Today, crowdfunding begins for a new kind of open hardware storage system. Maypole allows users to share data wirelessly and makes it easier for designers to add Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functionality to their products.

USB flash memory sticks have been around long enough to have become a defacto data-exchange "interface" for devices of all kinds: computers, printers, industrial machinery, sewing machines, lab equipment, etc. We designed Maypole to solve practical, real world problems related to industrial machinery that reads static instructions from a USB stick. It gives us the ability to store and edit design files from anywhere within Wi-Fi range—or even from across the Internet. In other words, it gives us the IoT functionality we need without us to replace expensive equipment that serves our needs perfectly in every other respect.

When we actually began building Maypole, it occurred to us that it would have uses well beyond our industry. We also realized that the addition of a battery would open the door to new mobility-oriented applications. The current version of maypole is like a portable power bank for data! And, thanks to the ESP32 module at its heart, Maypole has Bluetooth functionality as well, which gives it the potential to support wireless speakers and headphones.

We think you’ll enjoy using it, and we think you’ll love building other products around the features it provides. So come have a look at our campaign page, and help us bring Maypole to the world!