The most exciting Linux and open source Kickstarter projects of 2016 (so far)

Kickstarter has brought us many successful Linux and open source products, including Mycroft AI, Pebble Time, and Ouya, among others. Some of these raised millions of dollars in funding.

Who will be next?

Keep an eye on this slideshow as it evolves over the course of the year. We’ll keep you updated on new projects and let you know who met their funding goals.

I am heavily into drones and have been flying them for a while. I have also cut cut myself couple of times with the blades. And I’m not the first to observe that current drone designs aren’t very safe.

Building a safer drone is exactly what Belgium-based Fleye is trying to do. They raised over $264,946 on Kickstarter and were fully funded in January 2016. Fleye has a brand new, safer design that eliminates any possibility of physical injuries.

The new drone also features a powerful dual core ARM A9 chip, along with 2 GPUs and 512MB of RAM and it runs on Linux. It’s an open platform. Thanks to the powerful processor it’s more than a drone, and closer to a flying robot.

Check out the project on Kickstarter

Update: Fleye met its goal, raising raised €314,080 ($342,363.66) with 717 backers.

Raspberry Pi triggered a revolution and now we are surrounded by inexpensive, credit card sized computers. Most of these small devices have enough power to drive interesting projects, but they fall short of performing desktop or server grade tasks.

That’s where PINE 64 enters the picture. According to the Kickstarter page it is the “world’s first 64-bit expandable Quad Core 1.2Ghz supercomputer, tablet, media center, and more” … and it’s about the size of an iPhone 6S.

Thanks to a much more powerful processor there are immense possibilities with PINE 64. PINE 64 runs on Ubuntu Snappy Core and Lubuntu. However the real perk is Android 5.1 that runs natively on this device.

Check out the project on Kickstarter

While Apple, Samsung, and Google are still trying to attract gadget-loving adults with their smart watches, dokiWatch has another demographic in mind: kids.

As a father of two boys, I try to keep them as far away from smartphones and tablets as I can and let them explore the real world. But when they are away I wish I had something on them that helps me keep in touch with them. And that’s the kind of problem dokiWatch, which runs Android OS, is trying to solve.

According to the project page, dokiWatch comes with important safety features. GPS tracking lets parents keep tabs on their children right on their smartphone. It also comes with an SOS button. When this button is held for 3 seconds it triggers an emergency notification to preset contacts, it starts a 60 second recording to capture sound, and it also starts sending GPS location of the child every 60 seconds.

Read more about it on Kickstarter

As a Pi user who is planning to get the official Raspberry Pi touch screen, I keep looking for a decent case for the whole device. I am not planning to use the Pi as a ‘tablet.’ Instead, I want to use it as a wall mounted device in the living room for home automation.

Smart Pi Touch is the kind of solution I am looking for. The Kickstarter campaign is run by Tom Murray, an industrial designer who earlier ran another successful Kickstarter campaign for Raspberry Pi case.

According to the Kickstarter page: “The SmartiPi touch is a case and stand for the Official Raspberry Pi touch display. The display is secured into the case with four screws. A Raspberry Pi 2, B+ or A+ is then enclosed in the compartment on the back of the case. A simple door covers the the Pi when it is in the compartment. The ribbon cable that comes with the display connects into the Raspberry Pi DSI port. The stand has a pivot that allows you to adjust the angle of the screen.”

Read more about the project on Kickstarter.