In brief: AI and machine learning are still largely associated with software, digital media, and PCs, but one company wants to show how the technology can improve power tools. Arrowmax's upcoming Arrowspace S1 electric screwdriver kit combines an HD camera, a smartphone app, toolcase LED lights, and an in-house AI model to take the guesswork out of identifying screws.
Hong Kong-based Arrowmax recently launched a Kickstarter campaign for what it calls the world's first AI-powered electric screwdriver, and funded it almost immediately. Starting at around $80, with shipments planned to begin in April 2027, the device aims to streamline the entire process of selecting a bit and driving a screw.
A rear-mounted contact probe rests on the screw head and holds the camera at a fixed distance while the S1's HD camera captures the screw. The probe helps ensure maximum accuracy when scanning tiny screws, like those on glasses.
The system identifies the screw's size and shape using an AI model that Arrowmax trained on tens of thousands of real-world photos. The company stresses that its in-house engineering team collected every sample without using external training data, addressing one of AI's main ethical concerns.
A companion smartphone app then displays the camera feed alongside controls for torque, gear mode, and other parameters. The S1 connects to the app over a local connection and doesn't require internet access.
Finally, LEDs in the connected smart case light up over the slot containing the recommended bit, and the screwdriver automatically adjusts its torque. The process is designed to make selecting the correct bit easier and to help prevent stripping, especially on the smallest screws.
An OLED display shows battery level, torque, and direction. A 600mAh LiPo battery ensures 90 minutes of runtime or about 900 screws, depending on torque settings. Torque ranges between 1 and 10 kgf/cm. Charging via the rear-mounted USB-C port takes around 70 minutes.
The standalone S1 screwdriver starts at $80, while a bundle that adds the smart case and 52 bits starts at $129 for early birds. The Kickstarter launched on October 20, met its goal within 24 hours, and has since surpassed it by more than an order of magnitude. Arrowmax has not provided a list of stretch goals. Add-ons include an $18 angle screw, two bit converter sets for $24 each, and a $40 mini bench vise.
This smart screwdriver uses a camera and AI to identify screws and set torque automatically
