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All You Need to Know About Meshtastic

What Is Meshtastic?

Meshtastic is an open-source project that leverages LoRa, a long-range radio protocol that is widely available in most regions and does not require additional licenses or certifications, unlike HAM radio. Utilizing inexpensive LoRa radios, Meshtastic provides a FREE, long-range, off-grid communication solution for areas without reliable or existing communication infrastructure.

In a simpler way, Meshtastic is a free and easy-to-use tool that lets you send messages without internet or mobile networks. It connects small, specialized devices to create a network where you can communicate over long distances, making it perfect for outdoor adventures, emergencies, or communication in remote areas. You can share short text messages, GPS locations, and even voice messages (coming soon) with others. It’s easy to set up, works on various devices, and has a supportive community if you need help.

what is meshtastic

(Image credit: meshtastic.org)

What Can Meshtastic Do?

In today’s tech-focused world, it’s hard to picture a day without a steady network connection. But if you’ve ever gone hiking in a remote area and lost signal, or attended a big event where the network was too crowded to use, you know the struggle. During natural disasters like typhoons or floods, communication networks might fail, making it tough to call for help or connect with loved ones. I hope you don’t face these challenges, but it’s worth thinking about potential solutions if you do. What would you want to have in place?

This is where Meshtastic comes into play, offering a potential Plan A for those rare yet crucial instances: an emergency response solution.

Why Meshtastic?

There are also many other options, such as the more well-known LoRa-based solutions like LoRaWAN® and Sidewalk, or the commonly used 4G/5G, and even Starlink developed by SpaceX. So, why Meshtastic?

Differences Between LoRaWAN®, Sidewalk, and Meshtastic

As shown below, I have listed the biggest differences between the three. Meshtastic is decentralized and doesn’t require gateways, making it better suited for flexible, independent, peer-to-peer communication scenarios, while LoRaWAN®is ideal for large-scale, centrally managed IoT applications. Amazon Sidewalk, is designed to extend the connectivity range of smart home devices using low-power, community-based networking.

LoRaWAN vs Sidewalk vs Meshtastic

Differences Between 4G/5G and Meshtastic

Most of us rely on 4G/5G networks in our daily lives, so how does Meshtastic compare to them? The main differences are outlined below. Simply put, Meshtastic is ideal for situations where there is no cellular signal, no infrastructure, or limited power availability, such as outdoor activities, survival scenarios, or rescue operations. On the other hand, cellular network coverage is primarily concentrated in areas with high levels of human activity, such as cities and urban regions.

4G/5G VS Meshtastic

Differences Between Starlink and Meshtastic

Starlink and Meshtastic are two different communication solutions, each with its own strengths. Starlink is ideal for those who need constant online connectivity and high-speed internet access, even in remote areas. However, if you need a more affordable, portable solution for offline communication, especially when power and infrastructure are limited, Meshtastic is the better choice.

Last but not least, Meshtastic is free to use—once you purchase a compatible device, you can start enjoying the free mesh network with your friends!

Starlink VS Meshtastic

Typical Meshtastic Applications

So, what are the typical applications of Meshtatsic? Here are some common usages shared by passionate community members on Reddit about “What do you use Meshtastic for?”.

  1. calinet6: “Making new friends nearby who are equally nerdy by virtue of opting into this.”
  2. Jcw122: “‘Talking’ with friends at big festivals”
  3. spotcheck001: “We use it for family to communicate when we camp. Works out great.”
  4. Stroniu44: “Combined with ATAK to localise and communicate during exercise with other tanks from my platoon, especially exchange kmz data”
  5. jp_bennett: “Vehicle tracking across town, as well as emergency comms for emergency situations.”
  6. AnderlAnduel: “I share weather station data between home automation sytems with my neighbors (mqtt2mqtt bridge). This way we are independent of Internet services.”

What they’re sharing are exactly the applications that I suggest you to start your Meshtastic journey.

Outdoor Adventures

Whether you enjoy hiking, camping, survival skills, mountaineering, cycling, off-road driving, or skiing, it’s common to encounter areas with no 4G/5G during these outdoor activities. Using Meshtastic allows team members to stay in touch all the time during outdoor adventures, even in remote areas.

remote outdoor adventures

Crowded Events and Festivals

If you love big events like Burning Man, Coachella, or Midi Music Festival, you’ve probably dealt with weak signals and lost connections because of overloaded networks. With Meshtastic, you can easily and affordably create a portable, reliable, and self-controlled network infrastructure to stay connected with friends.

crowded festivals and events

Search and Rescue

When disasters strike and signal or power infrastructure fails, Meshtastic can be a vital tool for emergency response, supporting search and rescue operations. A Meshtastic tracker, capable of precisely identifying the location of those in distress and maintaining communication with them, is an excellent choice for equipping rescue teams or ensuring everyday emergency preparedness.

emergency response

Meshtastic Limitations

Text messages only at the moment: Meshtastic uses LoRa, which focuses on long-range and low power. This limits bandwidth, so it can only send text—no images, videos, or large files.

Short messages: You can only send messages with 228 characters or fewer due to LoRa’s packet size limit, which isn’t enough for detailed or complex information.

For those new to Meshtastic, a common question is how to select the right product from the wide range of Meshtastic-compatible options, which include everything from development boards to ready-to-use devices. In the following, I will share some of the most popular Meshtastic devices with you.

Popular Meshtastic-compatible Products: A Comparison

Different products excel in different scenarios. To help you find the best fit, I’ve put together some simple recommendations based on popular products and their ideal use cases. I hope you find this helpful!

Suitable for the Beginning of Building a Mesh Network

– DIY enthusiasts, smart home, smart city

A mesh network allows for decentralized, long-range communication between devices without relying on cellular networks. For those just starting, it’s essential to select devices that are easy to use, flexible, and expandable for various applications. Here are some great starter kits that are ideal for beginners who want to build their first mesh network.

Recommended Devices:

1. The smallest and most affordable option for Meshtastic applications: XIAO ESP32S3 & Wio-SX262 Kit for Meshtastic $9.9

Seeed XIAO ESP32S3 & Wio-SX1262 Kit for Meshtastic

Features:

  • Affordable: A budget-friendly option to kickstart your Meshtastic journey.
  • Compact & Powerful: Small but mighty, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for IoT applications.
  • Expandable: Easy to add temperature, GPS, and other Grove modules to apply to your home, garden, or any other scenarios.

Considerations:

  • No enclosure: Requires some assembly and case installation before use, making it less plug-and-play than other devices.

