Portable Triple Output Power Supply

Hydra is a triple output smart DC power supply designed for portable system use.   DC voltage and current limits can be set up through a USB port from a PC or an optional bluetooth 4.0 adapter can be interfaced the the applications port of the Hydra and parameters can be setup from Android and iOS mobile devices.

CH Robotics LLC of Payson, UT,  ran a Kickstarter in the February 2013 for a triple output smart DC power supply that functions as a benchtop power supply but is portable.  The goal of $10,000 was easily exceeded (eventually funded with $92K from 479 backers) meaning that many others must agree that the power supply fulfills a need.   Caleb Chamberlain, founder of CH Robotics , explains in the video below:

                                                             
 

The Hydra comes in a machined aluminum case and has an input wall-wart transformer included.  The transformer can be replaced with a rechargeable battery (5.0V to 14.0V DC) for portable use.

It has three separate outputs that can be set up for 3.0V to 12.0V individually with an output resolution of 0.01V.  There is approximately 12W of power available for each output (2.5A at 5V).  Based on the buck-boost design, the output DC voltages may be set to higher than the input DC voltage.

Voltage outputs and current limits are configurable for each voltage channel through a PC program connected to the Hydra via a USB port.  The Hydra also includes an expansion port (appears to be digital inputs but details not specified at this time) for setup from embedded controller systems.   

CH Robotics mentions the eventually availability of a Bluetooth 4.0 adapter for the expansion port that will allow for Hydra configuration from smart phones and tablets (both Android and IOS devices) but that is not listed on the website at this point.

The Kickstarter estimated deliver in April 2013 and recent updates indicate that the initial shipments are pending.  You can pre-order directly from the website if you missed the Kickstarter. 

It is portability at a price premium but there are not many alternative solutions for mobile applications at this point.