

This isn’t SwitchBot’s first IoT rodeo – the company’s product roster features both standard as well as creative IoT devices like their award-winning curtain-opening robot, the button-pusher that turns regular switches into smart ones, and the Meter – a temperature and humidity sensor that lets you ensure every room in your house is at the right environment setting. The Lock Pro is a perfect addition to SwitchBot’s ecosystem, advancing their existing Lock product with newer features and more unlocking methods including keypad and fingerprint-based input. Whether you’re a family seeking convenience and security, an Airbnb host managing guest access, a fitness enthusiast with hands full of groceries, or a smart home aficionado seeking seamless integration, the SwitchBot Lock Pro offers a tailored solution. From fingerprint unlocking for family members to remote guest access for hosts, quick access for post-workout arrivals, and automated routines for smart home enthusiasts, the Lock Pro quite literally ‘unlocks’ a whole world of possibilities!

Click Here to Buy Now: $89.99 $119.99 (Use Coupon Code on the Site to get $30 off). Hurry, deal ends soon!

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Fashionable Designer Earplugs that Prioritize Style and Hearing Protection

Noise is a constant companion no matter where we go, and it poses a potential threat to our hearing whether we are conscious of it or not. We encounter potentially harmful sounds in various scenarios, from roaring cheers at concerts and live music events to the loud hum of machines at construction sites. Everyday activities like air travel or a day at work in a busy office or factory can pose a risk to our hearing health, while internal tranquility can be disrupted by noise during study sessions, nights spent beside a snoring partner, or leisure activities such as attending motorsport events or visiting shooting ranges. Amid all these scenarios, ear protection becomes a crucial health necessity. JING Earplugs presents a groundbreaking solution, blending style and utility in this context.

Designer: Carol Chen

Click Here to Buy Now: $32 $40 (20% off). Hurry! Only a few days left!

These designer earplugs double as fashionable earrings, revolutionizing our perception of personal audio protection. They seamlessly blend sound reduction capabilities, effectively reducing noise by up to 28 decibels (NRR 14), with aesthetic appeal. Unwanted noise is effectively blocked without sacrificing style. Meeting the modern need for noise reduction without compromising on fashion, JING Earplugs transform ear protection from a functional necessity to a fashionable accessory. They provide significant protection in noisy environments while still allowing for the enjoyment of the ambiance.

Interchangeable Gemstones

JING’s earplugs, designed by an award-winning fashion designer, feature interchangeable gemstones. This allows users to tailor their look based on their outfit, mood, or occasion. Made from high-quality, flexible silicone, the earplugs effectively block out unwanted noise while ensuring comfort and durability for prolonged wear. The ear tips are available in three sizes to best fit each individual’s unique ear canal shape. Additionally, the ear tips are washable and reusable, adding to their sustainability.

Hearing loss is a growing concern, with around 466 million people, or 5% of the world’s population, experiencing disabling hearing loss. It can occur at any age but is most common in those over 60. Exposure to excessive noise is one of the leading causes, underscoring the importance of ear protection for all ages. As a passionate advocate for hearing health, I strongly champion the use of ear protection to preserve our hearing and improve our quality of life.

The need for adequate ear protection grows as the world becomes increasingly noisy. JING Earplugs offer a stylish and practical solution to this issue. Their innovation lies in their design and function, reducing noise without compromising style and comfort. With the rising concern of hearing loss, it’s crucial to prioritize our hearing health. Products like JING Earplugs serve as effective protective gear and challenge the conventional perception of ear protection, making it a fashionable accessory. There are two color options available: Midnight Black and Glacier White. For enhanced portability, it comes with a protective carrying case, which makes it easy to carry and use as needed.

Click Here to Buy Now: $32 $40 (20% off). Hurry! Only a few days left!

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Meet the wall-mounted modular organizing system that’s even more flexible than IKEA’s pegboards

There was a Seinfeld episode from back in the day where Jerry’s date (a wardrobe designer) proposed a radical idea for Jerry’s closet. Instead of shelves and rods, what if the entire closet was just hooks? Hundreds of hooks everywhere for you to hang all your clothes on – a radical concept when it comes to fashion, but practically speaking, just a wardrobe version of the popular pegboard. Pegboards gained popularity in the DIY community for people who wanted to mount their workshop tools on one vertical surface, having them accessible just when you needed them. The clever idea soon was converted into something more home-friendly by IKEA with their own version, named SKÅDIS. However, IKEA’s pegboard still had limitations – you could only use products from the IKEA ecosystem with the SKÅDIS, but moreover, the SKÅDIS wasn’t designed for every possible use-case. That’s where Wallwerx comes in. Wallwerks presents a pegboard-based system that can be used for pretty much everything, from holding workshop tools to jars of M&Ms. It’s modular, flexible, easy to use, and the best part, you don’t even need a pegboard – the Wallwerx attachments can even mount right into any wall. Use it in your kitchen, garage, living room, study, or even in the bathroom – if you need vertical storage, Wallwerx pretty much has you covered.