2. The most affordable option with an onboard screen: Heltec LoRa 32 V3

Heltec V3

Features:

  • Easy to Start: Fully functioned, and well-documented, simple for beginners.
  • Onboard Screen: The built-in display provides real-time feedback and interactive communication.

Considerations:

  • No GPS: May not suit applications needing location tracking.
  • Limited Customization: Less flexibility for adding extra sensors or modules.
  • Limited Processing Power: While great for mesh networking, it may not support complex applications without additional peripherals or optimizations.

3. A versatile, solar-powered starter kit with expandable modules: RAK WisBlock Meshtastic Starter Kit

RAK Starter Kit

Features:

  • Solar Panel Support: Ideal for outdoor use, ensuring continuous operation without frequent battery recharges.
  • Highly Expandable: Can be connected to a variety of modules to monitor various environmental factors.

Considerations:

  • Basic Coding Skills Required: You may need some basic coding experience to get the most out of it. However, tutorials and documentation can help guide you.
  • No Enclosure Included: Requires some assembly and case installation before use.

4. A go-to device with a 18650 battery holder: T-Beam

T-Beam

Features:

  • Easily Powered: Equipped with a 18650 battery holder, compatible with any standard rechargeable 18650 battery
  • Optional OLED Combination: Pre-soldered and separated OLED for your choice.

Considerations:

  • Limited Customization: Less flexibility for adding extra sensors or modules.
  • No Enclosure Included: Requires some assembly and case installation before use.

Suitable for Remote Outdoor Activities

– Outdoor Activities, Remote Parties, Hiking, Backpacking, and Wilderness Exploration

When outdoor activities or exploring remote areas, staying connected and tracking your location is important for safety and coordination. However, cellular coverage is often lacking in these remote areas. The following devices are ideal for maintaining communication and location tracking over long distances without relying on cellular signals, also, having a case and small size are important.

Recommended Devices:

1. The world’s first IP65-Rated Meshtastic device: SenseCAP Card Tracker T1000-E

Seeed SenseCAP Card Tracker T1000-E for Meshtastic, Meshtastic Tracker

Features:

  • Compact and Portable: Lightweight and easy to carry, making it perfect for long hikes and outdoor adventures.
  • IP65 Waterproof Rating: Withstands rain, dust, and harsh weather conditions.
  • Built-in GPS: Provides precise location tracking, essential for navigation in remote areas.
  • Built-in Sensors: Built-in Temperature, Light, and 3-Axis Accelerometer.

Considerations:

  • No Screen: Unable to display messages directly on the device; messages must be checked through connected devices or apps.
  • Limited Scalability: Cannot be easily expanded with additional sensors or modules for customized applications.

2. A standalone device with a touchscreen, keyboard, and long battery life: T-Deck Plus

T-Deck Plus

Features:

  • Fully Functional Engineering Platform: Features a 2.8″ IPS touchscreen, keyboard, microphone, and speaker, offering versatile functionality similar to a mobile device.
  • Long Battery Life: Powered by a 2000mAh battery, ideal for extended trips with frequent communication needs.

Considerations:

  • Bulkier Design: Larger and heavier than other models, which may affect portability, particularly on long treks.
  • Price side: The price is relatively higher than other products.

Suitable for Search and Emergencies

– Power outages, natural disasters, emergencies

When disaster strikes, traditional communication and power infrastructure can often collapse, leaving rescue teams and those affected without means to communicate. Whether for search and rescue operations, disaster relief coordination, or daily emergency preparedness, these devices provide an effective way to stay connected when traditional networks fail.

Recommended Devices:

1. The world’s first IP65-Rated Meshtastic device with built-in GPS: SenseCAP Card Tracker T1000-E

Seeed SenseCAP Card Tracker T1000-E for Meshtastic, Meshtastic Tracker

Features:

  • Compact and Portable: The T1000-E is lightweight and easy to carry, whether it’s on a search mission or during daily emergency preparedness.
  • GPS Integration: Integrated GPS tracking allows both rescuers and those needing assistance to be located accurately.
  • IP65 Waterproof Rating: This makes it resistant to harsh weather conditions, including rain, dust, and snow, ensuring that it continues to operate reliably in the field.

Considerations:

  • No Screen: Unable to display messages directly on the device; messages must be checked through connected devices or apps.

2. A device with an attractive enclosure that supports multiple RF technologies: T-Echo

T-echo

Features:

  • Low Power Consumption: With a power efficiency and reliability nRF52840 chip.
  • Multi Wireless Connectivity: Support BLE5.0, Bluetooth Mesh, ANT, Zigbee,NFC.
  • Backlit E-Ink Screen: Providing excellent outdoor readability in bright sunlight and ensuring that critical messages and information can be easily accessed in the field.
  • GPS integration: Allowing for real-time tracking of both rescuers and people in distress.

Considerations:

  • Limited Customization: If you’re looking for more flexibility or future expansion, other devices might offer more modularity.
  • No Wi-Fi: It may limit your application in MQTT or other areas.

Suitable for Aviation Usage/SoftRF

If you are also an enthusiast of other projects like SoftRF, APRS, and so on, the following devices can support you in exploring diverse experiences.

For example, SoftRF is an open-source collision avoidance solution for aircraft. The following devices can receive and transmit aviation signals to help pilots understand surrounding traffic information and improve flight safety.

Recommended Devices:

  • SenseCAP T1000-E
  • T-Echo
  • T-Beam

For more product details, you can check out the Google Doc or simply refer to the image below.

meshtastic devices comparison

While many excellent Meshtastic-compatible products are available on the market, the ones listed above are perfect for beginners. They offer a friendly introduction to Meshtastic, and you can always explore more options on the official Meshtastic website here.

About Frequency

When choosing a Meshtastic-compatible product, make sure to select the one that supports the frequency band for your region. Below are some personal points for your reference:

  1. Local regulations and frequency restrictions: Different countries or regions allow different frequency bands. Common bands include 433MHz, 868MHz (Europe), and 915MHz (USA and some other regions). Check your local regulations before buying.
  2. Usage scenario: Lower frequencies (like 433MHz) offer better range and penetration but slower speeds. Higher frequencies (like 915MHz) provide faster data transfer but shorter range.
  3. Device compatibility: Ensure the device and module are compatible with the frequency band you need, as some devices only support specific frequencies.

Always check the product specifications and follow local laws to avoid using restricted frequencies.

