Author Archives: Gaurav Sood

Kimberley Kampers introduces rugged Kube camping trailer built for off-road expeditions in luxury

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We love introducing the Yanko community with campers that are built for downsized living on the road without compromising basic comforts and security. If luxury is also on offer it’s the cake with a red cherry on top when it comes to exploring unknown terrain. Kimberley Kampers has been doing this for the last three decades in the land down under, satisfying adventurers with their family-size camping trailers that look way ahead of their time.

Now, the Australian company has introduced the Kube, an off-road capable teardrop camper boasting a luxurious quotient for two people. It comes with an expandable pull-out kitchen, compact refrigerator, king-size bed and a chassis protected by underpinnings. Looking more like a concept design, the camper is available to buy for a starting price tag of $44,675.

Designer: Kimberley Kampers

The company calls it the Kube, but it is more rectangular-shaped than its namesake.  It has a round-nosed front for a spacious two-person layout, a flat roofline, and a vertical rear to comply with the size compliances. The 5.2-meter-long camper trailer is at its core a blend of Kruiser line’s smooth composite construction and the DNA of the closed Karavan model. Owners can tag this teardrop camper to their high-performance vehicles and head confidently to any inhospitable terrain. The absence of a tailgate galley means you have more interior space to fit a large bed. An overhead skylight and large windows on all sides give the owners 270-degree views when parked for the day.

As I said, luxury is not dry in here with a front cabin having a full-width console loaded with a mini bar, cubbies, drawers, top shelf surface, and a 85-L freezer. Standing upright for getting dressed/undressed is not a problem either, thanks to the floor space between the bed and console. Extra storage space is provided in the form of overhead cabinets wrapping around the bed section. There’s also space in the drawer below the bed foot.

Behind this section is the concealed slide-out kitchen that can be pulled out of the left rear corner. The sturdy stainless steel unit opens up in multiple directions to reveal the storage drawers, sink, dual-burner stove, compartments and prep area. Buyers can also opt for the stainless steel table that can be hooked to the kitchen unit. This whole section is positioned under the awning to dine in the shade if the sun is beating down or inclement weather conditions prevail.

The kitchen setup comes with a faucet fed by cold water and hot water from a Webasto diesel water heater. This very system feeds the shower too and users can opt for the shower/toilet tent as well. Essential fittings include a 200-Ah lithium battery, 120-L fresh water tank, and a 450-L UniPod front storage box. Optional fittings like the 70-L secondary fresh tank, heating, air conditioning, solar charging, and satellite internet prep can also fitted.

For now, Kimberley Kampers will be selling the Kube camping trailer in the country with plans to sell it in the US as well. They’ve now revealed any details but considering they have US distribution in place for other models, the Kube should be coming any time soon.

 

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Man with amputated fingers since childhood gets life changing 3D-printed Bionic fingers

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What technology is good if it is of no use to living souls? Meet Mo Ali, a 40-year-old from Brighton, West Sussex, who has just received the world’s first 3D-printed bionic fingers after toiling all his life with low confidence and major handicap in doing most tasks we would take for granted. He loved cycling right from his childhood when he unfortunately met with an accident in the kitchen, chopping off his fingers in a meat grinder. Not surprisingly, he was bullied by other kids due to this unfortunate disability.

He was always two steps behind others when it came to enjoying bicycle rides as he had to make unfruitful quick fixes like wearing a bike glove stuffed with tissues to have a better grip on the handlebar. Even worse, when he finally got a prosthetic hook operated by the force of the shoulder, prescribed by NHS as a glimmer of hope, things didn’t turn out as planned. The thing was heavy and uncomfortable, making it even more difficult to do the simplest of tasks. After only a day of use, he had to stop using it.

Designer: Open Bionics

It was a compromised life after that as Ali coped with the disability by simply hiding it. Now Bristol-based Open Bionics has employed their advanced 3D printing and scanning technology to develop a prosthetic hand with independently moving fingers, which they call the Hero Gauntlet. According to Ali now he’s able to walk down the road without feeling the need to hide.’ Gaining more confidence in the prosthetic, he now says, “With the Hero Gauntlet, once I have a grip on something I know it’s not going anywhere.”