Designer: Mark Zalme

Click Here to Buy Now: $69 $119 ($50 off). Hurry, only 12/20 left!

Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast, a crafting maven, a culinary whiz, or a gaming aficionado, Wallwerx seamlessly integrates into your space. It was created by Mark Zalme, a DIY aficionado who found himself getting increasingly frustrated with not having his tools accessible while working in his garage. Realizing that pegboards were great but had their limitations, Zalme designed Wallwerx, a series of pegboard-compatible attachments designed to hold pretty much every object under the sun. What’s more? Unlike traditional pegboard attachments, the Wallwerx system is strong and secure, ensuring items stay put, yet can be easily relocated if desired. The best part, they worked with standard pegboards, but even if you didn’t have one, you could simply attach Wallwerx to any regular wall or drywall. Wallwerx brought a certain Seinfeld-level radical thinking to all types of storage, allowing you to turn practically any vertical surface into a storage area.

From the pantry + kitchen…

To the workspace!

Use it in your gameroom.

And your creative space.

Wallwerx can be split into its two crucial parts – a baseplate that plugs onto pegboards or attaches onto walls, and a series of attachments that mount onto the baseplate, giving you hooks/hangers/clips to store practically anything you need. Installing Wallwerx is a breeze, requiring just two simple steps. Attach the baseplate to your desired surface, twist on your preferred attachments, and voilà – your personalized organization system is ready to go. The Wallwerx baseplate is a cleverly designed little gizmo that plugs into standard pegboards, but even has the option of being drilled into concrete walls or drywalls. Once the baseplate’s been installed, simply twist on or off the attachment of your choice.

*Pegboard not required for assembly. Baseplates can be drilled into any wall or door. Just twist and remove the attachment, then relocate it to any baseplate.

The attachments are where Wallwerx’s flexibility gets put on display. Most traditional pegboards only let you hook stuff onto the pegboard’s perforations. Wallwerx comes with a series of storage attachments that make it perfect for the garage, workshop, closet, or even the kitchen. Hooks let you hang or rest objects, while looped holders give you the ability to secure other items. Wallwerx also offers a set of clips that let you plug in 4oz, 8oz, and 16oz jars, allowing you to store food like dry pasta/candy/spices, stationery like pencils/pens or tiny bits and bobs like screws/dowels/bolts. This flexibility makes Wallwerx perfect for pretty much any kind of room… and the fact that you can simply unplug an attachment means endless upgradability, modularity, and flexibility.

Wallwerx is designed and manufactured in the US using high-strength plastic that’s durable enough to hold all sorts of equipment. Given that pegboards are most commonly found in garages and workshops, the plastic baseplate and attachments are designed to be sturdy, secure, and failproof. They’re also easy to clean, making them perfect for greasy garages or even kitchens where things can get a tad messy sometimes. Designed for a variety of uses, Wallwerx is conveniently bundled in different kits, and can be customized with à la carte attachments. The Home Kit, featuring 168 different elements, is perfect for organizing a workbench or craft table. The Werxshop kit, with 256 pieces, is ideal for bringing order to your garage or entire craft room. You can even grab yourself a metal pegboard, just in case IKEA’s plastic pegboards aren’t your style.

Click Here to Buy Now: $69 $119 ($50 off). Hurry, only 12/20 left!

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A Groundbreaking 5-Driver Wireless Earbuds is Sweet Music to Your Ears

Wireless earbuds generally have no more than one driver, and it might be safe to assume that the TE-ZX1, featuring five drivers, is among the highest, if not the highest, number of drivers currently available in wireless earbuds. Having more drivers can enhance sound quality by allowing for more precise sound separation and clarity across different frequencies. According to the company’s recent update, this project is already in the mass-production stage.

If you’re an audiophile like me, you’ll appreciate the analog technology used in custom in-ear monitors (IEM). Their entry model typically starts with a 3-driver setup, designed to deliver balanced sound with a dedicated driver for lows, mids, and highs. On the high end, they offer a model with 12 drivers per ear – yes, 12! Considering this, the introduction of wireless earbuds with 5 drivers in each ear, priced under $300, is a game changer.

Designer: AVIOT

Click Here to Buy Now: $251 $335 (25% off). Hurry, only 31/100 left! Less than 72 hours to go.

The newly developed system is known as the “Tribrid 5-Driver”. It includes a planar magnetic driver, three balanced armature drivers, and one dynamic driver. Planar Magnetic Drivers, Balanced Armature Drivers, and Dynamic Drivers each uniquely contribute to the audio quality. First, the Planar Magnetic Driver is known to produce superior sound quality, by utilizing a thin, lightweight diaphragm that’s able to cover a large surface area to deliver clear, detailed sound and excellent response times. The diaphragm’s size and thinness allow it to produce sound evenly across the frequency spectrum, contributing to a smoother, more natural sound.

