The ServoShock 2 Kickstarter campaign makes a single, simple claim: Using the board, either as a standalone system or Arduino shield, makers can control up to twelve different servos from up to thirty feet away. The claim becomes even more interesting because the user can wield a Playstation 4 controller for the actuation, and no programming skills are required.
ServoShock works over a wired USB connection or through Bluetooth. Beyond the 12 servos the system can also control 18 digital outputs. Four servos are mapped to joysticks, two to triggers, two on the X/Y tilt sensor, and four mapped to the touchpad joysticks. The digital outputs are also mapped to the buttons and triggers.
There are also several control options for the system - pushbutton, toggle, autofire, single pulse and inversion control configurations are all available. Direction, limits, and sensitivity can be adjusted as well. The project is open source and incredibly detailed instructions, user's manual, schematics and Arduino code are all currently available online along with the circuit design.
ServoShock looks to be a great system for new makers and customizers alike, and if the "no programming required" claim really holds up there's a possibility for a whole new wave of users to enter the hobby. I can easily see a system like this used to control a FIRST Robotics entry, a senior design project, or act as an additional control for a VEX or Mindstorm based robot. The only drawback to a great Kickstarter like this is all the immediate ideas that it might spark in the minds of makers and hobbyists, and the wait that they'll have to endure before the tool is ready. The crowdfunding campaign ends on February 23 and if successful first units are expected to ship in April 2018.