Building in PublicHardware V1.0 · MIT

Build your own
second brain.

CAIPO is a fully open-source AI wearable you can source, solder, and ship yourself. Every schematic, every line of firmware, every CAD file — yours.

Whether you're a maker, researcher, or student — if you're curious, you belong here.

Explore the DocsJoin the Discussion
0mA
Standby drain
μA
Always-on chip
I2S
Digital audio
MIT
License
CAIPOtapESP32-S3XIAOThe Brain · μAPi Zero 2WRaspberry PiThe Muscle · 0mAINMP441I2S MicMAX98357AI2S AmpCameraCSI · Pi ZeroTP4056USB-C ChargingTTP223Touch · D0
Who is this for?

Anyone curious enough to open the box.

You don't need a factory, a lab, or a team. You need a soldering iron, some curiosity, and an afternoon. Whether you're a first-time builder or shipping your tenth project — CAIPO is for you.

🔩
Makers & Hobbyists
You build things on weekends.

You've printed enclosures, flashed firmware, and fried a few boards along the way. CAIPO is your next project. Source the parts, assemble it at your desk, and make it do something no one else has thought of.

🔬
Researchers
You need a platform, not a product.

Off-the-shelf wearables don't expose the right interfaces. CAIPO gives you full access to the hardware layer — swap sensors, write custom drivers, route data however you need. Bring Your Own Sensors.

🎓
Students
You want to learn by building.

There's no better way to understand embedded systems, I2S audio buses, or power gating than tracing it through real hardware. Every design decision in CAIPO is documented and open for you to read.

🤝
Contributors
You want to build something that matters.

Our Multimodal Perception, Neuroscience, and Space teams are actively building the AI layer. If you've written a sensor driver, improved a case, or found a better part — send a PR. Your work ships to every future builder.

Why build it?

A wearable that works
for you — not against you.

Most wearables are black boxes. You can't see inside, can't change them, and can't trust what they do with your data. CAIPO is the opposite.

It processes everything on the device. It runs on open firmware you can read. And if you disagree with how something works — you can change it.

🔒
Your data stays yours

Everything runs on the device. Nothing goes to the cloud unless you want it to.

🔧
Change anything

Don't like how the mic behaves? Swap the driver. Prefer a different chip? Fork the firmware.

🌍
Designed for desk-assembly

No factory needed. No special tools. Designed to be built by one person at a kitchen table.

🤝
Better every time someone builds

Every builder who pushes improvements makes it better for everyone who comes after.

Under the hood

Two chips. One clever trick.

Most wearables die fast because one chip does everything. CAIPO splits the work — a tiny always-on chip handles the basics, the powerful one wakes only when you need it.

The Sentry
Always awake · Never tired
μA power

This chip never sleeps. It listens for your tap, buffers your voice, and watches for the moment you need CAIPO — sipping so little power you'll barely notice it on the battery.

The moment you tap, it flips a switch and wakes up the powerful chip instantly.

🧠
The Heavy Lifter
Powerful on demand · Zero drain at rest
0mA standby

This is where the AI lives. It handles your voice, talks to language models, and processes what the camera sees. But it draws zero power until the Sentry calls for it.

Not sleep mode. Not standby. Actual zero. That's what makes the battery last.

How to build

Four steps to your own CAIPO.

01
Source the parts

Download the BOM and order your components. Can't find something locally? The design is hardware-agnostic — swap it out and push the driver back.

↓ Download BOM
02
Print the caseSoon

Any FDM printer, PLA or PETG. Snap-fit design, no glue, no supports needed. CAD models are being finalized now.

★ Get notified
03
Flash the firmware

Clone the repo and flash both chips. The build guide walks you through every step — written for desk assembly, not a factory floor.

→ Read the docs
04
Push it back

Found a better part? Wrote a cleaner driver? Improved the case fit? Open a PR — your improvement ships to every future builder.

↗ Open a PR
Open Source · MIT

Help us build
the muscle.

The hardware skeleton is ready. Now our Multimodal Perception, Neuroscience, and Space teams are building the AI software layer — and we want you involved.

No file is locked. No doc is paywalled. Everything we have, you have. If you build something interesting, we want to see it.

📐Live
Schematics

Full PCB schematics and source files. Read it, modify it, make it yours.

Live
Firmware

Full codebase for both chips. MIT licensed. Fork freely.

📋Live
Full BOM

Every component with part numbers and supplier links.

📡Live
Driver API

Swap any sensor in or out. Push your driver back.

🖨️Soon
CAD Files

FDM case for PLA/PETG. Snap-fit, no glue, no supports.

🔧Soon
Build Guide

Step-by-step for desk builders, not factories.

Bill of Materials · V1.0

Ready to build? Here's what you need.

Can't find something locally? Swap it — push the alternative driver back to the repo.

↓ Full BOM PDF
RefComponentRoleConnection
U3Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-S3The BrainMain 3.7V Rail
U4Raspberry Pi Zero 2WThe Muscle5V Regulator Out
U1TP4056 USB-C ModuleChargingBattery / System Rail
U2Pololu 5V S13V30F5Pi PowerControlled via PI_EN
U5TTP223 Touch SensorWake / UIESP32 Pin D0
U6INMP441 MEMS MicAudio InESP32 I2S Bus
U7MAX98357A Class-D AmpAudio OutESP32 I2S Bus
SPK1uxcell 1W 8 Ohm SpeakerSpeakerAmp output pins
D1WS2812B LEDStatus LightESP32 Pin D1

The hardware skeleton is ready.
Help us build the muscle.

Our Multimodal Perception, Neuroscience, and Space teams are building the AI layer — every builder who joins makes it better for everyone who follows.