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Thanks a lot for stopping by !
Have you ever wondered how strong the wind is, exactly at the spot where you are? If you are a kitesurfer or windsurfer like us, then the answer is probably yes. But perhaps as a sailor, paraglider, model aircraft pilot, etc. etc. you would also like to get a precise reading of the wind, right on the spot? Then the Vaavud wind meter is just what you need!
The Vaavud wind meter enables you to take precise and reliable measurements of the wind anywhere, using your iOS or Android phone. And of course you can share your measurements online, and see live wind readings from other users on a map. So Vaavud can help you plan your trip, choose the right gear when you get to the spot, and alert others of the conditions before they go.
The Vaavud wind meter contains no electronics, but still connects wirelessly to your phone... Wait, what ??
Yes, you read it correctly :-) The secret is two small magnets in the rotor. The magnetic field sensor in the phone can detect when they rotate, and by using algorithms normally used for sound processing, the rotations can be converted to wind speed. Complicated engineering, made user friendly and simple. In fact, nobody has utilized the smartphone magnetometer in this way before.
The device has been very thoroughly tested and it has been calibrated in a wind tunnel at The Technical University of Denmark. It will be manufactured with keen attention to detail, so it will great looking, durable, and easy to use.
To realize this project we need to make a significant investment in production tools, and meet minimum order requirements - so we need your help! Please back our project, and share it with your friends.
Thanks a lot for your trust and support!
//Andreas, Maria and Thomas
A note about supported devices
Because the Vaavud wind meter depends on a hardware component (the magnetometer) in the phone, we need to test and calibrate it with a wide range of devices. So far we have confirmed that it works with the following models
- iPhone 4, 4S and 5
- iPad 2nd generation and 3rd generation
- Android: Samsung Galaxy SII and SIII
Given that it works with the Galaxy phones, it will most likely work with pretty much any newer Android smartphone. But at his point we can not guarantee it, because we have not had the time and resources to conduct actual tests yet.
Timeline
Risks and challenges
During the making of a physical product you always encounter a few surprises. Maybe you need an extra iteration on the production tools, before the parts come out just right, maybe a component from a sub-supplier is delayed etc. etc. However, Thomas has successfully steered two products through this exact process before. And several of the suppliers we use for this project are ones that Thomas has previously worked with.
Software development is also an area, that can contain a few unknowns. But Andreas has already delivered a number of successful projects to paying customers. And the core algorithms and features of the Vaavud wind meter are already in place in both the iOS and the Android app. So the work that lies ahead of us is mainly related to creating the user interface (GUI). While this is not completely trivial, we are convinced that it is doable. And we have a good network of other developers, that we can turn to for advice if need be.
Finally, Maria has a firm grip on the finance and administrative side of things, making sure that we manage our budgets, and meet our deadlines.
So all in all we are confident, that if we work hard and focused, we can overcome all of those challenges, and deliver a great product to all of you, at our estimated delivery date.
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Funding period
- (35 days)