Mo has experimented with countless options in the last 15 years but with no success or even the slightest hope for his situation. Now with the innovative partial hand prosthetic custom-made for him, life is far better. The team at Open Bionics made use of 3D scanning, printing and modeling technology to craft this partial artificial hand with fingers. According to the developers, the prosthetic will be available for people with limb differences soon. The firm even claims that this gauntlet can help revive the hand functionality of ones born without fingers.

According to co-founder, Samantha Payne, “It’s pure joy to see this piece of engineering have a positive physical and emotional impact on Mo’s life.” For us, it’s heartening to see a life-changing transition that technology has made possible. The world needs more of this!

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This fountain pen makes creation flow on the writing surface, comes with turbo ink filling mechanism

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Pens as a writing instrument have stood the test of time and they’ll be timeless accessories for eternity. Those who cherish the joy of writing down stuff with their fountain or rollerball pen always appreciate the idea of investing in a quality option. The unique writing experience these writing instruments offer is unmatchable, making them a must-have everyday carry.

If you also love keeping a fountain pen handy, the Submarine Collection by TaG will interest you. The submarine-shaped fountain pen edition is developed in collaboration with Hou Xin-Yong, a highly experienced calligrapher with over 2 decades of expertise, and Lee Tai-Ying, the founder of a fountain pen club in Taiwan.

Click Here to Buy Now: $100 $145 ($45 off) Hurry! Only 10 Days Left. Raised over $130,000

The heart of the solid brass fountain pen is its ink-filling mechanism which is second to none. Simply dip the pen’s tailormade black PVD stainless steel nib from Schmidt (you can also choose the gold-plated nib version) into the ink bottle and turn the knob at the top, it’s as easy as that. The weight balance of the writing instrument makes it a treat to use for long writing sessions and ensures natural movement of the hand across the paper. This is attributed to the anti-slip tapered fiber grooves around the pen for a secure grip and tactile dimension to the whole writing experience.

To make sure, there is no ink leakage like other conventional friction-free converter structures, the pen has an internal treaded structure between the converter and the pen’s outer shell. At the top of the writing instrument, the turbine-inspired cap element complements the streamlined design aesthetics of the pen. According to TaG, the fountain pen is crafted with precision as every detail right from “the choice of premium materials to the aesthetic appeal, has been thoroughly considered for a creation that is functionally and visually pleasing at the same time.”

If you are more oriented toward the rollerball pen option, the makers have a compelling option for you. The Submarine Rollerball Pen has the same sleek design and the signature turbo-filling mechanism. It comes with a Schmidt rollerball tip that moves on the writing surface like butter. Both these writing instruments are in a league of their own with massive crowdfunding already, surpassing the goal by a humongous margin. If you already fancy the idea of buying one you can pledge the fountain pen for $109 and the ballpoint pen for $100.

Click Here to Buy Now: $100 $145 ($45 off) Hurry! Only 10 Days Left. Raised over $130,000

Click Here to Buy Now: $100 $145 ($45 off) Hurry! Only 10 Days Left. Raised over $130,000

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Eye-popping Pagani Huayra R racing simulator matches the real thing in every little detail

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Sim racing is the best way to showcase your racing or gaming skills if you didn’t make the cut to the big league. Serious gamers always want to invest in a racing simulator that takes them one step closer to intense wheel-to-wheel action. Depending on what’s the final budget, these rigs can be anything from a desk-mounted setup costing $300, a chassis for a few thousand, or a full-blown motion simulator costing $50,000 upwards.

If you’ve got a stack of money to spare you can go to another level though, with a sim rig that professional racers opt for. Along the same lines, Pagani has unveiled their Huayra R Driving Simulator which is designed in collaboration with Racing Unleashed, who are known for building some of the best high-end racing simulators out there.

Designer: Pagani and Racing Unleashed

Attention to detail is the key in this racing sim as it took more than a year to finalize the creation process. This racing simulator crafted at Pagani’s facilities is made out of a single piece of aluminum and adorns carbon fiber used in the original Huayra R supercar. The car’s dynamics right from aerodynamics and handling to the sound of the naturally aspirated V12 engine are replicated to millimeter precision. The seat belts, pedals, seats and steering wheel are identical to the ones on the real car.  Wait there’s more… it also has air vents to release the brake and engine heat, making it one hell of a racing sim!