About Antenna

Antennas play a vital role in Meshtastic devices, though I won’t go into too much detail here. In short, they can be categorized into three types: onboard, rod, and fiberglass. Onboard and rod antennas typically provide a communication range of 2-5 km, making them well-suited for portable nodes. Fiberglass antennas, by contrast, offer a longer range of 5-10 km, making them more appropriate for base stations or fixed nodes. The choice of antenna should be tailored to the specific device and use case.

Some Useful Resources

Here are some resources I believe will help you better understand Meshtastic that I want to share with you:

Article/Blog/Community Posts:

  1. Official Documentation: Everything about Meshtastic, including an intro, supported devices, software, etc.
  2. Reddit Explanation: A beginner-friendly explanation of Meshtastic by the community.
  3. Top Meshtastic Devices: A Comprehensive Guide by Adrelien: Reviews of popular Meshtastic devices like Seeed Studio SenseCAP Card Tracker T1000-E, RAK WisBlock Meshtastic Starter Kit, Heltec LoRa 32 V3, LILYGO T-Echo, LILYGO T-Beam.
  4. A Basic Guide to Meshtastic by Mike Oplinger: A fun and straightforward guide to LoRa, Meshtastic, and setup tips.

Videos:

  1. What Is Meshtastic by Ben Meadors: Lead developer of Meshtastic Ben Meadors explains Meshtastic.
  2. A Whole Getting Started Guide by The Comms Channel: A YouTube playlist covering getting started, device reviews, antenna testing, and more.

FAQs for New Meshtastic Users

1. Do I need technical knowledge to use Meshtastic?

No, anyone can use Meshtastic. A basic understanding of wireless communication, hardware devices, or open-source projects can help but is not required. New users can easily learn from the documentation provided.

2. Is Meshtastic free?

Yes, Meshtastic is a free and open-source project. You only need to buy Meshtastic-powered hardware devices. Software, firmware, and official documentation are all free. If you enjoy using Meshtastic, you can support the developers by making a donation.

3. Which operating systems are supported by Meshtastic apps?

Meshtastic provides official applications for Android and iOS etc. You can download the apps here.

4. What hardware devices are supported by Meshtastic?

Check the current list of supported devices on the official website. For the latest product releases, check popular vendors such as Seeed Studio, RAK, Heltec, and Lilygo.

5. Can Meshtastic send pictures or large files?

No, Meshtastic is not suitable for large data transmissions like images, videos, or files due to LoRa’s low bandwidth (a few hundred bytes per second). It is designed for short text messages and simple data transmission.

6. What is the communication range of Meshtastic?

The communication range depends on the environment and hardware configuration:

  • Urban areas (with obstacles): 1-5 km
  • Open areas (e.g., outdoors): Up to 10 km or more

By using the mesh network, the range can be extended by relaying messages through intermediate nodes.

7. Why can’t my devices communicate with each other?

Common reasons for communication issues include:

  • Differing channel settings (channel name and encryption key must match).
  • Devices are out of range (exceeded LoRa signal coverage).
  • Hardware connection issues (e.g., antenna misinstallation).
  • Firmware version incompatibility (ensure all devices use the same version).

8. How does the Meshtastic mesh network work?

Meshtastic uses a Mesh Network (LoRa-based), where every device(also called node) acts as both a transmitter and a repeater. Messages are automatically routed through multiple nodes until they reach their destination. Even if a node is out of direct communication range, other nodes in the mesh can relay messages and extend the coverage.

9. Where can I view official FAQs?

You can find the official FAQs here.

10. Where can I find help?

For support and community interaction, check the following:

Other recommended communities include:

The post All You Need to Know About Meshtastic appeared first on Latest Open Tech From Seeed.

SenseCAP T1000-E for Meshtastic Update: FAQs, and Debugging Tips

Hi Community,

First, we want to extend a heartfelt thanks to each of you for your interest and support for the SenseCAP T1000-E. Since its release, we’ve been thrilled to see it being widely adopted within the Meshtastic community, helping enthusiasts like you enhance your connectivity projects. Your feedback has been invaluable to us, highlighting what you love about the device and where we can make it even better.

FAQs and Debugging Tips

We’ve received a lot of insightful feedback from the community, and our team is actively investigating each single of them. We are committed to ensuring that your experience with the T1000-E is smooth and reliable.

To support you further, we’ve compiled a few common FAQs and tips:

1. Accidentally updated the wrong firmware

Before you update the firmware, please check the firmware file carefully and DO NOT FLASH ANY FIRMWARE OTHER THAN T1000-E FIRMWARE, this may cause unexpected errors.

– Solution:

If you accidentally update the wrong firmware, please flash the bootloader first, and then flash the application firmware.

2. Device bricked

a. The device can still enter the DFU mode

– Solution:

Flash the bootloader first, and then flash the application firmware.

b. The device can not enter the DFU mode, but you can see the serial port of your device

– Solution:

Using a serial tool, set the baud rate to 1200, and then click connect, try this process multiple times until the green light of the device is solid, once the device is restored to DFU mode, you can follow a. solution then.

3. Battery drop issue

Following our battery discharge test, we found that the T1000-E battery performs as expected. We’re enhancing the battery discharge curve report to provide users with a clearer and more accurate performance overview.

For more details, please check the T1000-E wiki, if your issues still cannot be solved, feel free to contact our tech support team at sensecap[at]seeed.cc !

Last but Not Least: New Meshtastic-Compatible Products

A 4-inch touch screen driven by ESP32-S3 and RP2040 Dual-MCUs. With the compatibility with Meshtastic, SenseCAP Indicator can be another game changer as your Meshtastic phone or you name it. 🙂

A mini size LoRa Dev Kit with XIAO ESP32S3 and Wio-SX1262 LoRa module, with pre-flashed Meshtastic firmware, it’s ready for you to embark your journey with Meshtastic once it’s powered on.

Get Started with XIAO ESP32 for Meshtastic

We’re Here for You

We are truly grateful for your dedication to improving the T1000-E. Your feedback has allowed us to make adjustments that benefit the entire Meshtastic community. If you have any further questions, suggestions, or ideas, don’t hesitate to share your insights with us on our discord.

Thank you once again for being part of the journey with us. Let’s keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible together!

The post SenseCAP T1000-E for Meshtastic Update: FAQs, and Debugging Tips appeared first on Latest Open Tech From Seeed.

Introducing XIAO ESP32S3 for Meshtastic, The Smallest LoRa Dev Kit in The World

Since we released the Wio Tracker 1110 Dev Kit and SenseCAP Card Tracker T1000-E, we’ve gotten a lot of feedback from the community to include a smaller, more affordable Meshtastic powered product. And our answer is the XIAO ESP32S3 for Meshtastic & LoRa. Sized as small as your thumb, and priced at only $9.9, it‘s the smallest dev kit for prototyping your first Meshtastic and LoRa/LoRaWAN projects.

