Lava lamps have been used by so many across the globe, and they certainly add aesthetic value to the setting. While they make for funky accessories in one's room, they are not as energy-friendly and come with the risk of overheating. Thankfully, the FerroPet lamp (developed by Jellyfish Fab.) uses cutting-edge technology to create an equally groovy addition to the room, which doesn't consume a huge chunk of power.

FerroPet is a USB-powered lamp that uses ferrofluid, an innovative substance made of nanoscale ferromagnetic particles suspended in a carrier fluid. The captivating substance, which is alien to the eye, hints at new liquid technologies of the future while also providing a new form of aesthetic that is naturally appealing to the viewer.

After being fascinated by ferrofluid, co-founder Lucas began exploring ways to animate this material and breathe life into its visual capabilities. Partners Lucas, Cristina (an industrial designer), and Yue (a product designer) combined their capabilities to work on this project. They experimented with ferrofluid's interaction with different surfaces and coatings to discover a powerful and energy-efficient way to control it with electromagnets. They further explored methods to produce self-cleaning coatings via hydrogels, electro-permanent magnetic matrices for lower power consumption, and custom coils. The result was the FerroPet lamp, which embraced their interests around the intersection of STEAM and education through toy experiences.

The USB-powered device comes with a dancing ferrofluid blob fixed in the center. The color and movement of the blobs can be modified using a remote control that comes with the lamp. Moreover, users can tinker with the external magnets to view how the magnetically polarized fluid reacts to them. The team wanted to design a product that was functional for adults and kids alike. It is encased in a unique coating and plastic shell, making it safe for kids to engage and explore its behavior around external magnets.

The lamp employs a custom-tailored solution that utilizes a grid of electro-permanent magnets to deliver a product with low energy requirements. It operates at half a watt of power to run its lowest power animation, and its usage can go up to a maximum of 3 or 4 watts. The low energy consumption of this device allows users to leave it on without the risk of overheating. Moreover, the USB battery-operated device comes with a durable coating and colloidal suspension, making it an ideal portable device. The FerroPet lamp can operate virtually silently, and it uses plastic and a unique hydrogel coating to prevent staining.

"With the FerroPet, we want to spark curiosity around ferrofluid and ignite the imagination of the public regarding how this fascinating liquid could power various technologies of the future."- Lucas Zeer, Co-founder, Jellyfish Fab.

The team is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to fund the mass production of their innovative and educational lamp. They aim to launch the product in the second half of 2022, and they plan to document their journey on YouTube and Instagram. The FerroPet lamp is just the first product in a line-up of IoT/ STEAM toys that the team is developing. They are also interested in the gamification of their products via mobile apps and web services.

Email: team@jellyfishfab.com

Contact: +39 347 848 3119