According to Franco Morsino, Vehicle Dynamics Lead at Pagani, “Our goal was to transcend the traditional boundaries of virtual driving, offering an unparalleled level of realism and immersion. This simulator is not just about the experience but also serves as a piece of art, reflecting the unique essence of Pagani’s design philosophy.” Pagini will only offer this racing sim to Pagani owners to test and compete with their powerful machines on FIA tracks in virtual reality. Taking realism to the next level, the sim can also be run in conjunction with a VR headset. Otherwise, the racer/gamer can opt to race on the single curved ultra-wide Samsung G9 monitor. Apart from the Huayra R, the simulator also gets the custom physics-focused version of the Assetto Corsa.

Pagani has not revealed any details about the pricing but given its level of realism and design uniqueness, it should very well run into a $100,000 (or more) price tag. On the hind side that’s way less than the track-only Pagani Huayra R costing $3 million.

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Designed after a serpent, the Craighill Sidewinder pocket knife is an eye-candy for the collector

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Some of us have an uncanny love for knives, and in them, foldable knives. Not many, but of course a few of these foldable knives are created to get the toughest job done, and then there are a few amid them that are crafted for the collectors. An eye-candy for the latter is the Sidewinder, which is also an impending workhorse from Craighill.

Born to a brand “rooted in curiosity, ingenuity, and satisfaction” designing knives that are “beautiful and intriguing,” the Sidewinder draws its name from a namesake serpent known for its characteristic sideways gait. The knife has a unique handle and opening mechanism that mimics the Sidewinder slithering smoothly on the sand.

Designer: Craighill

Crafted to disrupt the appearance and functioning of the traditional pocket knives, the Sidewinder is the idea of Craighill but it was designed in a years-long collaboration with Chen Chen and Kai Williams. The outcome is a knife with little focus on functioning and longevity and more on style and substance, which may not make it the best option as an EDC for the outdoor, but would be a perfect conversation starter.

The opening mechanism that is high on ingenuity is easy to open with one hand. The handle is made in a two-piece hinge – one comprises stone-washed finish and the other has black PVD-coated stainless steel – that moves like the Sidewalker over to separate and join when the knife is opened and closed respectively.

The Sidewalker knife weighs 5.6 ounces to let you feel slight heft in the hand or your pocket. The knife measures 2.5 inches long; it has a fine tip and deep belly for everyday usage. But it’s the interlocking opening and closing mechanism that makes the biggest and most defining highlight of the knife. The interesting thing also is that even though the foldable knife is highly portable, it will make a great décor item on the desk or shelf where it is going to attract everyone.

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Land Cruiser-based Infanta 4×4 Inkunzi camper takes off-roading fun to the extreme

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Based on the Toyota Land Cruiser chassis, the Infanta 4×4 Inkunzi camper is a South African camper cruiser designed for off-grid living with an impressive design to showcase. It looks like a random ride on the unbeaten paths when closed, but the moment you open its wings (slides and pullouts) you have a camper most delightful to see and use.

For the love of adventurers at the park or campsite, the Inkunzi, which translates to bull in Zolo, is fitted with an electric pop-up roof and has big windows in canvas covers to keep the interior both airy and fresh. The roof lifts at the push of a button, while the passenger side of the camper has five hatches, one of which houses the kitchen and the other the bed.

Designer: Infanta 4X4

The Infanta 4×4 Inkunzi camper cruiser is designed to share the “same personality traits of a bull,” from where it gets its name. “Stubborn, strong-willed” in equal measures; the camper, molded from composite aerospace pre-impregnated fiber, weighs 644 kg when packed with all the accessories, and has a body measuring 9.8-foot-long. With all the versatile sliding and folding antics, the Inkunzi is effortless to setup, and takes only two minutes

The space within the camper is more focused on space utilization while all the things like the shower, kitchen and even the bedroom are designed to open outwards. The bed is placed in the front bedroom cabin that slides out from the main body and is provided with a headboard and storage cubies. Infanta uses the standing height space on the entry for dressing, while its slide-out kitchen on the passenger side spans almost the entire length of the camper.

