Now that the smart home zeitgeist has really begun to take hold, there’s no shortage of low-cost DIY security systems on the market. They’re as common as pigeons these days, and there are hundreds –if not thousands– of different companies with their own take on the idea. But even in a space that’s become extremely crowded in the past couple of years, there’s still plenty of room for innovation.
Case in point: the Cocoon security system. In addition to all the requisite sensor tech we’ve come to expect from a device in this category (motion sensors, HD camera, smartphone connectivity, etc.), Cocoon uses a combination of infrasound and machine learning to detect intruders — no matter what room they might be in.
To help clarify that a bit, infrasonics is the study of low frequency sound waves that are below the range of of normal human hearing (around 20Hz or below). Seismologists have used this technology for decades to detect shockwaves caused by earthquakes, and now Cocoon brings it into your home. The device listens for infrasonic disturbances, and with the help of machine learning, can apparently discern normal activity from suspicious activity, pushing alerts to your smartphone when anything fishy is detected.
According to Cocoon’s creators, this technique allows the device to monitor your entire house from a single point. Infrasound detection makes it possible to sense intruders through walls and closed doors, which –if the technology actually works– would effectively solve many of the problems faced by traditional security systems, which are generally limited to a single room, or require multiple sensors to be installed throughout your home.
The company has already produced a number of working prototypes, and has recently taken to Indiegogo to gauge consumer demand and bankroll Cocoon’s first production run. If you back the project now, you can pre-order the device for around $250 to $300. The company expects to ship the first units to backers sometime in Q4 of next year, assuming the campaign reaches its $100K funding goal and manufacturing goes smoothly.
Few things ruin a quiet evening faster than a robot vacuum roaring through the living room. Most of us end up pausing the cleaning run, which defeats the whole purpose of owning one. Matic thinks it has the answer with its new Serene robot vacuum, and the big selling point is how little noise it makes.
The Matic Serene runs at 52 decibels even when cleaning at full power. To put that in perspective, Matic compares it to the hum of your refrigerator. It is available now for $1,695, which is $200 more than the original Matic’s current price.
Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.
Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
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