Enjoy Wireless High-Resolution Audio with LDAC

Second, the three Balanced Armature Drivers are smaller and more efficient than other types. Due to their size, they are often used in in-ear headphones. These drivers can be tuned to specific frequencies, making them ideal for producing high-frequency sounds with precision. Multiple balanced armature drivers can be combined in a single earphone to cover a wide range of frequencies.

Lastly, the Dynamic Driver in the TE-ZX1 earbuds is 10mm in diameter, which contributes to superior sound quality and realistic low frequency. Dynamic drivers are known for their ability to produce strong, impactful bass and handle a wide frequency range. A significant advantage of dynamic drivers is their ability to handle a lot of power without distortion, which contributes to a louder, more powerful sound.

When working together, these three types of drivers should deliver dynamic and expansive sound quality across the frequency range, thanks to their complementary characteristics. I’m a big fan of in-ear-monitor (IEM) earphones, mainly because of the near-custom fit they offer. They provide a more enjoyable listening experience during long flights, extended office hours, or lengthy hiking trips. The high-speed combat ship “Swordfish II” from the hit anime series ‘Cowboy Bebop’ inspires the design, presenting a balanced yet high-tech and cutting-edge feel. When a product’s weight is distributed throughout the entire device, particularly something that sits in a compact space like your ear, it needs to feel balanced. This balance is what the designer has strived to achieve. The semi-hard case housing the earbuds is well-designed and features an integrated recharge function, providing up to 20 extra hours of listening enjoyment. The earbuds alone offer up to 8 hours of playtime and require only a 10-minute charge to gain another 60 minutes.

Regarding listening pleasure, having high-end drivers alone won’t guarantee rich sound quality without LDAC technology. Meanwhile, thanks to the 5 drivers, the use of a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) has been meticulously minimized By using LDAC – an audio coding technology developed by Sony that enables the transmission of High-Resolution (Hi-Res) Audio content, even over a Bluetooth connection. Unlike other Bluetooth-compatible coding technologies, such as SBC, it operates without down-converting the Hi-Res Audio content and allows approximately three times more data than those other technologies to be transmitted over a Bluetooth wireless network. This results in enhanced sound quality, more detailed and nuanced audio reproduction, and an overall superior listening experience.

Click Here to Buy Now: $251 $335 (25% off). Hurry, only 31/100 left! Less than 72 hours to go.

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Hilarious-looking Bicycle Helmet Gives You Bullet-like Aerodynamics… But Is It Worth it??

“When you see how fast it is, you won’t laugh anymore,” says Jonas Vingegaard, who can be seen adorning the Aerohead II helmet. However, those gains in speed do have a trade-off… you end up looking as if someone designed a Daft Punk helmet for unicorns. And that’s me being very charitable.

Professional cycling, much like any competitive sport, is a constant dance between innovation and tradition. While aesthetics often hold a certain allure, function reigns supreme, which is why we have that viral video of a man who lays down stomach-first on his bicycle and cruises past all his opponents. Here, every component, from the frame and wheels to the rider’s clothing and even posture, is meticulously optimized to shave off precious seconds in the pursuit of victory. Helmets, however, have traditionally occupied a somewhat unique space, balancing safety with aerodynamics and maintaining a familiar, rounded form. The Aerohead II, however, pushes the limits of aerodynamics so far, that it’s worth discussing on a design blog. The one-of-a-kind design focuses solely on reducing wind resistance and redefines the future of time trial helmets.

Designers: Giro and Team Visma

Developed in collaboration with the Dutch racing team Team Visma/Lease a Bike, the Aerohead II looks like it materialized from a futuristic vision board. The most striking feature is the undeniably unconventional, long, wedge-shaped “nose cone” (yeah sure) that extends far ahead of the rider’s head. This design choice, coupled with a tapered tail section, aims to create a smooth, aerodynamic profile, minimizing the drag caused by the rider’s head and neck.

While the helmet’s appearance might bewilder some and inspire some nasty memes, its purpose is undeniable. Time trials are races against the clock, where even the slightest reduction in drag can translate to significant time savings. Unlike traditional helmets designed for everyday riding or commuting, the Aerohead II prioritizes pure speed, making it a specialist tool specifically crafted for the unique demands of time trialing.

It’s worth noting that the Aerohead II isn’t the first foray into aerodynamic headwear for cyclists. Back in 1986, Giro’s original Aerohead, designed for cyclist Greg LeMond, helped him secure victory in the Tour de France. However, the Aerohead II takes things a step further, adopting a more extreme design and incorporating a wider, wraparound visor for improved visibility when the rider is in the low, tucked position crucial for optimal aerodynamics.

The helmet has already undergone extensive testing and made its competitive debut in the opening time trial of the prestigious Tirreno-Adriatico race in Italy. While some riders might have been initially surprised by the unconventional design, Team Visma/Lease a Bike’s head of performance, Mathieu Heijboer, reports that the focus on performance quickly won them over. Heijboer states, “The riders did look up a bit when they first saw the helmet, but in the end that didn’t last long. After a few tests and seeing the gains, everyone was quickly convinced.”