Situated directly behind the cabin area, the fold-down kitchen has a two-stove burner, dishware, cookware, and utensils. Other kitchen compartments feature a 90-L fridge, shelves for storage, a collapsible basin, and a second worktop. An outdoor shower enclosed by drop-down curtains draws water from an onboard 120-L water tank connected to a 220V water heater.

Since the stout Inkunzi is made for off-roading, it comes with a 105-Ah battery, Victron charger and battery monitor, and an option to include an inverter and solar panels. The camper starts at R524 000, roughly $28,000 (without the truck), and has the option to add a 270-degree awning for additional usable outdoor space.

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This desk comes with a rollable OLED screen, haptic touchscreen and built-in speakers

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When I first laid my eyes on the LG Signature rollable TV, I knew it was going to be the future of modern living rooms. The idea of a rollable display is practicality at its best, and can have so many applications. One of them could be in the form of a smart desk with an in-built display that hides from plain sight when not needed.

Yes, this concept design dubbed Mindset: Built-In Computer Desk is the most elegant working space a minimalist could long for. The idea here is to focus on the productivity of work and minimize distractions. Another resounding benefit is the space-saving aspect as big displays take up a chunk of the usable desk space.

Designer: Designer Dot

When you’re done with the day’s tasks on your PC, the 40-inch ultrawide OLED screen with webcamera can retract back into the frame (remember it is a rollable display) and you can engage in digital detox activities like reading, sketching, or reading books. In the second mode, since there is no screen in front of you, the urge to watch video content or scroll mindlessly through websites is not there. All you’ve got is an empty desk space to engage in wind-up routines for a healthy lifestyle.

The smart desk has built-in wireless speakers right behind the display housing for optimized aesthetics. When the rollable display retracts back into the housing the Bluetooth 5.3 capable speakers move forward to cover the gap. This prevents any dust or other foreign matter from entering the space. Not only this, the desk comes with a touchscreen keyboard with haptic feedback and a touchpad, so you don’t need to worry about working on your desk. There’s a wireless charging pad underneath the surface that keeps your gadgets juiced up. The only thing you need to bring along is your laptop to connect to the plug-and-play desk.

All the cables are concealed inside the legs and the ports are hidden from direct view to one side of the desk. The cable management system is designed in a way that it automatically adjusts the wire lengths when adjusting the height. The concept seems very useful for people who love to have a clutter-free working space that turns into a personal creativity space with minimum fuzz.

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LEGO and NASA give you an out-of-the world experience with this Mars Rover set

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The LEGO Group and NASA have collaborated on some interesting sets in the past. Yes, the ace space agency pioneering some of the most ambitious space missions has lent its expertise to create the NASA Mars Rover Perseverance model priced at just $100. They’ve bettered the rover released in mid-2023 with this beefier version that’s not a replica of any existing rover, rather, a fictional two-seater space vehicle released as a part of the Technic line-up.

This gave the design team more freedom to explore the possibilities without being too logical, or go all out and make it too sci-fi. According to Aurélien Rouffiange the design manager, “When you look at this vehicle, we want you to say, ‘Okay, that can happen.’ That is where we wanted to set the limit.” The result is a stunning 1,599-piece LEGO set that’ll be a treat to put together and flash on your living room shelf or work desk.

Designer: LEGO Group

The six-wheeled rover comes with an expanding truck bed, dual working crane, living quarter and loads of scientific equipment and logistics canisters to complete the feel. If you want to take it for a spin on rugged terrain, the NASA team has engineered a working suspension on this one. Calling this a campervan for space adventurers won’t be an overstatement, it’s that extensive. The open living space inside has ample space for a treadmill and shower for two astronauts to survive. Gosh, it already feels like I’m penning down the design logs of a sci-fi series…

The realism and attention to detail are something purists will appreciate. Right from the crew containers to store trash, Mars rocks or science samples to water oxygen and hydrogen. There’s even a fuel cell generator to recharge the batteries. Aurélien reassures that Hydrogen will be the future of drivetrains and NASA wants kids to learn that at a very early age. To keep things close to reality, the wheels are inspired by the rocker-bogie suspension found on the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers in operation on the red planet. The tires are colored gray to make them look like metal, just like the real Rover tires.