XIAO ESP32S3 + Semtech SX1262 LoRa

Featuring the powerful thumb-sized XIAO ESP32S3 Dev Board and a Wio-SX1262 Extension Board, the XIAO ESP32S3 Dev Kit for Meshtastic & LoRa is a super mini LoRa dev kit supporting LoRa (862-930MHz) with a 5km LoRa range. It also supports WiFi, BLE for wireless communication with a range of 100m+. Built on the XIAO ESP32S3, the kit comes with a built-in power management systems, and can be expanded via IIC, UART, and other GPIO interfaces. Compatible with Arduino IDE, it’s available for pre-order now at $9.9, with an estimated shipping in November, 2024.

Key Features of XIAO ESP32S3 for Meshtastic and LoRa Dev Kit

  • Meshtactic works out of the box: Pre-flashed with Meshtastic firmware, it is ready to work once powered on.
  • Outstanding RF performance: Supports LoRa(862-930MHz) 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and BLE 5.0 dual wireless communication, support 2~5km(LoRa) and 100m+(Wi-Fi/BLE) remote communication when connected with U.FL antenna.
  • Thumb-sized Compact Design: 21 x 18mm, adopting the classic form factor of Seeed Studio XIAO, suitable for space-limited projects.
  • Powerful MCU Board: Incorporate the ESP32S3 32-bit, dual-core, Xtensa processor running at up to 240MHz, mounted multiple development ports, Arduino / MicroPython supported.
  • Elaborate Power Design: Includes a Type-C USB interface and lithium battery charge management.
  • Same Hardware for Multiple Applications: Can be developed as a Meshtastic node or router, a single-channel LoRaWAN gateway, or a LoRa & LoRaWAN sensor.

Applications of XIAO ESP32S3 for Meshtastic & LoRa

1.  Tap into Meshtastic for Off-Grid Communication

Meshtastic is an open-source, off-grid, decentralized LoRa mesh network designed for affordable, low-power devices. This XIAO ESP32S3 Dev Kit offers a flexible and cost-effective solution for Meshtastic developers. You can build a Meshtastic device at an affordable price and use it as an emergency communication tool, similar to the SenseCAP T1000-E, but simpler in function. Moreover, thanks to the amazing Seeed Studio XIAO Product Ecosystem, it’s compatible with the XIAO Expansion Board and the Grove Expansion Board for adding screens, sensors, and over 300+ Grove modules, allowing you to customize your unique Meshtastic devices. You can even design your own casing.

2.  Configure It as a LoRa/LoRaWAN Sensor Node

It can be set up as a LoRa node, enabling the XIAO ESP32S3 Dev Kit to connect with various sensors and transmit data using LoRaWAN. This offers flexibility for different applications, like home automation. Essentially, the XIAO ESP32S3 Dev Kit can serve as a data collection and transmission node, allowing for communication and control among smart home devices.

3.  The Most Cost-Effective Single-Channel LoRa/LoRaWAN Gateway

Thanks to the powerful Semtech SX1262 LoRa Chip, you can turn it into a single-channel gateway, making it the most cost effective single-channel LoRaWAN gateway in the world. It receives LoRa packets on a specific setting and share them with the LoRaWAN network. By using the XIAO ESP32S3 Dev Kit, you can set it up to connect to The Things Network or Chripstack. This kit is great for those who want to learn about LoRa technology and connect to a LoRa Network Server (LNS).

Some Useful Links

Here are some guides for you to get started:

  1. Get Started for Meshtastic
  2. Get Started for LoRa
  3. Connect to TTN
  4. Connect to Chripstack

Pre-Order Now at $9.9

Available for pre-order now at just $9.9, the XIAO ESP32S3 Dev Kit is one of our solutions to provide the community more affordable and flexible products for you to build your LoRa-based IoT projects. Stay tuned for more updates on our Meshtastic-powered and LoRaWAN products. If you have any ideas or suggestions about our Meshtastic-compatible products, feel free to share them in the comments!

The post Introducing XIAO ESP32S3 for Meshtastic, The Smallest LoRa Dev Kit in The World appeared first on Latest Open Tech From Seeed.

SenseCAP Watcher – El Agente de IA Física para Espacios Inteligentes

Ver+Escuchar, Comprender y Reaccionar | IA Integrada | ChatGPT / LLM | Interacción por

Voz | Animación | Implementación Privada | HTTP | + Sensores.

un espacio específico; entonces, los LLM podrían entender lo que está sucediendo allí.

Por ejemplo, puede detectar a una persona sosteniendo un Nintendo Switch frente a un

estante o a dos personas con trajes leyendo. Esta capacidad podría desencadenar

automáticamente muchas acciones basadas en las escenas, como sugerir los juegos más

recientes a la persona con el Switch o enviar un mensaje al vendedor para que venga a

ayudar.

Así que, traer los LLMs al mundo físico puede elevar significativamente la inteligencia

en edificios y hogares inteligentes. Sin embargo, ¿cómo añadir esta capacidad a los

sistemas de automatización existentes de manera fácil?

Nuestra solución es SenseCAP Watcher, el primer agente físico LLM del mundo para

espacios inteligentes.

SenseCAP Watcher está construido sobre ESP32S3, incorporando un chip de IA

Himax WiseEye2 HX6538 con Arm Cortex-M55 & Ethos-U55, que sobresale en el

procesamiento de imágenes y datos vectoriales. Equipado con una cámara, micrófono y

altavoz, SenseCAP Watcher puede ver, oír y hablar. Además, con la suite SenseCraft

habilitada por LLM, SenseCAP Watcher entiende tus comandos, percibe su entorno y activa

acciones en consecuencia.

Simplemente PRONUNCIA tu comando

Simplemente habla con Watcher, dile qué observar, y te notificará cuando ocurra el evento

especificado.

Puedes enviar comandos fácilmente presionando para hablar o desde la aplicación

SenseCraft.

Entendiendo lo que vé

Con modelos de IA integrados en el dispositivo, SenseCAP Watcher puede detectar

diferentes cosas: personas, manzanas, mascotas, etc. Sin embargo, la característica más

destacada de Watcher es su integración con LLMs.