Beyond its immediate impact on the world of professional cycling, the Aerohead II also raises interesting questions about the future of helmet design in general. Could similar aerodynamic principles be incorporated into everyday cycling helmets, offering marginal gains for recreational riders? Or will the focus on pure speed remain exclusive to the high-performance realm of time trialing? Only time will tell, but until then, let’s spend some more time figuring out how to design this helmet so that it makes its wearer look less like a phallus-head?

The post Hilarious-looking Bicycle Helmet Gives You Bullet-like Aerodynamics… But Is It Worth it?? first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Portable Body Composition Tracker Revolutionizes Fitness and Health Monitoring

A portable body composition tracker offers detailed health insights anywhere and anytime. The third-generation Fitrus Plus 3.0 retains its portability while introducing numerous upgrades, making it a versatile health companion accessible whenever and wherever needed. It measures body fat, skeletal muscle mass, body mass index (BMI), basal metabolic rate (BMR), heart rate, and body water all at once. This tracker aids in setting attainable fitness goals and tracking progress, which helps maintain motivation and improve health outcomes. Tracking your body’s reactions is crucial for individuals following specific fitness or diet plans. With its portability, the Fitrus Plus 3.0 easily incorporates health monitoring into daily routines, thanks to the additional features of the third generation.

Designer: ONESOFTDIGM CO., LTD.

Click Here to Buy Now: $149 $249 ($100 off). Hurry, only a few left! Raised over $80,000.

Over 15+ Types of Body Data Analysis

These data are obtained from a physical tracker combined with intelligent software. The new Fitrus Plus 3.0 features a significant improvement in battery life, extending from 4-5 days on the Fitrus Plus 2.0 to 20 days. The charging port has been upgraded from Micro 5-pin to USB Type-C. A full charge takes 3 hours. The device features a 1.3” OLED display with a resolution of 128 x 64 pixels. This makes it easy to read data such as body composition, skin temperature, object temperature, heart rate, stress index, and battery life.

Hold the four electrodes with your thumbs and index fingers, stretch your arms forward. Keeping your elbows straight, and avoid touching your hands together. Wait until the results appears!

The new design is as smooth and user-friendly as the software that powers it. The updated health tracking functions, including protein, mineral, and swelling indexes, make the upgrade from the previous generation worthwhile. These additions allow for a more comprehensive health analysis. Gaining insights into your body’s changes is valuable. However, further benefits can be derived, such as receiving personalized health recommendations for meal plans and workout routines. These are based on the collected and analyzed data. As our bodies change over time, whether we notice it or not, these personalized recommendations continue to adapt, enabling you to achieve your best self.

Like the temperature sensor in the Google Pixel 8, an IR sensor can be used to measure skin temperature without contact. It instantly displays the temperature on the OLED screen, eliminating the need for a smartphone. This device is especially useful for parents with young children, as it can also measure the temperature of soup or milk to prevent burns. Measuring 4.96 inches long, 0.54 inches thick, and 1.34 inches wide, and weighing just 1.41 ounces, the Fitrus Plus 3.0 champions portability. Using the Fitrus is straightforward – hold the four electrodes with your thumbs and index fingers, then extend your arms forward. Ensure your elbows are straight and your hands are not touching. Maintain a straight posture and the results will display. The device automatically turns off after taking the measurement, which adds convenience as you don’t need to turn it off manually.

The Fitrus Plus 3.0 revolutionizes personal health tracking by combining portability with a rich array of health metrics, making it an essential tool for anyone committed to maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. Its extended 20-day battery life, user-friendly USB Type-C charging, and clear OLED display ensure that users can access detailed insights into their body composition, heart rate, and more anytime and anywhere. With its enhanced features and the ability to provide personalized health recommendations, the Fitrus Plus 3.0 not only tracks health data but also helps users achieve their fitness goals with greater precision and motivation.

The Fitrus Plus 3.0 requires no subscriptions or additional payments. The application for iOS and Android is free, and the company has stated that they have no plans to implement a subscription fee in the future.

Click Here to Buy Now: $149 $249 ($100 off). Hurry, only a few left! Raised over $80,000.

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This WALL-E-inspired tabletop robot has artificial intelligence and a friendly personality

If we’re going to give in to our eventual robot overlords, my only hope is that they’re as adorable-looking as Doly.

With its googly eyes and treadmill-operated motion system, Doly instantly reminds me of Pixar’s WALL-E. Designed as a robot companion with high emotional intelligence, and the ability to respond to requests, evoke joy, and even serve as a learning tool, Doly combines an open-source build with AI capabilities. The result is remarkably better than the tabletop toys you’re used to expecting. Doly is smart, sensitive, and self-sufficient, as it moves around from A to B, enriches you with interactions and those adorable eyes, and then makes its way back to its charging station when it’s low on batteries.