Based on the NASA team’s input the wheelbase of the vehicle had to be kept a bit short to make it a convincing iteration for any alien planet exploration. So, the LEGO team made a contracting chassis that can be configured at will. Aurélien added, “You can still drive it around in this compact mode, but, of course, it is not meant for that.” On the lighter side, NASA wanted a toilet for sure and the design team had to include the space for it!

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This Motocompo inspired café racer is born to perform stunning stoppies

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Concept bike designs are one of the most interesting projects we come across on Behance. They can be amazingly detailed, utterly impractical, or just plain bizarre at times. We try acquaint all you motorheads with eye-popping rides that seem to have dropped right out of the Cyberpunk universe and the MK1 motorcycle is one of them.

This motorbike is a cool blend of a café racer, Moto GP bike and a drag racer. While it looks to be inspired by the Motocompo in some ways, the bike’s long wheelbase and low riding position give off typical café racer persona. At first glance, it seemed to me like a Motocompo on steroids.

Designer: Salvatore Ville

Just like with all Motocompo versions and their knock-offs, the riding position is a bit awkward and the saddle is not going to be comfortable even for short city rides. The bike is powered by an electric drivetrain that’s concealed behind the body frame. Leaning more towards the front section, the ride is oriented for speedy straight-line stints. Pressure on the front tires is kept a bit lower on the front wheels as compared to the rear ones. This ensures maximum grip on the front, making it ideal for a drag race of a few hundred meters.

The front gets a contoured headlight which is a change from the original Motocompo bike. This makes the ride more oriented towards a café racer character if the rider wants to take it for a spin in the city. Driving modes on the bike can be changed via a turnable knob on the rear of the body, just where the knees of the rider would be in the riding position. Performing stoppies on the MK1 will be much easier due to the forward leaning position while going for a wheelie would require some muscle and special skill on the tarmac.

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ADPT Series 1 Dual-Time Watch comes with a compass, making it a worthy outdoor companion

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There are a few accessories manufacturers that have scaled to become watchmakers. Defining the odds ADPT, creator of America-made nylon watch strap, has scaled up from there to the EDC gear for outdoors and now to a complete watch manufacturer. ADPT aka All Day Purpose and Terrain has collaborated with BOLDR Supply Co. to develop the Series 1 Dual Time watch that is the first timepiece with the ADPT name on the dial, while the partner’s name is engraved along the caseback rim to complete the branding on this sport and tool watch.

Wristwatches that are designed for an active lifestyle without really limiting the context to just one specific sport have an intriguing potential. Case in point the All Day, Purpose and Terrain Series 1 watch that is powered by the Seiko NH34 automatic movement that beats at a frequency of 21,600vph and has a power reserve of up to 41 hours.

Designer: ADPT

The movement is not the biggest USP, it however lies in the layered dial where on a grid base you can find an independent 24-hour hand that can track the second time zone, and when needed in the wilderness, can be used as a compass to point North. Complementing the dial with a trio of colorful hands, aluminum inserts bisected to show day and night on a 24-hour scale, standard minute track, and points for use as a compass, is a 120-click unidirectional bezel of the watch.

ADPT Series 1 Dual-Time watch is crafted from titanium and measures 38mm in diameter. It has a slim, 13.8mm profile featuring a screw-down crown on the bottom half (at the 4 o’clock position). Under the flat sapphire crystal protecting the dial you can find the ADPT logo and water resistance marked at the 3 o’clock position. Further down at the 6 o’clock location is the date window that complements the dial color as well.

The watch boasts an interesting 200 meters of water resistance, which is possible with a solid screw-down titanium caseback. With all its appealing allure and material choice, the ADPT Series 1 Dual Time watch is made available in Aqua Berry and Mossy Shale colorways for $499 each. Certainly, in a competitive price point for its features, the Series 1 from ADPT comes paired to a US-made nylon strap ensuring all-day comfort for the user in various environments.

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