Al aprovechar los LLMs, Watcher puede capturar los eventos precisos que especificaste, lo

que significa ir más allá de las simples detecciones de objetivos, ya que analiza

completamente comportamientos y estados. Como “perro + jugando con la pelota, 0

personas + en la habitación”, o “La persona + con uniforme de DHL ha llegado”, etc.

¡Watcher realmente entiende la escena bajo su vigilancia!

Llamar constantemente a los LLMs como ChatGPT genera un costo elevado. Por

lo tanto, utilizamos una arquitectura de IA en el dispositivo + LLMs. El modelo de IA en el

Watcher detecta el objetivo, que luego es analizado por LLM para generar ideas precisas y

accionables.

Con la tarea “dime si el perro está rompiendo papel”, cuando el modelo del dispositivo

detecta perros, esta escena clave se envía al LLM para un análisis más profundo: ¿está

rompiendo papel? Los LLM no se activarán por personas, gatos, ardillas u otros. Esto

reduce enormemente el costo de los LLM.

Responde por voz

Después de detectar el evento especificado, Watcher puede interactuar con los objetivos a

través de la voz. Por ejemplo, puedes configurarlo de la siguiente manera:

Evento especificado: alguien toma el teclado rosa;

Dos reacciones especificadas:

1. una respuesta por voz que diga: ‘¡Buena elección! Esta es nuestra versión más

reciente, inspirada en la máquina de escribir Pink Royal’;

2. la otra reacción es un mensaje de texto a los vendedores: ‘¡Alguien está interesado

en el teclado más reciente! Por favor, vayan al estante lo antes posible’.

Colocar Watcher en diferentes escenarios permite respuestas versátiles. Al ver un perro

rompiendo pañuelos, dile “¡Para, Cooper!”, o si ve a una persona fumando en áreas donde

no está permitido, dile “¡No fumar!”

¿Cómo mejorar tus sistemas? Solo necesitas un complemento

sencillo.

Una vez detectado el evento objetivo, puede activar diferentes acciones, por ejemplo, enviar

mensajes push en la aplicación SenseCraft o hacer que las luces LED de Watcher

parpadeen. Por supuesto, entendemos que quieres ir más allá de las funcionalidades en la

app o el dispositivo. ¡No hay problema! ¡Hay infinitas posibilidades para explorar!

Añade Watcher a Home Assistant.

Conectado a plataformas IoT como Home Assistant, tu Watcher actúa como un

sensor de comportamiento, activando acciones personalizadas en diversos contextos. Por

ejemplo, cuando detecta personas, Watcher analiza la situación y automáticamente

desencadena acciones: luces encendidas para leer y luces apagadas para dormir.

Más que un sensor de visión, Watcher se puede ampliar con otros sensores

para habilitar la detección multimodal. En la parte trasera de Watcher, el I2C está

reservado para acomodar más de 100 sensores Grove. Esta flexibilidad permite queWatcher integre una amplia gama de fuentes de datos para un análisis exhaustivo y

acciones apropiadas. Podrás construir aplicaciones como detectar la temperatura de la

habitación y ajustar el aire acondicionado en consecuencia: cambiarlo a 22°C cuando llevas

traje, o a 26°C cuando estás en shorts.

Añade Watcher a tu flujo de Node-RED

A solo 3 bloques de distancia, puedes transmitir los resultados detectados por tu Watcher a

cualquier lugar en internet a través de Node-RED, ¡tan fácil como hacer clic!

Añade Watcher a tu Arduino | ESP32 y otros sistemas de

hardware.

¿Quieres añadir un agente de IA a los MCU y SBC populares como

Arduino/ESP32/Raspberry Pi? Simplemente conéctalo a Watcher a través de UART, HTTP o

USB, y podrás explorar la nueva frontera de la inteligencia.

Dato curioso: Aquí en Seeed, Watcher tiene el apodo de “Nobody,” simbolizando

un robot sin cuerpo. Esto transmite un mensaje poderoso: ¡Dale a Watcher un cuerpo!

¡Watcher puede ser una cabeza genial para tu robot!

Para los fans de XIAO, ¡tenemos un paquete especial! Apoya a SenseCAP

Watcher y podrás añadir un XIAO ESP32C6 por solo $1.

XIAO ESP32C6 es un MCU compacto, nativo de Matter, para hogares inteligentes. Basado

en ESP32-C6 de Espressif, soporta diversas conectividades inalámbricas: Wi-Fi 6 a 2.4

GHz, BLE 5.0, Zigbee y Thread.

Por ejemplo, puedes hacer un sensor de emociones añadiendo Watcher a XIAO.

Al detectar tu mal humor, florece para animarte.

Dale emociones únicas a tu Watcher

SenseCAP Watcher se adapta a tus comandos con “modos” únicos. Primero ESCUCHA tus

instrucciones, luego cambia al modo de VIGILANCIA para proteger el espacio designado,

etc. ¡Pero la diversión no termina aquí! Puedes subir tus propios diseños de emociones

para darle a tu Watcher una personalidad única. ¡Prepara un archivo PNG y súbelo a

Watcher en segundos! ¡Es tu decisión!

Los emojis predeterminados de Watcher están inspirados en C-3PO, en homenaje a uno de

nuestros mayores ayudantes.

Puedes subir los tuyos fácilmente en formato .PNG

Incluso puedes diseñar una interfaz de usuario (UI) única para tu SenseCAP

Watcher. Nuestra interfaz actual está impulsada por Squareline.

Open Source y despliegue On-Premise.

Como un dispositivo de IA, es fundamental respetar la privacidad. Y adoptamos e

implementamos dos estrategias clave en este ingenioso dispositivo.

1. SenseCAP Watcher es de código abierto, lo que te brinda acceso completo para

entender a fondo cómo funciona.

2. Soporta despliegue on-premise. La columna vertebral de SenseCAP Watcher es la

suite de software SenseCraft, que se utiliza para configurar Watcher, interpretar tus

comandos y acceder a los LLMs. Por lo tanto, todo está almacenado y ejecutándose

de manera privada, garantizando que tus modelos y datos no se envíen a ningún

LLM o nube pública. SenseCraft puede ejecutarse en Windows/MacOS/Linux. Dado

que SenseCraft contiene LLMs, ciertos criterios de rendimiento son necesarios para

la computadora, como se detalla a continuación.

Puedes desplegar SenseCraft en tus computadoras de repuesto. Sin embargo, si

buscas aplicaciones que requieran confiabilidad a nivel comercial y bajo consumo de

energía, la combinación de SenseCAP Watcher + NVIDIA® Jetson AGX Orin™ es perfecta

para ti.