Designer: Levent Erenler – Limitbit Inc.

Click Here to Buy Now: $299 $449 ($150 off). Hurry, only 4/325 left! Raised over $190,000.

On the design front, the Doly adopts a familiar form factor, mimicking the success of WALL-E and even the Vector robot by Anki. It stands at just 68mm (2.67 inches) tall, but has a personality that’s larger than life. Nearly half that height can be attributed to Doly’s massive eyes that give it its distinct cartoonish character that instantly makes you fall in love with the robot. The eyes can look in different directions, respond to stimuli, express emotions, and can even be replaced by imagery like weather status, a clock, or a timer. Depending on Doly’s mood, or how it reacts to your commands, the eyes do most of the speaking… while voice models allow Doly to speak in any tone of your choice too.

Doly accepts touch and voice inputs, through strategically located microphones and capacitive touch surfaces located on its body. You can tap its head, pet it, tickle it, and Doly emotes exactly how you’d expect a pet to. Talk to it too, and its built-in AI responds intelligently to your queries and commands, letting you set timers, know the weather, take a photo, etc. The robot has natural language understanding, and packs an 8MP camera that lets it see the world around it, identify humans, and even recognize familiar faces. Treads on both sides allow Doly to move around too, shifting forward, backward, and even making turns, while ToF sensors on the front allow it to sense depth, and four strategically placed edge-detection sensors prevent your robot from accidentally driving off surfaces like the stairs or a tabletop (Amazon’s Astro could pick up a few lessons from Doly)

On the inside, Doly runs on a Raspberry Pi board that drives its systems and even powers the AI functions. The robot is built on open-source approach with open-hardware and open-design, allowing you to mod or customize your robot in a variety of ways through I/O ports or even by adding quirky attachments to the robot’s magnetic hands. The hands themselves are an interactive dream to begin with, allowing you fistbump your Doly , or even have it grab things, with lights inside the arms adding a rich layer of interact-ability. I/O ports on the top let you build attachments for your Doly, transforming it in a variety of ways and helping you learn robotics too.

8 MP camera allows Doly to memorize and recognize people with their names, take high quality snapshots and many more.

Doly communicates and responds you back with his own voice when you ask about the weather forecast, time, your name and many more.

To that end, Doly’s much more advanced than most other STEM toys out there. It grows with you, learning and evolving to understand you, your mannerisms, needs, etc. so that no two Doly robots are alike after multiple months/years of usage. Moreover, the robot itself encourages people of all ages to learn coding, with support for languages like C, C++, and Python that let you program your robot, and even much more intuitive block-based coding apps like Google’s own Blockly that help children grasp the basics of programming through the robot toy.

Doly relies on cameras to analyze its surroundings and recognize faces, and built-in microphones to pick up on voice commands – that’s a fair amount of data that your toy robot gathers on a daily basis (sort of like your smart camera and smart speaker combined). Coupled with the fact that Doly has a built-in AI that learns from you (which means it does gather data for machine learning purposes), data privacy can be a pretty large concern. To ensure that your data stays safe and away from hackers, governments, and data-brokers who sell data to third parties, Doly stores and processes all its information locally, oftentimes even working offline. Embedded processing power and local storage ensure that your data never reaches any remote server where it can be compromised by targeted hacks.

Other than that, each Doly comes with an app that lets you access specific features like managing settings or performing graphical programming (Doly’s creators emphasize that you don’t NEED an app to use your robot). The creators do, however, mention that the robot can be customized to wild degrees, with even the ability to swap out the Raspberry Pi module on the inside with better CM4 boards that have better RAM and storage. The Doly robot starts at $269 for a DIY kit that lets you build your own robot from scratch, or $299 for a fully assembled bionic buddy. Limitbit, the creators behind Doly, promise free lifetime over-the-air (OTA) software updates to ensure the robot is always up to date with the latest features, and are apparently even working on ChatGPT integration to make your tiny robotic friend even smarter! Just promise that you won’t turn it against humanity!

Click Here to Buy Now: $299 $449 ($150 off). Hurry, only 4/325 left! Raised over $190,000.

The post This WALL-E-inspired tabletop robot has artificial intelligence and a friendly personality first appeared on Yanko Design.

This WALL-E-inspired tabletop robot has artificial intelligence and a friendly personality

If we’re going to give in to our eventual robot overlords, my only hope is that they’re as adorable-looking as Doly.

With its googly eyes and treadmill-operated motion system, Doly instantly reminds me of Pixar’s WALL-E. Designed as a robot companion with high emotional intelligence, and the ability to respond to requests, evoke joy, and even serve as a learning tool, Doly combines an open-source build with AI capabilities. The result is remarkably better than the tabletop toys you’re used to expecting. Doly is smart, sensitive, and self-sufficient, as it moves around from A to B, enriches you with interactions and those adorable eyes, and then makes its way back to its charging station when it’s low on batteries.

