This week in gadget happenings: An origami robot, all-in-one smart dog collar, and the Iron-Man Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is finally unveiled.
Untethered Miniature Origami Robot
Reminiscent of the Japanese art of paper folding, the Untethered Miniature Origami robot uses magnetic fields to self-fold, walk and swim. Developed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the tiny machine begins as a flat sheet but, like arts and crafts enthusiasts have been doing for centuries, folds itself up into a tiny machine ready to whiz around on land or water.
As pointed out by IEEE Spectrum, the robot weighs just 0.31 grams, measures at just 1.7 cm on a side, and can travel 3-4cm per second. Its developers say that eventually it will be able to move around inside the human body, which I won’t be volunteering for thanks.
SmartRim
The SmartRim is the world’s first wireless sensor to protect your vehicle’s sides and save your wheels from all those heart-breaking scrapes. Attach the device inside or near any vehicle’s wheel well and its high-frequency, ultrasonic sensor will relay real-time audio and visual alerts right to a user’s smartphone via the custom app.
As a bonus, SmartRim’s joyride checker logs acceleration points so users will always know how their vehicle was treated by a valet, or that untrustworthy best friend who wanted to borrow it for the weekend. You can help support the product right now via Indiegogo.
The Connected Collar — an all-in-one smart dog collar
Connecting all our pets to IoT tech will soon be the norm, I reckon, with products like the Connected Collar, which has been launched by the fantastically named DogTelligent company. This ‘smart’ collar allows owners to train, track and manage their dog’s health, activity, and safety.
The device features a humane anti-barking feature, along with a 2-way communicator, virtual fence and patent-pending technology that simulates a gentle ‘tug of the leash’. It’s comfortable for the dog to wear, waterproof and lasts up to 14 days on a single charge.
DogTellingent recently launched the Connected Collar on Indiegogo, reaching its target in just four days.
Mellow, an electric drive for skateboards
Mellow is a compact electric drive that fits under any skateboard, turning it into an ‘e-board’ with a top speed of 40km per hour in minutes.
The motor performs with virtually no noise, and as its creators still wanted users to feel like they are riding a skateboard, they’ve attempted to reduce friction and drag within the motor to a minimum. The device comes with a handheld remote for control.
“We are boardsports enthusiasts. And like many others we miss the feeling of freedom we get from surfing and snowboarding when we are back home in the city,” said Mellow’s creators via Kickstarter. “Inspired by the invention of the first skateboards 50 years ago, we now want to take the asphalt surf to the next level. In terms of flexibility, riding pleasure, quality and sustainability.”
Galaxy S6 Edge Iron Man Limited Edition
Having teased us with images of the device’s box a couple weeks ago, Samsung has finally unveiled the Galaxy S6 Edge Iron Man Limited Edition, and it’s a beautifully clean piece of sophisticated tech to make even Tony Stark proud.
Coming with all the standard features of the recently-released Galaxy S6 Edge, this special version comes in distinctive Iron Man red and gold with a custom Avengers theme pre-installed, matching wireless charging pad and a clear cover, all packaged within a limited edition Avengers box. Unfortunately, it only appears to be available in South Korea and China.
