Autonomous driving wheelchair

Research and development of autonomous driving is one of the hot topics in the Tech industry. But what if it applies to a wheelchair?
WHILL, the startup who developing the next generation electric wheelchair announced the prototype of the wheelchair's automatic driving system at CES.

This is a technology assuming wheelchair sharing in airports, commercial facilities or Tourist spots. Their wheelchairs have the function of automatically returning to the standby place from the place where the users have dropped. Stereo cameras are mounted on the left and right arms of the wheelchair one by one, so they recognize the surrounding scenery with a wide viewing angle. In addition, a sensor is mounted behind this and prepares for a collision accident when moving backward. And, check the information on the surrounding conditions detected by the sensors against the map information collected in advance, and automatically run safely. Furthermore, it has a communication line, and administrators can manage the location information of this by unifying, and it is also possible to develop optional applications according to usage scenes.
They are aiming to put this in practical use in 2020 and have already been discussing with several airports and companies.

Body composition monitor with pinball game

Is it depressing to measure your body's data? If you are having trouble viewing the reality, how about playing in the game?
Tanita, the leading instrument maker announced the concept model of the body composition monitor for business "TANITA PINBALL" that can be played with pinball games.

It can measure 13 items such as your weight, body fat percentage and muscle mass. Then you can play with pinball game. They use their interdental composition composition meter DC - 13C for body composition measurement unit(DC-13C can measure data quickly and easily while wearing shoes and socks by flowing a weak current from the hands), users can easily measure data and play games without removing their shoes.
Because the effects of the pinball changes according to the result of the measurement, you can discover new pinball effects each time you measure the data. Their aim is to have their users continue their health care. Measuring weight and body fat percentage are melancholic for everyone, but they are trying to make them more fun by adding game elements to them.
Because this is still a concept model, they have not announced the release date and price yet.

All built-in light bulbs

Recently IoT appliances and IoT gadgets are full of society. However, when you actually use them, the usage and settings of the application are different for each product, and the designs are also different. If they all got together? stak is a light bulb type module expandable smart device that makes it possible.

With this "module expanded type" structure, smart homing can be easily performed according to the characteristics of each rooms. You can rearrange the main body and the modules, and you can use the functions by using the necessary modules for each room. For example, you can use only the lighting function of this at the entrance, and in the living room where you have the air conditioner you can remotely control the air conditioner by combining it with the remote control module.
Setting is easy. You can use this by just replacing this for the light bulbs at home. Because it supplies power directly from the bulb socket, you do not have to wire and it also harmonizes with the interior of the room. In addition, this can connect with Wi-Fi access points in your home, so you can operate it from the outside. For example, it is possible to turn on the power of the home air conditioner in advance before going home.
Also, it supports Google Home and Amazon Echo, you can operate it by voice. The size of main body is 56mm(external dimensions) × 66.5mm(height), the remote control module is 56mm(external dimensions) × 21mm(height), and the lighting module is 56mm(external dimensions) × 50mm(height). The weighs of main body is 75g, the remote control module is 35g, and the lighting module is 60g.
Currently this is a development project being disclosed at the crowd funding site Makuake, and have already raised the target amount, but you can still purchase this from 7000yen. The expected release date is February 14th.

Apps that adds visual effects to music

Do you want to edit videos of your own DJ play or dance easily and coolly? If so, Roland's iOS application Beat Sync Maker may be perfect.

This is an application that automatically adds impressive visual effects according to the video's beats on music shot by smartphones and makes it easy to make video in which video and music are linked like the music videos.

Usage is simple. You just select the effect you want to use while playing the video you want to edit in the application. There are 5 kinds of effects, and with the function "2-Video Mix" that can switch between two videos according to the beat, you can combine with 18 types of video that the app has in advance, or other video you have. Downloading the application is free, but in the free version you can only make video up to 30 seconds long. However, if you upgrade with in-app charge of 360 yen, the length of the video will be unlimited.
In addition, if you have Roland's audio mixer "GO: MIXER PRO" or "GO: MIXER" and you are connecting them to your smartphone, you can unlimited the length of the video without charge at Beat Sync Maker.

IoT lure with sensor

"I want to fish a lot more fish!" It is a common wish of people who interested in fishing. This IoT lure may make it happen. Smart Lure, the startup that provides information service for anglers has developed IoT lure "Smart lure α" and conducting field demonstration experiments outdoors now.

This is a prototype which made the shape and weight almost the same as the commercial lure, but it can measure acceleration, temperature, illuminance, etc. by built-in sensor in the test in natural lake and experimental tank. And, it cite the results of data conversion of detailed movement of lure which could not be confirmed without special equipment such as high speed camera in the past.
General purpose parts that can procure and manufacture at low cost are used for the sensor modules mounted on them. Using them, they developed the sensors themselves. They are preparing to release this in 2019 and are already consulting with several lure makers.
In addition, they raised 40 million yen in seed rounds in September in order to further accelerate development.