Designer: Levent Erenler – Limitbit Inc.

Click Here to Buy Now: $299 $449 ($150 off). Hurry, only 4/325 left! Raised over $190,000.

On the design front, the Doly adopts a familiar form factor, mimicking the success of WALL-E and even the Vector robot by Anki. It stands at just 68mm (2.67 inches) tall, but has a personality that’s larger than life. Nearly half that height can be attributed to Doly’s massive eyes that give it its distinct cartoonish character that instantly makes you fall in love with the robot. The eyes can look in different directions, respond to stimuli, express emotions, and can even be replaced by imagery like weather status, a clock, or a timer. Depending on Doly’s mood, or how it reacts to your commands, the eyes do most of the speaking… while voice models allow Doly to speak in any tone of your choice too.

Doly accepts touch and voice inputs, through strategically located microphones and capacitive touch surfaces located on its body. You can tap its head, pet it, tickle it, and Doly emotes exactly how you’d expect a pet to. Talk to it too, and its built-in AI responds intelligently to your queries and commands, letting you set timers, know the weather, take a photo, etc. The robot has natural language understanding, and packs an 8MP camera that lets it see the world around it, identify humans, and even recognize familiar faces. Treads on both sides allow Doly to move around too, shifting forward, backward, and even making turns, while ToF sensors on the front allow it to sense depth, and four strategically placed edge-detection sensors prevent your robot from accidentally driving off surfaces like the stairs or a tabletop (Amazon’s Astro could pick up a few lessons from Doly)

On the inside, Doly runs on a Raspberry Pi board that drives its systems and even powers the AI functions. The robot is built on open-source approach with open-hardware and open-design, allowing you to mod or customize your robot in a variety of ways through I/O ports or even by adding quirky attachments to the robot’s magnetic hands. The hands themselves are an interactive dream to begin with, allowing you fistbump your Doly , or even have it grab things, with lights inside the arms adding a rich layer of interact-ability. I/O ports on the top let you build attachments for your Doly, transforming it in a variety of ways and helping you learn robotics too.

8 MP camera allows Doly to memorize and recognize people with their names, take high quality snapshots and many more.

Doly communicates and responds you back with his own voice when you ask about the weather forecast, time, your name and many more.

To that end, Doly’s much more advanced than most other STEM toys out there. It grows with you, learning and evolving to understand you, your mannerisms, needs, etc. so that no two Doly robots are alike after multiple months/years of usage. Moreover, the robot itself encourages people of all ages to learn coding, with support for languages like C, C++, and Python that let you program your robot, and even much more intuitive block-based coding apps like Google’s own Blockly that help children grasp the basics of programming through the robot toy.

Doly relies on cameras to analyze its surroundings and recognize faces, and built-in microphones to pick up on voice commands – that’s a fair amount of data that your toy robot gathers on a daily basis (sort of like your smart camera and smart speaker combined). Coupled with the fact that Doly has a built-in AI that learns from you (which means it does gather data for machine learning purposes), data privacy can be a pretty large concern. To ensure that your data stays safe and away from hackers, governments, and data-brokers who sell data to third parties, Doly stores and processes all its information locally, oftentimes even working offline. Embedded processing power and local storage ensure that your data never reaches any remote server where it can be compromised by targeted hacks.

Other than that, each Doly comes with an app that lets you access specific features like managing settings or performing graphical programming (Doly’s creators emphasize that you don’t NEED an app to use your robot). The creators do, however, mention that the robot can be customized to wild degrees, with even the ability to swap out the Raspberry Pi module on the inside with better CM4 boards that have better RAM and storage. The Doly robot starts at $269 for a DIY kit that lets you build your own robot from scratch, or $299 for a fully assembled bionic buddy. Limitbit, the creators behind Doly, promise free lifetime over-the-air (OTA) software updates to ensure the robot is always up to date with the latest features, and are apparently even working on ChatGPT integration to make your tiny robotic friend even smarter! Just promise that you won’t turn it against humanity!

Click Here to Buy Now: $299 $449 ($150 off). Hurry, only 4/325 left! Raised over $190,000.

The post This WALL-E-inspired tabletop robot has artificial intelligence and a friendly personality first appeared on Yanko Design.

Revolutionizing Coffee Brewing with Centrifugal Extraction and Precision Control Technology

The term “revolutionary” is often overused whenever a new product is announced. However, it’s rare for a product to live up to such a label truly. One that does is the iPhone, and the reasons for this are well-known. The coffee brewing machine industry is a significant global market. In 2020, it was valued at approximately $6.36 billion and is projected to grow annually by 7% from 2021 to 2028. The Keurig coffee maker is the most popular machine so far, and it is known for its convenience and wide variety of flavors. But if you desire more than a quick cup of coffee or yearn for a variety of flavors that extend beyond a pod, the KUKU Maker is for you. It’s a revolutionary machine that combines high-tech brewing and extraction features with the satisfying experience of old-school hand-poured coffee. Let’s delve into the details, making it the most innovative coffee maker ever.

