We think of the task of undoing a fastener as simple: You insert the bit into the fastener head, then turn. But in reality, there's always a few steps before that: You identify the fastener type and size, then select the appropriate bit. Sometimes a poor fit reveals you've selected the wrong bit, so you try again.
Chinese tool company Arrowmax wants to do away with those extra steps. Their Arrowspace S1 is a rechargeable electric screwdriver with a camera and (of course) AI in the butt end.
You pull out a thin silver probe and touch it to the surface bearing the fastener. The probe's length is the ideal distance for the camera to "see" at, and AI then identifies the fastener type.
This info is beamed over to the attendant bit case, where an LED illuminates, indicating which of the 52 bits to grab.
The tool is aimed at those who disassemble electronics, where there might be multiple fastener types, including small ones too small to easily identify.
The Arrowspace S1 has been successfully Kickstarted, with 35 days left to pledge at press time. The units start at $129, and they expect to ship next April.