En comparación con las tarjetas gráficas de consumo (como la RTX 4090) para

tareas de IA, NVIDIA® Jetson AGX Orin™ destaca con ventajas clave:

1. Confiabilidad a nivel industrial: Diseñada para aplicaciones industriales y

comerciales, la serie Jetson AGX cuenta con un MTBF (tiempo medio entre fallas)

más largo. Diseñada para operar las 24 horas del día, ofrece una confiabilidad

superior para aplicaciones de funcionamiento continuo, en comparación con las

tarjetas gráficas de consumo.

2. Compacta y de bajo consumo: Con aplicaciones de computación embebida y en el

borde en mente, la serie Jetson AGX está diseñada en un formato más pequeño y

consume más de 3 veces menos energía que las tarjetas gráficas de consumo. Es

adecuada para espacios reducidos, genera menos calor y ayuda a reducir los costos

operativos. Esto es crucial para los sistemas embebidos.

¿Suscripción? ¡Tú decides!

Los Servicios de IA de SenseCraft están diseñados para tus necesidades.

Empieza con Basic, completamente GRATIS para baja frecuencia: 15 minutos/solicitud para

análisis de imágenes, 200 chats/mes con LLMs.

¿Necesitas más? Solo $6.90 para la versión Pro, paga solo por lo que consumes, ¡SIN

compromiso de tarifas recurrentes! Además, ¡cada dispositivo NUEVO incluye un

paquete Pro GRATIS de $6.90! Recarga según sea necesario.

¿Quieres evitar tarifas por completo? Elige On-Premise. Simplemente despliega y usa sin

costos adicionales.

Dos modelos

Soporte para varios métodos de montaje.

Se puede colocar sobre un escritorio o montarlo en paredes como una expansión

inteligente. O también se puede transformar en la cabeza de un robot.

Otros lo usaron como

Personalización – El camino más rápido para construir hardware

con IA.

El próximo dispositivo debería estar impulsado por IA. ¡El hardware con IA incorporada

conectada a LLMs es la tendencia!

Con SenseCAP Watcher, hemos desarrollado un marco revolucionario que lleva potentes

LLMs al borde del mundo físico. Este marco acelera el prototipado de hardware con IA. Con

nuestros servicios de personalización, ¡puedes dar vida a tu hardware de IA más rápido que

nunca!

¡Es hora de aumentar la inteligencia de tu espacio! Estamos en

Discord.

¡Bienvenido a unirte a nuestra comunidad! Si tu prefieres escribirnos, puedes hacerlo por

medio del correo electrónico sensecap@seeed.cc.

Riesgos y desafíos

Hemos realizado pruebas exhaustivas con SenseCAP Watcher, y estamos completamente

comprometidos a entregarlo a tiempo a nuestros patrocinadores, con todo funcionando sinproblemas. No obstante, como sucede con cualquier nuevo producto, existen riesgos

potenciales asociados al lanzamiento.

Sin embargo, como una empresa consolidada con un historial probado de éxito en el

desarrollo de cientos de productos, sabemos cómo superar estos desafíos. Ten la seguridad

de que, si surgen problemas de producción, seremos completamente transparentes con

nuestros patrocinadores y los mantendremos informados durante todo el proceso.

Uso de la IA

Tengo pensado usar contenido generado por IA en mi proyecto.

¿Qué partes de tu proyecto utilizarán contenido generado por IA? Responde con la

mayor precisión posible.

Usaremos contenido generado por IA de MidJourney para crear imágenes que destaquen

las características de nuestro producto y muestran cómo puede ser usado en escenarios

reales. Además, utilizaré ChatGPT para la corrección de estilo de nuestra campaña.

¿Tienes el consentimiento de los propietarios de los trabajos que se usaron (o se

usarán) para producir la parte de tu proyecto generada por IA? Por favor, explica.

Para las imágenes que necesitamos, primero buscaremos en bibliotecas existentes en

Google. Si encontramos imágenes que puedan ser usadas directamente, verificaremos sus

licencias para determinar los pasos apropiados a seguir. Si las imágenes no pueden ser

usadas directamente, generamos nuestras propias imágenes.

The post SenseCAP Watcher – El Agente de IA Física para Espacios Inteligentes appeared first on Latest Open Tech From Seeed.

ReSpeaker Lite Updates: New Firmware, Enclosure Tips and Installation Guide!

The ReSpeaker Lite Voice Assistant Kit has been available to community for some time, and thanks to your feedback, we’re thrilled to introduce several exciting updates! These enhancements make it even easier for voice assistant enthusiasts and DIYers to build their projects.

We recommend purchasing products from the ReSpeaker Lite Voice Assistant Kit, which includes:

1)ReSpeaker Lite

2) ReSpeaker Lite with XIAO ESP32S3

3)Mono Enclosed Speaker – 4R 5W

4)Acrylic Enclosure for ReSpeaker Lite

You can mix and match as you like.、

Firmware Update for Better Performance

We’ve updated the firmware to boost performance across the board. Be sure to download the latest version that matches your setup:

respeaker_lite_usb_xmos_v2.0.5.bin

respeaker_lite_i2s_xiao_1.0.7.bin

Check out our Firmware Upgrade Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Enclosure Installation Instruction

We’ve also added a detailed, easy-to-follow enclosure installation guide to help you safely assemble your ReSpeaker Lite setup. Watch the video and ensure your device is perfectly housed and ready to use:

Custom Enclosure Design Recommendations

If you’re designing your own enclosure, here are some important guidelines to ensure optimal audio performance:

  1. Ensure that the distance between the speaker and the two microphones is uniform, and minimize the transmission of speaker vibrations to the microphones to maintain audio clarity.
  2. The enclosure should allow human voice to reach each microphone without obstruction, ensuring direct sound (as opposed to reflected sound) can evenly reach both microphones for accurate sound capture.
  3. If you are designing a sealed microphone chamber, avoid creating a resonant cavity that is narrow at both ends and wide in the middle, as this can interfere with front-end signal processing. If a sealed chamber is not feasible, incorporate multiple perforations in the enclosure to prevent sound reflections from bouncing inside before reaching the microphones. This helps to maintain signal integrity.

Beginner Tips for Easier Soldering

For beginners, we recommend using pin headers when soldering components. This makes the process smoother and helps reduce errors—perfect for those just getting started.

Get Involved and Stay Updated

We’re continuously working on more improvements, so stay tuned for future updates! In the meantime, check out our wiki for in-depth technical details. Have questions, suggestions, or ideas for new features or products? Drop them in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you!