Designer: Chris Chan

Click Here to Buy Now: $599 $1,399 ($800 off). Hurry, only 3 days left! Raised over $900,000.

The KUKU Maker allows for customized extraction parameters, giving you complete control of the extraction pressure, temperature, grind fineness, and extraction time. The outcome for traditionalists ensures their needs are met if not exceeded. Still, modern coffee brewers can’t even come close to achieving this for the adventurist looking to boldly brew into new territories.

KUKU Maker uses centrifugal force to generate pressure, which makes it possible to maintain a stable extraction pressure throughout the extraction process, regardless of the state of other parameters.

Streamlining the coffee-making process and brewing great tasting coffee is what the KUKU Maker does best. You no longer have to manually prepare the coffee puck or invest in extra resources for even water flow through the coffee grounds. This is due to the machine’s use of centrifugal force to distribute the coffee powder along the funnel’s wall. There’s an open water chamber and a funnel for coffee powder, which can be removed. The funnel rotates at high speed, pulling water from the chamber into the funnel. This creates pressure through centrifugal force. During brewing, the water rises into the funnel from the high-speed rotation, passing through the coffee powder evenly due to centrifugal force. This automation removes the need for manual tasks like tamping down the coffee grounds, preventing issues such as channeling, and ensuring a more consistent coffee extraction process.

You have the flexibility to use ice water or room temperature water directly for extraction, or you can employ KUKU Maker to swiftly heat room temperature water to your desired temperature before initiating the extraction process.

The size of the coffee grinds plays a vital role in the coffee-making process as it affects the amount of time the water interacts with the coffee grounds, ultimately impacting the brew’s flavor. For instance, coarser grinds are best suited for methods requiring longer extraction time, such as the French press or cold brew. The larger particle size allows the water to extract the coffee slowly over several minutes, resulting in a well-balanced and flavorful brew. On the other hand, a finer grind is ideal for an espresso or a Moka pot, where the water passes through the coffee quickly under high pressure. This rapid extraction process requires smaller coffee particles to ensure that the water can extract the coffee’s flavors efficiently. With the KUKU Maker, you can effortlessly adjust the grind size to match your preferred brewing method and taste preference.

Another way to assert your control over how your coffee tastes is to customize the size of the coffee grinds from very fine to very coarse. You can adjust each setting separately, so changing one won’t affect the others. Varying the temperature and pressure settings allows you to experiment with the grind size to bring out different flavors in your coffee. So, even if you don’t get the grind size right, you still have a tasty cup of coffee and experience new flavors.

Room Temperature Espresso

Between the tangy and sweet extremes, there’s a world of flavors to explore, such as floral, nutty, or earthy notes. The ability to adjust multiple parameters with the KUKU Maker opens up a world of possibilities, letting you craft a coffee experience that is uniquely yours. These flavors are improved by a brushless motor and intelligent software that control the extraction pressure. The pressure can be altered simply by adjusting the motor speed. Furthermore, you can select the desired rotations per minute (RPM) during extraction, ranging from 3000 to 7000 RPM. The motor will immediately adjust its speed to match your selection.

The KUKU Maker is a multifunctional coffee device that can quickly make not only cold-brew coffee but also cold-brew espresso.

The temperature of coffee extraction affects its flavor and aroma. Cold brew coffee is made using lower temperatures and longer extraction times. It is prepared by immersing ground coffee in cold water for 12 to 24 hours. KUKU Maker can make a cold brew in just two minutes using ice water. Alternatively, you can use room-temperature water for extraction or heat the water to your preferred temperature using electromagnetic induction heating technology. This advanced method allows you to brew the perfect espresso in under 50 seconds with 60 ml of water. If you prefer an Americano, heating 300 ml of water takes about 4 minutes.

The KUKU Maker offers a unique way to control the strength of your coffee. Using cyclic extraction, you can adjust the water flow through the coffee powder to personalize your coffee experience. This machine provides flexibility for adjusting the concentration of your coffee grounds, allowing you to brew a perfect cup to suit your taste. Cleaning the KUKU Maker is a straightforward process. Start by pouring about 100ml of water into the water chamber. Set a cup on the drip tray to collect the rinse water. Activate the machine’s toggle or select the clean button on the KUKU Maker APP to start the auto-cleaning mode. Within 20 seconds, any lingering stains will be rinsed out through the spout. Your KUKU Maker is now clean and ready for your next coffee brewing session.

