Electronics

Batthead batteries could allow any device to be wirelessly controlled

Batthead batteries could allow any device to be wirelessly controlled
Battheads would allow any device using them to be controlled via a smartphone
Battheads would allow any device using them to be controlled via a smartphone
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Battheads would allow any device using them to be controlled via a smartphone
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Battheads would allow any device using them to be controlled via a smartphone
The Battheads themselves are AA-sized rechargeable NiMH batteries, each one containing a Bluetooth Smart Chip that allows it to communicate with your phone
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The Battheads themselves are AA-sized rechargeable NiMH batteries, each one containing a Bluetooth Smart Chip that allows it to communicate with your phone

There are already a wide variety of devices that can be turned on and off by your smartphone, although they typically need to be Wi-Fi- or Bluetooth-enabled. The makers of Batthead, however, have taken another approach. They're creating Bluetooth-controlled batteries, that will allow any ol' device using them to be powered up or down via your phone.

The Battheads themselves are AA-sized rechargeable NiMH batteries, each one containing a Bluetooth Smart Chip that allows it to communicate with your phone.

There's also an integrated accelerometer, making it possible for the batteries to detect when they've been moved. This could allow for things such as flashlights that come on whenever they're picked up, or devices that automatically turn off when they haven't been used in several minutes.

The Battheads themselves are AA-sized rechargeable NiMH batteries, each one containing a Bluetooth Smart Chip that allows it to communicate with your phone
The Battheads themselves are AA-sized rechargeable NiMH batteries, each one containing a Bluetooth Smart Chip that allows it to communicate with your phone

Along with simply being used as a remote power switch, the paired phone could also make it possible for devices to follow a power on/off schedule throughout the day, to turn themselves on or off depending on whether or not the phone is nearby, and to notify the user if they've accidentally left the device behind somewhere.

If one set of batteries is charging while another is loaded into a device, the app will always identify the "in use" batteries as the ones to control. What isn't immediately clear, is what happens when multiple sets of batteries are in use in different devices at the same time.

Battheads are currently in working prototype form, with iOS and Android versions of the app on the way. The developers are currently seeking production funds, on Kickstarter. Pledges start at 19 CAD (US$18.40) for a single battery without an accelerometer, when and if they reach production.

More information is available in the pitch video below.

Source: Kickstarter

Ed note: This article originally mistakenly referred to the batteries as being Wi-Fi-controlled, and has been corrected.

5 comments
5 comments
bobby12
Don't have time to watch the video, but unless these have at least 2000 mAh, don't even bother with advertising...
Chizzy
make it mesh networked, and mix this tech with the wireless charging system, and boom - instant internet of things.
Slowburn
An interesting idea but it reduces the energy the battery can carry and for most application a wi-fi controlled switch device would do the same job without reducing the available power.
Joost de Nijs
Oh man! Think what will happen if every toy, clock, flash-light, ... all get Wifi. The world will be completely overflowing with wifi-radiation! So no proper connection anymore (already a problem now every home has got multiple wifi devices), bad for the health, EMC problems, bad reception on other radio signals as well.
But I do like there commercial, with daddy and all the toys. :)
Jay Finke
Wow great idea guys. Sony eneloop is a great rechargeable battery, and the AAA could be used as a replacement for the AA witch would give you room for electronics, also the eneloop has a adapter for the AA to C's and D's. as Sony doesn't make D size eneloops batteries, only AAA and AA's. I have been using these batteries for years and like there performance. I wish the best for you guys, as I'm struggling with my invention also, mine just saves lives.