SuperSaber - Open Lightsaber Kit

Live Education CERN-OHL-P
by Elise Dupont Lyon, France

About This Project

A smooth-swing, sound-reactive lightsaber with swappable blade colors. Arduino-compatible.

The SuperSaber is a smooth-swing, sound-reactive lightsaber kit with swappable blade colors. It uses an Arduino-compatible SAMD21 microcontroller, a high-power WS2812B LED strip inside a polycarbonate blade tube, and a 6-axis IMU (MPU6050) for motion-triggered sound effects and blade animations. The hilt is machined from aluminum with a knurled grip section and pommel speaker housing. All CAD files are provided in STEP and Fusion 360 formats. The PCB uses through-hole components so beginners can assemble it with a basic soldering iron. Swing detection algorithms, blade styles, and sound fonts are fully customizable via an Arduino IDE sketch. The community has already created over 20 custom blade profiles.

LoRa-connected soil sensors designed for small farms across India and Southeast Asia. Each node is solar-powered and rated for 3 years of continuous operation without battery replacement. The sensor array communicates via LoRaWAN to a central gateway that pushes data to any MQTT-compatible dashboard.

All hardware designs are released under CERN-OHL-S. The KiCad schematics, STEP models for the weatherproof enclosure, and the firmware source (written in Rust for the nRF52840) are all available in the project repository. We want farmers and agricultural researchers to be able to build, modify, and manufacture these sensors without any licensing restrictions.

Campaign Video

Build Gallery

SuperSaber - Open Lightsaber Kit build photo 1
SuperSaber - Open Lightsaber Kit build photo 2
SuperSaber - Open Lightsaber Kit build photo 3

3D Model

Drag to rotate, scroll to zoom, pinch on mobile

PCB Design

Open Source Files

CERN-OHL-P

Preview every file before you back it - read the firmware, inspect the BOM, spin the model.

Bill of Materials

10 components
Component Qty Est. Cost
Ceramic filter element 1 ₹295
UV-C LED array (4x 275nm) 1 ₹520
Bamboo composite housing 1 ₹235
Solar charge controller (MPPT) 1 ₹285
12V 6Ah LiFePO4 battery pack 1 ₹460
10W solar panel 1 ₹270
Flow rate sensor (YF-S201) 1 ₹92
TDS sensor module 1 ₹75
PCB + through-hole components 1 ₹100
Silicone tubing + fittings 1 set ₹59
Total ~₹2,400

Manufacturing Status

Design Complete
All CAD, schematics, and firmware finalized
Complete
Prototyping
3 prototype iterations completed
Complete
Testing
Field testing in 3 villages in Karnataka
In Progress
Production Setup
Tooling and supply chain preparation
Shipping
Fulfillment to backers worldwide

Risks & Challenges

Building open hardware in the open means we share our challenges as readily as our wins. The core technology is already working in our prototypes, so the largest remaining risks are in manufacturing and fulfilment: component lead times can shift, and moving from a hand-built prototype to a repeatable production run always surfaces small surprises. We have de-risked this by finalising the design before launching, sourcing every part from at least two suppliers, and field-testing real units rather than bench mock-ups. Because the entire design is open, you are never locked in - if we ever could not finish, the complete files are already public so the community can carry it forward. We will keep you honest with regular, specific updates at every step.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will rewards ship?
Estimated delivery is on each reward tier. We only commit to dates we are confident in - if anything slips, backers hear it first in an update, with the reason and a new estimate.
Is this really fully open source?
Yes. Every schematic, board file, 3D model, and line of firmware is released under CERN-OHL-P. You can study it, repair it, manufacture it, and remix it - that is the whole point of building on Ooru.
Can I build it myself instead of backing a unit?
Absolutely. The Source Supporter tier gets you the complete file package, and the bill of materials lists every part with a place to buy it. The Maker Kit tier ships you the parts if you would rather not source them.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes - physical rewards ship worldwide. Any duties or import taxes are the backer's responsibility and are not included in the pledge amount.
What happens if the campaign is not fully funded?
This is an all-or-nothing campaign. If we do not reach the goal, no one is charged and no rewards ship. You are only backing a project that has the support to actually happen.