For hardware customization, bulk orders, or distribution inquiries, please contact us at iot@seeed.cc.

The post ReSpeaker Lite Updates: New Firmware, Enclosure Tips and Installation Guide! appeared first on Latest Open Tech From Seeed.

Next-Gen AI Gadgets: Rabbit R1 vs SenseCAP Watcher

Authored by Mengdu and published on Hackster, for sharing purposes only.

AI gadgets Rabbit R1 & SenseCAP Watcher design, UI, user experience compared – hardware/interaction highlights, no application details.

Next-Gen AI Gadgets: Rabbit R1 vs SenseCAP Watcher

Story

The world of AI gadgets is rapidly evolving, with companies racing to deliver intelligent home companions. Two such devices, the Rabbit R1, and SenseCAP Watcher, recently caught my attention through very different means – brilliant marketing drew me to purchase the former, while the latter was a review unit touted as a “Physical AI Agent” by Seeed Studio.

Intrigued by the potential convergence between these products, I embarked on an immersive user experience testing them side-by-side. This review offers a candid assessment of their design, user interfaces, and core interactions. However, I’ll steer clear of Rabbit’s app ecosystem and third-party software integration capabilities, as Watcher lacks such functionality by design.

My goal is to unravel the unique propositions each gadget brings to the AI gadgets market and uncover any surprising distinctions or similarities. Join me as I separate gimmick from innovation in this emerging product category.

Packaging

Rabbit really went all out with the packaging for the R1. As soon as I got the box, I could tell this wasn’t your average gadget. Instead of cheap plastic, the R1 comes cocooned in a crystal-clear acrylic case. It looks and feels incredibly premium.

It allows you to fully admire the R1’s design and interactive components like the scroll wheel and speakers before even taking it out. Little etched icons map out exactly what each part does.

The acrylic case doesn’t just protect – it also doubles as a display stand for the R1. There’s a molded pedestal that cradles the plastic body, letting you showcase the device like a museum piece.

By the time I finally got the R1 out of its clear jewel case, I was already grinning like a kid on Christmas day. The whole unboxing makes you feel like you’re uncovering a precious gadget treasure.

While the Watcher is priced nearly half that of the Rabbit R1, its eco-friendly cardboard packaging is anything but cheap. Extracting the Watcher unit itself is a simple matter of gently lifting it from the integrated enclosure.

At first glance, like me, you may puzzle over the purpose of the various cutouts, folds, and perforations. But a quick peek at their wiki reveals this unassuming exterior actually transforms into a multi-functional stand!

Echoing the form of a desktop calendar, a central cutout cradles the Watcher body, allowing it to be displayed front-and-center on your desk like a compact objet d’art. A clever and well-considered bit of innovation that deserves kudos for the design team!

Interaction Logic

Despite being equipped with speakers, microphone, camera, scroll wheel, and a touchscreen display – the R1 restricts touch input functionality. The touchscreen remains unresponsive to touch for general commands and controls, only allowing input through an on-screen virtual keyboard in specific scenarios like entering a WiFi password or using the terminal interface.

The primary interaction method is strictly voice-driven, which feels counterintuitive given the prominent touchscreen hardware. It’s puzzling why Rabbit’s design team limited core touch functionality on the included touchscreen display.

The overall operation logic also takes some getting used to. Take the side button dubbed the “PTT” – its function varies situationally.

This unintuitive behavior tripped me up when configuring WiFi. After tapping “connect”, I instinctively tried hitting PTT again to go back, only to accidentally cancel the connection instead. It wasn’t until later that I realized using the scroll wheel to navigate to the very top option, then pressing PTT is the correct “back” gesture.

While not necessarily a flaw, this interaction model defies typical user expectations. Most would assume a core navigation function like “back” to be clearly visible and accessible without obscure gestures. Having to precisely scroll to the top option every single time just to return to the previous menu is quite cumbersome, especially for nested settings trees.

This jarring lack of consistency in the control scheme is truly baffling. The operation logic appears haphazardly scattered across different button combinations and gestures depending on the context. Mastering the R1’s controls feels like an exercise in memorizing arbitrary rules rather than intuitive design principles.

In contrast to the Rabbit R1, the Watcher device seems to have a much simpler and more consistent interaction model. This could be attributed to the fact that the Watcher’s operations are inherently not overly complex, and it relies on a companion smartphone app for assistance in many scenarios.

Like the R1, the Watcher is equipped with a scroll wheel, camera, touchscreen, microphone, and speakers. Additionally, it has various pin interfaces for connecting external sensors, which may appeal to developers looking to tinker.

Commendably, the current version of the Watcher maintains a high degree of unity in its operational logic. Pressing the scroll wheel confirms a selection, scrolling up or down moves the cursor accordingly, and a long press initiates voice interaction with the device. This level of consistency is praiseworthy.

Moreover, the touchscreen is fully functional, allowing for a seamless experience where users can choose to navigate via either the scroll wheel or touch input, maintaining interactivity consistency while providing independent input methods. This versatility is a welcome design choice.

However, one minor drawback is that the interactions lack the “stickiness” found in smartphone interfaces. Both the scroll wheel and touch inputs exhibit a degree of frame drops and latency, which may be a common limitation of microcontroller-based device interactions.

When I mentioned that “it relies on a companion smartphone app for assistance in many scenarios, ” I was referring to the inability to perform tasks like entering long texts, such as WiFi passwords, directly on the Watcher‘s small screen. This reliance is somewhat unfortunate.

However, given the Watcher’s intended positioning as a device meant to be installed in a fixed location, perhaps mounted on a wall, it is understandable that users may not always need to operate it directly. The design team likely factored in the convenience of using a smartphone app for certain operations, as you wouldn’t necessarily be handling the Watcher itself at all times.

What can they do?

At its core, the Rabbit R1 leverages cloud-based large language models and computer vision AI to provide natural language processing, speech recognition, image identification and generation, and more. It has an array of sensors including cameras, microphones and environmental detection to take in multimodal inputs.

One of the Rabbit R1’s marquee features is voice search and question answering. Simply press the push-to-talk button and ask it anything, like “What were last night’s NBA scores?” or “What’s the latest on the TikTok ban?”. The AI will quickly find and recite relevant, up-to-date information drawn from the internet.

The SenseCAP Watcher, while also employing voice interaction and large language models, takes a slightly different approach. By long-pressing the scroll wheel on the top right of the Watcher, you can ask it profound existential questions like “Can you tell me why I was born into this world? What is my value to the universe?” It will patiently provide some insightful, if ambiguous, answers.

