For some reason, be it a lack of a proper wood shop class in schools these days or a desire to use a smartphone over a cordless drill, fewer and fewer people know their way around a set of power tools. Understanding this as a critical flaw, University of California, Berkeley computer sciences Ph.D. candidate Eldon Schoop decided to develop an easy-to-use tool for teaching people the fundamentals of shop classes of old. Dubbed Drill Sergeant, Schoop’s innovative new tutoring system is essentially like having a robotic teacher attached directly to whatever tool you are using.
Schoop developed Drill Sergeant as a series of sensor-based contraptions one would attach to off-the-shelf tools like power drills, miter saws, or CNC routers. Packed to the gills with various displays and sensors, Drill Sergeant knows exactly how someone is using their specific power tool and offers immediate feedback. For instance, if someone is drilling too far into a piece of wood or plaster, the head-up display will read “Pull back drill.” Conversely, the same display reads “Keep drilling” if the hole isn’t deep enough and lists how many more millimeters the drill must go to achieve the correct bore.
“Our system kind of helps you build confidence from the very beginning,” said Schoop in a YouTube video. “We don’t want anyone to be afraid of power tools, and we found that this is sometimes a common thing for novices. Power tools can be scary but we don’t believe they should be.”
Schoop cites how many craftsmen got started in woodworking and crafting by learning from a more skilled teacher via an apprenticeship or series of classes. Attempting to replicate this style of teaching, he developed Drill Sergeant. Though it’s geared toward helping anyone learn the basic fundamentals of power tools, there still exists a bit of a learning curve — few people outside of Bob Vila would be able to perfectly operate a miter saw on first try, after all. Despite this, Schoop and his project partner, Michelle Nguyen, still feel that interested craftspeople of all skill levels would be able to learn a significant amount from Drill Sergeant while remaining as safe as possible.
Currently, Drill Sergeant is but a class project for Schoop and Nguyen, though the duo say they are working with a few unnamed potential associates to help bring Drill Sergeant to the masses. Considering just how useful a tool like it could be, it seems likely Drill Sergeant will hit store shelves in Home Depots across the country sooner rather than later.
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.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.