Still curious? Ask the maker on Discord.

Updates (3)

June 2, 2026

Prototype v3 passed field testing!

After 5 months of continuous operation in three test sites, Prototype v3 has exceeded all performance targets. Lab results confirm 99.97% bacteria removal and 99.9% virus inactivation. The bamboo housing showed zero degradation despite monsoon conditions. We are now finalizing the production BOM.

April 18, 2026

UV-C LED driver redesigned for reliability

We discovered thermal issues with the original LED driver during extended operation in direct sunlight. The redesigned board uses a more conservative derating curve and adds a thermistor-based cutoff. Updated KiCad files have been pushed to the repository.

February 5, 2026

Prototype v2 deployed for field testing

Three units deployed across rural sites near Mysore. Each unit is processing 100-140 liters per day for households of 5-8 people. Community health workers are logging daily output and collecting water samples for monthly lab analysis. Early feedback on usability has been very positive.

Discussion (6)

Y
Or chat on Discord
RD
Rahul DeshmukhBacker3 days ago

Backed the Maker Bundle tier. I run a small NGO in rural Maharashtra and we have been looking for exactly this kind of solution. The fact that the filters can be manufactured locally is a game changer for us. How difficult is the production process?

ED
Elise DupontCreator2 days ago

Great question! The filter production follows the Potters for Peace protocol, specifically designed to be teachable to local potters. A potter with basic experience can learn the process in about 2 days. We have a detailed training guide in the repository.

MI
Dr. Meena Iyer5 days ago

As a public health researcher, I want to highlight how important the dual-barrier approach is in this design. Ceramic filters alone handle bacteria well, but they are unreliable against viruses. The UV-C stage is the right call. Have you considered adding a chlorine dosing option as a tertiary backup?

ED
Elise DupontCreator4 days ago

Thanks for the expert perspective! We considered chlorine dosing but decided against it for v1 because it adds supply chain complexity. For high-turbidity events, we recommend a pre-settlement step using alum. The modular design means a chlorine stage could be added later.

KT
Kenji TanakaBacker1 week ago

Shipping to Japan -- is that feasible with the battery included? LiFePO4 batteries have strict air freight regulations. I want to order the Workshop Pack but need to know about customs and shipping logistics.

MW
Marcus Weber2 weeks ago

Love the CERN-OHL-S licensing choice. I teach an appropriate technology course at TU Berlin and would like to use this project as a case study. The combination of open hardware, local manufacturability, and rigorous field testing makes it ideal.

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Est. delivery September 2026

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₹500

Source Supporter

Back the mission and get every design file the moment we ship.

Includes
  • Full source files (schematics, CAD, firmware)
  • Name in the project credits
  • Backer-only build updates
Sep 2026 Digital - no shipping 56
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Early Bird

The complete unit at a thank-you price for the first backers.

Includes
  • 1 fully assembled unit
  • Complete schematics and source files
  • Name in project credits
Oct 2026 Worldwide 42
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Maker Bundle

Build it yourself - every part, plus extras and a printed guide.

Includes
  • 1 complete kit (unassembled) with all parts
  • 3 extra filter elements
  • Your name etched on the PCB silkscreen
  • Printed assembly guide
Oct 2026 Worldwide 89
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₹12,00018 of 30 left

Workshop Pack

Everything a makerspace needs to run a build session.

Includes
  • 5 complete units (assembled)
  • Workshop hosting guide and slides
  • Priority email support from the maker
  • Logo placement on project page
Nov 2026 Worldwide 12
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Creator
ED
Elise Dupont
Lyon, France
2
campaigns created
11
projects backed

Building open hardware in Lyon, France. Every project ships with full source files so you can study, repair, and remix it.

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