However, the key difference lies in contextual awareness: unlike the Rabbit R1, the Watcher can’t incorporate your current time and location into its responses. So while both devices might ponder the meaning of life with you, only the Rabbit R1 could tell you where to find the nearest open café to continue your existential crisis over a cup of coffee.

While both devices offer voice interaction capabilities, their approaches to visual processing showcase even more distinct differences.

Vision mode allows the Rabbit R1’s built-in camera to identify objects you point it towards. I found it was generally accurate at recognizing things like office supplies, food, and electronics – though it did mistake my iPhone 16 Pro Max for older models a couple times. This feature essentially turns the Rabbit R1 into a pocket-sized seeing-eye dog, ready to describe the world around you at a moment’s notice.

Unlike the Rabbit R1’s general-purpose object recognition, the Watcher’s visual capabilities appear to be tailored for a specific task. It’s not designed to be your all-seeing companion, identifying everything from your morning bagel to your office stapler.

Things are starting to get interesting. Seeed Studio calls the SenseCAP Watcher a “Physical AI Agent” – a term that initially puzzled me.

The term “Physical” refers to its tangible presence in the real world, acting as a bridge between our physical environment and Large Language Model.

As a parent of a mischievous toddler, my little one has a habit of running off naked while I’m tidying up the bathroom, often resulting in them catching a chill. I set up a simple task for the Watcher: “Alert me if my child leaves the bathroom without clothes on.” Now, the device uses its AI to recognize my child, determine if they’re dressed, and notify me immediately if they attempt to make a nude escape.

Unlike traditional cameras or smart devices, the Watcher doesn’t merely capture images or respond to voice commands. Its sophisticated AI allows it to analyze and interpret its surroundings, understanding not just what objects are present, but also the context and activities taking place.

I’ve experienced its autonomous capabilities firsthand as a working parent with a hectic schedule. After a long day at the office and tending to my kids, I usually collapse on the couch late at night for some much-needed TV time. However, I often doze off, leaving the TV and lights on all night, much to my wife’s annoyance the next morning.

Enter the Watcher. I’ve set it up to monitor my situation during late-night TV watching. Using its advanced AI, the Watcher can detect when I’ve fallen asleep on the couch. Once it recognizes that I’m no longer awake, it springs into action. Through its integration with my Home Assistant system, the Watcher triggers a series of automated actions: the TV switches off, the living room lights dim and then turn off, and the air conditioning adjusts to a comfortable sleeping temperature.

The “Agent” aspect of the Watcher emphasizes its role as an autonomous assistant. Users can assign tasks to the device, which then operates independently to achieve those goals. This might involve interacting with other smart devices, making decisions based on observed conditions, or providing insights without constant human input. It offers a new level of environmental awareness and task execution, potentially changing how we interact with AI in our daily lives.

You might think that devices like the Rabbit R1 could perform similar tasks. However, you’ll quickly realize that the Watcher’s capabilities are the result of Seeed Studio’s dedicated efforts to optimize large language models specifically for this purpose.

When it comes to analyzing object behaviors, the Rabbit R1 often provides ambiguous answers. For instance, it might suggest that a person “could be smoking” or “might be sleeping.” This ambiguity directly affects their ability to make decisive actions. This is probably a common problem with all devices using AI at the moment, too much nonsense and indecision. We sometimes find them cumbersome, often because they can’t be as decisive as humans.

I think I can now understand all the reasons why Seeed Studio calls it Physical AI Agent. I can use it in many of my scenarios. It could detect if your kid has an accident and wets the bed, then alert you. If it sees your pet causing mischief, it can recognize the bad behavior and give you a heads up.

If a package arrives at your door, the Watcher can identify it’s a delivery and let you know, rather than just sitting there unknowingly. It’s an always-vigilant smart camera that processes what it sees almost like having another set of eyes monitoring your home or office.

As for their distinct focus areas, the ambition on the Rabbit R1 side is to completely replace traditional smartphones by doing everything via voice control. Their wildest dream is that even if you metaphorically chopped off both your hands, you could just tell the R1 “I want to order food delivery” and it would magically handle the entire process from ordering to payment to confirming arrival – all without you having to lift a finger.

Instead of overcomplicating it with technical jargon about sensors and AI models, the key is that the Watcher has enough awareness to comprehend events unfolding in the physical world around it and keep you informed, no fiddling required on your end.

Perhaps this duality of being an intelligent aide with a tangible physical embodiment is the core reason why Seeed Studio dubs the Watcher a “Physical AI Agent.” Unlike disembodied virtual assistants residing in the cloud, the Watcher has a real-world presence – acting as an ever-present bridge that allows advanced AI language models to directly interface with and augment our lived physical experiences. It’s an attentive, thoughtful companion truly grounded in our reality.

Concluding

The Rabbit R1 and SenseCAP Watcher both utilize large language models combined with image analysis, representing innovative ways to bring advanced AI into physical devices. However, their application goals differ significantly.

The Watcher, as a Physical AI Agent, focuses on specific scenarios within our living spaces. It continuously observes and interprets its environment, making decisions and taking actions to assist users in their daily lives. By integrating with smart home systems, it can perform tasks autonomously, effectively replacing repetitive human labor in defined contexts.

Rabbit R1, on the other hand, aims to revolutionize mobile computing. Its goal is to replace traditional smartphones by offering a voice-driven interface that can interact with various digital services and apps. It seeks to simplify and streamline how we engage with technology on the go.

Both devices represent early steps towards a future where AI is more deeply integrated into our daily lives. The Watcher showcases how AI can actively participate in our physical spaces, while the R1 demonstrates AI’s potential to transform our digital interactions. As pioneering products, they offer glimpses into different facets of our AI-enhanced future, inviting us to imagine a world where artificial intelligence seamlessly blends with both our physical and digital realities.

There is no clear “winner” here.

Regardless of how successful these first iterations prove to be, Rabbit and Seeed Studio have staked unique perspectives on unleashing productivity gains from large language AI. Their distinct offerings are pioneering explorations that will undoubtedly hold a place in the historical arc of ambient AI development.

If given the opportunity to experience them first-hand, I wholeheartedly recommend picking up both devices. While imperfect, they provide an enthralling glimpse into the future – where artificial intelligence transcends virtual assistants confined to the cloud, and starts manifesting true cognition of our physical spaces and daily lives through thoughtful hardware/software synergies.

The post Next-Gen AI Gadgets: Rabbit R1 vs SenseCAP Watcher appeared first on Latest Open Tech From Seeed.

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