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Tagged: kickstarter

Published on: September 19, 2013 / Comments: None

a 3D scanner for mobile devices like iPad

3dscannerusbWhile 3D tv’s didn’t seem to take off, 3D printing sure has.   And once thing leads to another.  Now 3D Scanning is getting kind of hot.  There’s a project on Kickstarter that is promoting a 3D Scanner for use on mobile devices.   It can also do regular USB so it can be used on other devices or home-brew applications as well.

The device seems to be battery-powered, and uses infra-red LEDs and a camera to measure distance and scan.  The range is 40 cm to 3.5 meters and promotes an accuracy of 1%.  The current things demonstrated are a room scanner app that lets you take dimensions of a room by panning the camera around.  An object scanner that can let you make a 3D model (for use in CAD or 3D Printing).  And a virtual reality game.

Cool technology, it just means that this type of stuff is getting closer to being a cheap commodity for regular users.

Check out the video after the break.

Published on: September 11, 2013 / Comments: 2

Mico – a different way of talking to Arduino from your phone

micotechMico is an Arduino shield that talks to your cell phone.  Literally.  It connects via the audio jack on your cell phone, and has the ability to read DTMF tones for control.  It also can answer the phone by using the same technique your old wired headset does.

Some of the applications the mico guys have put together are it answering the phone and reading out sensor data.  It has a audio playback library so with some crafty recordings you can do cool things.  They even have a demo application of the shield talking to Siri on IOS in order to do more functions like send text messages.

Interesting concept, I think it’s still missing something like a little more control but I give them props for being different.

The project currently has a kickstarter going to launch a large production run, there’s also source over at github.

Published on: September 6, 2013 / Comments: 2

A few questions with the TubeCore Duo creators

We had a chance to catch up with Jason from TubeCore, so we decided to ask him a few questions.  TubeCore currently has a Kickstarter running to launch their product the TubeCore Duo.  The TubeCore Duo is a hackable, retro inspired modern boombox that sports all the goodies.  Streaming via WIFI and Bluetooth, to a hybrid vacuum tube amplifier powerhouse inside.  There’s even a Raspberry Pi running XBMC.

[su_dropcap style="1" size="2"]Q[/su_dropcap]So tell us your inspiration for creating the Duo.

[su_dropcap style="2" size="2"]A[/su_dropcap]I grew up in recording studios and on stages. I cut my teeth on HiFi and couldn’t find exactly what I wanted. I wanted to combine solid HiFi principles to small form consumer audio; a sort of HiFi for everyone. I wanted to build something that didn’t exists and love music. So the choice was natural.

[su_dropcap style="1" size="2"]Q[/su_dropcap]You’ve obviously already passed your funding goal, do you have any concerns at this point ?

[su_dropcap style="2" size="2"]A[/su_dropcap]Logistics. When I started this, my biggest concern was getting the 56 I would have need to fund out the door and use the profits to reduce my need for off the shelf solutions and have my hardware custom designed. Because of the huge support of our fans, we have been able to develop some key relationships with our suppliers and have drawn the interest of some national and international distributors. While this relationship building is critical, with an on off system we are burdened with the task of developing 10 times the relationships we would have needed before. More input channels are being created and the time dedicated to maintaining each has drastically increased. All said, I have compensated by sleeping less. You get used to it actually.

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Published on: August 10, 2013 / Comments: None

Make your own Scan-O-Tron 3000

The Scan-O-Tron 3000 was a kickstarter campaign called Coney Island Scan-A-Rama.  Fred put together a system for doing full 3d body scans on sort of a giant lazy susan and a Kinect using MakerSlide.  Then it creates a 3d model that you can print out on 3d printer.

He’s got the parts up and most of the instructions for building the scanning rig on thingiverse here, and the lazy susan here.