ChillHub is putting an end to the days of reaching into your fridge only to realize that you’ve run low (or completely out of) milk, eggs, or quite frankly, anything. The open-source smart refrigerator debuted last week at CES 2015. With built-in WiFi and two integrated USB hubs with 8 USB ports, your fridge can successfully talk to other smart devices in your home, such as Nest or WeMo.
Forgot to check to see if you’re out of butter before running to the store? No problem. The initial design will have a built-in camera so consumers can take a peek in the fridge from anywhere—grocery store included.
Because ChillHub was designed as an open-source appliance, it is completely compatible with sensors and hardware, meaning you can successfully design additional components to truly customize your fridge. Want to add an LED disinfecting light? No problem. How about an egg carton that doubles as an egg cooker? Put a fork in it, it’s done (heh). Right now, there are 55 proposed components for the ChillHub, and several have already begun prototyping.
The smart fridge is supported by FirstBuild, and is the first community-generated product that will be released to market, retailing for $2,999. Let’s all give a round of applause to Keith Wait and Brian Wagner for their ingenious work on this project. It’s awesome.
What are your thoughts on the ChillHub? Is it over the top? Comment below, or email your comments to [email protected].
Filed Under: M2M (machine to machine)