Unlike traditional espresso machines, the KUKU Maker is easy to maintain. Conventional machines often require frequent cleaning and part replacements, particularly the brewing head, which is crucial for coffee extraction. Over time, you might need to replace small parts like the rubber ring to avoid clogging and potential taste issues. Cleaning out the Coffee grounds is relatively quick and simple since they’re only contained in the removable powder funnel, not the water chamber. Its minimalistic design, featuring only a coffee dispensing spout, reduces the chances of breakdowns. Therefore, it requires less upkeep than traditional coffee makers. Its body is made from corrosion-resistant, food-grade stainless steel and aluminum alloy, and it is IP65-rated to protect its electronic components from damage in humid environments. The machine also features a multiple Hall sensor solution with sealed Hall switches for durability. Additionally, it has a hidden display to reveal information during operation, designed to prevent damage from humidity or impact.

Click Here to Buy Now: $599 $1,399 ($800 off). Hurry, only 3 days left! Raised over $900,000.

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Remember Aerogel? This insulated outdoor jacket has an aerogel layer, giving you -40°F protection

Anyone who even vaguely remembers the late 2000s remembers Aerogel, the ‘wonder material’ that was 99% air, and had the incredible ability to insulate against high heat or cold because of its thermal absorption properties. Aerogel got all the press back in the day, but didn’t really see much consumer application because of how difficult it was to produce. Cut to the year 2024 and a Tokyo-based company has managed to find a fitting application for Aerogel. Meet SpacePeak, an outdoor jacket that sits on the bleeding edge of technology with its own aerogel insulation layer that can protect you in temperatures as extreme as -40°C (-40°F). What’s more, it has a 3-in-1 design with removable inner layers, allowing you to wear it in regular weather too, and it has over 20 pockets for all your EDC and essentials.

Designer: Tatsuya Dobashi

Click Here to Buy Now: $299 $479 ($180 off). Hurry, only 8/170 left! Raised over $115,000.

SpacePeak has perfected aerogel technology to retain the most heat from your body. From there, heat circulates throughout your whole jacket keeping you warm and dry even in the harshest conditions.

The SpacePeak comes with a two-part design that gives you 3 jackets in one. On the inside, it features a functional puffer jacket, insulated with Aerogel and a thermal layer that helps keep you warm and snug in pretty much any weather. The outer jacket is a waterproof wind-breaker with a hood that helps ensure you stay dry in the rain or during a blizzard. Wear them individually based on what the weather is, or combine them together to give you a jacket powerful enough to brave all the elements. The outer layer is rated 20,000mm waterproof and keeps you from succumbing to rain, storm, sleet, and snow, while the inner aerogel jacket helps build an impermeable barrier between your body temperature and outer temperature.

You can finally ditch your puffy jacket and start wearing something that keeps you warmer with less weight and fluff.

The jacket is rated to protect you in temperatures as low as -40°C (also -40°F), although lab tests show the SpacePeak can easily endure temperatures as low as -196°C (-320°F). While there’s really no place on Earth where humans would endure those temperatures, it’s good knowing that the jacket can handle pretty much the coldest weather possible without giving up. That being said, it’s worth noting that the aerogel doesn’t physically warm you – it creates a thermal barrier between the cold environment and your warm body, so you don’t lose any body heat to the cold outdoors.

Store your laptop or tablet in the back pocket to carry your valuables safely and efficiently.

Chances are that places that hit -40°C aren’t the kinds of places you want to be carrying massive backpacks to either, which is why the SpacePeak packs more than 20 pockets for pretty much all your gear. Strategically placed all across the jacket’s inner and outer surfaces, the SpacePeak has every slot imaginable, with large pockets big enough for iPads, protected pockets for gadgets like cameras and phones, waterproof pockets for bottles and food, and quick-access pockets for keys and money. The 20+ tactical pockets turn your jacket into a backpack of sorts, without all the bulkiness associated with backpacks. Your belongings are strategically placed across the jacket, making them A. accessible, but more importantly B. less likely to weigh your shoulders down because of the distributed weight. Besides, who wants to rummage through a backpack in sub-zero temperatures, right?!

The enhanced 20,000 mm waterproofing doesn’t just stop the rain from getting to you, Its waterproofing makes it wind resistant, and it easier to brush dirt, snow, mud and other muck off your jacket.

That being said, you’d expect a jacket with this laundry-list of features to be extremely bulky, but the implementation of aerogel allows the SpacePeak to be thinner and lighter than your average down jacket. Down (or feathers) works exactly like aerogel, using trapped air to create a thermal barrier – however, what down does with an inch of thickness, the Aerogel does with 1/10th the amount, giving you an extreme-weather jacket that doesn’t turn you into the Michelin man or a human marshmallow because of all that padding.

The aerogel used within the SpacePeak was developed by S. Kistler, a company founded after the American scientist and chemical engineer credited with inventing the material in the first place. The aerogel, despite being highly insulating, is breathable, durable, and will retain its thermal properties even after a 100 washes (even with regular use the jacket can probably use a wash once a year). The SpacePeak comes in 4 sizes, ranging from M to 4XL, with a starting price of $299 and global shipping – just in case you want your jacket dispatched to the Arctic Circle!

Click Here to Buy Now: $299 $479 ($180 off). Hurry, only 8/170 left! Raised over $115,000.

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