Arrowspace S1 camera mounted above a workbench, reading a screw head while a lit indicator marks the matching bit slot.

Arrowspace S1 Camera Reads 12 Screw Profiles and Lights the Matching Bit Slot

2026-11-12

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A small repair can stall on one question: which bit fits this screw? The Arrowspace S1, designed by Lau Yin and Xu Yu, tries to answer that question before you start turning.

The S1 is a precision electric screwdriver sold with a case of 52 S2 steel bits. Choice is rarely the problem with a kit that size. The harder task is matching a tiny tip to a tiny recess, and the S1 handles that match with a camera and software.

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Close view of a screw head under the camera, with the matching bit slot highlighted.

A camera sits at the back of the driver, on the side away from the bit. A contact probe beside it rests against the screw head. That contact holds the lens at a fixed distance, so the image arrives in the same framing every time.

How arrowspace s1 scanning works

Screw bit identification runs in the companion phone app. The app analyzes screw images on the phone itself and does not upload them to cloud servers. It recognizes 12 common screw-head profiles and reports the matching size. Scanning needs no internet connection, but the phone must stay linked to the driver.

Camera scanning a row of screws with different head profiles on a bench.

The result appears on the case itself. An LED lights the slot that holds the recommended bit, and a 2-inch TFT display shows the identification details. You still select the bit and seat it in the driver. The case removes the step of searching the tray.

Control at the tool

The S1 offers adjustable torque settings. Auto mode selects a preset that matches the identified screw. Auto gives you a starting point, not a final answer. Manufacturer repair guides still decide how tight each fastener should be.

Lit bit slot indicator appears on a tray of driver bits after recognition.

The driver body is slender and made from aluminum alloy. Forward and reverse buttons sit on the body, so you can change direction without looking away from the work. A small OLED display shows torque level, rotation direction, and battery status. Work lights ring the magnetic bit holder at the tip.

The case has a CNC-machined aluminum-alloy frame. Each driver and bit has a fixed place in the fitted layout. That order matters, because the lit slot only helps if the bit returns to the same spot after each job.

A repair bench changes fast. One day brings a game controller, and the next day brings a radio-controlled model with a different set of fasteners. Guided identification helps most when you do not have drive profiles memorized. The arrowspace s1 charges over USB-C, so the battery can be topped up between sessions.

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The arrowspace s1 does not replace the person doing the repair. You still align the bit, hold the driver, and decide how much force a part can take. The scanner and the lit slot remove one small decision, and that leaves more attention for the device on the bench.

Via yankodesign.com

Frequently asked questions

How does the Arrowspace S1 figure out which bit fits a screw?

A camera at the back of the driver photographs the screw head, with a contact probe holding the lens at a fixed distance for consistent framing. The companion phone app analyzes the image and recognizes 12 common screw-head profiles, reporting the matching size.

Does the Arrowspace S1 send screw images to the cloud?

No, the app analyzes screw images on the phone itself and does not upload them to cloud servers. Scanning does not need an internet connection, but the phone must stay linked to the driver.

How does the S1 case show which bit to pick?

An LED lights the slot that holds the recommended bit, and a 2-inch TFT display shows the identification details. You still select the bit and seat it in the driver yourself.

Does Auto torque mode decide how tight a screw should be?

Auto mode selects a torque preset matching the identified screw, but it only gives a starting point. Manufacturer repair guides still determine how tight each fastener should be.