This weekly series on crowdfunded gadgets looks for the most interesting new projects on sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Not all of these crowdfunded projects actually work out, but there are some standouts like the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset and the Pebble Smartwatch that have become huge successes.
Not everything can be the next game changer though, and we're also looking for cool and fun projects that you might want to back - which could be a new speaker, a better way to charge your phone, or even a smart controller for your air conditioner (AC), like the Ambi Climate.
The Ambi Climate is described on its Kickstarter page as a "small, sleek internet of things device that makes your existing infrared remote-controlled air conditioner smart." What this essentially means is simple - the Ambi Climate can control your AC (provided the AC comes with a remote) and adjust the settings or even switch it on or off. At the same time, it connects to your phone via the Internet, and lets your Android or iOS device double as a remote.
That's the simplest part of it, but the Ambi Climate also performs something the team calls "predictive climate control" - what this means is that the device learns from your usage pattern and daily routine, and adjusts your AC taking into account your preferences and the outside temperature, humidity etc.
If you're going to work and want to keep the AC on for a pet or something, then you can also set it to "Away Mode" which maintains temperature and humidity levels. Since it's paired with your phone, the Ambi Climate can use your location data to control the AC, turn it on or off, as required. You can see the full details in the video below:
The Ambi Climate is supposed to start shipping in June 2015, for $99 (plus $10 for international orders), or a twin pack for $169, and 3 for $249. You can see more stories from the world of crowdfunding here.
Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2026 hub.