Ninja Block aims to democratise the sensor-rich internet of things

05 Jun 2013

[Clockwise from top] In keeping with the open-source theme, 3D-printable case designs are available. The Ninja Block can communicate with wireless sensors via a 433MHz transmitter, while, inside, a BeagleBone open-source computer the size of a credit-card rins Ubuntu. An Arduino-comptable microcontroller allows users to add their own hardware and software

Rowan Fee


In September last year, Sydney-based computer engineer Marcus Schappi discovered that a hawk was trying to eat his chickens. "I decided I needed motion sensors to detect when predators were sneaking up on the coop," he says. So he used <span class="s1">a project he had been working on for two years: the Ninja Block.

The smartphone-sized Linux computer can sense changes in its environment and trigger an action -- no code-writing required. "I set one up outside my coop, so when motion was detected, it would take a photo and post a message on my Facebook page," Schappi says.

The Ninja Block is now commercially available and has eight sensors including temperature, humidity, motion and contact, and a camera. To use it, all you have to do is create a rule in the Ninja Block software, using touchscreen icons. "Essentially, we create 'If this, then that'-style tasks in the app," Schappi explains. "For instance: 'If temperature indoors rises above 15 degrees celsius, then turn the heating down.'" To control specific external devices in your home (such as alarms, lighting or air con), they currently have to be connected to the "Ninja Cloud".

Eventually, Schappi wants to use smartphones to automatically recognise devices with Wi-Fi baked in. "There are lots of Wi-Fi-enabled products appearing," he says. "I want to create a platform that will bring it all together to activate the internet of things." FYI, we're calling our Ninja Block "Cato".