Back in March, we talked about how Bosch’s new networked cordless tools that allowed for some user customizations.
Those tools aren’t out yet, but over in Europe Bosch has already announced their expansion, and for the first time revealed some more specifics about the new technologies.
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First, the Bluetooth modules are built into the handles. They had previously said:
The long-term goal is to network all professional power tools by Bosch and, thus, to offer users an even higher level of convenience and transparency – and to increase their productivity.
So perhaps this allows for easier production of connectable and non-connectable tools.
The first 6 tools will launch (in Europe) starting in the Fall of 2016. In addition to 3 layout tools, 2 already on the market and a laser launching soon, and a thermal measurement tool not yet released here, there will be:
- 2 drills
- 2 hammer drills
- Angle grinder
- Floodlight
Bosch Europe describes the drills as being 2 screwdrivers and 2 combi drills, which translate to mean 2 drill/drivers and 2 hammer drills.
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The heavier duty drills will launch first, with the compact ones taking up the rear with a January 2017 launch estimate. Again, that’s their EU launch expectation. Bosch USA has not yet confirmed that these new Bosch innovations will be released in the USA.
The new Bosch Bluetooth-connected tools will offer several capabilities they believe will be beneficial to professional users.
- Customizable tool settings
- Remote Functions
- Tool diagnostics and advice
Read Also: Everything you need to know about Milwaukee One-Key customizable tools
Customizable Tool Settings
Bosch says that their new networked 18V cordless power tools will be personalizable, using LED afterglow as a good example.
No matter what a tool’s LED worklight afterglow duration is set to, not all users will be happy. The new connectivity means you can set it to 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 25 seconds, or other user-specified durations. Because users should be able to change things like that in their tools.
There’s also kickback control in the new Bosch 18V connected drills. Perhaps a roofer desires a little extra sensitivity in their anti-kickback protection. With a connected Bosch drill, this is possible.
With the angle grinder, in addition to the same afterglow duration setting as with the drills, you can toggle soft start on and off.
My thoughts are that Bosch might further enhance the customizability of their new connected tools, or at least I hope they are. Just being able to control anti-kickback protection and the LED worklight is a little limiting.
The LED floodlight worklight will also be user-controllable via the smartphone app. You could do things like active them remotely, dim the illumination output, or even group several worklights together for synced operation. There will also be a timer function, which keeps the worklight on for a designated amount of time.
A major goal of these new innovations is to provide users a way to personalize their tools to their needs.
Remote Functions
In addition to the ability to operate worklights via a smartphone, tools can also be remotely locked.
There is also battery charge reporting, which could also be considered a feature of the tools’ diagnostics and usage data capabilities.
Tool Diagnostics and Advice
The connected tools will also provide users with data, as well as insights.
If a tool overheated and turned off, it could tell you why, and how to remedy it. For example, if a tool motor overheated, it might recommend running the tool for 1 minute without load, or other remedy advice.
A tool could tell you how long the motor has been running, and how often anti-kickback controls have activated.
A Bosch intro video also showed that the new angle grinder will feature a built-in display and control interface that will show things such as battery status and overheating alerts at a glance. The same display will also have a speed control adjustment.
Tools
“Robustseries” drills:
- GSR 18 V-75 C Professional
- GSB 18 V-75 C Professional
“Dynamicseries” drills:
- GSR 18 V-60 C Professional
- GSB 18 V-60 C Professional
Cordless angle grinder:
- GWS 18V-125 ISC Professional
LED Worklight:
- GLI 18 V-1900 C Professional (up to 1900 lumens)
Also… a New Battery Pack
There will be a new Bosch 18V 6.3Ah Li-ion battery pack, GBA 18 V 6.3 Ah EneRacer Professional.
Early reports show and describe the Bosch EneRacer battery pack as being built with larger Li-ion cells, but the packs are the same size or perhaps even smaller, due to how the internal cells and circuits are now configured.
Bosch isn’t the only brand to stray from the common 18650 Li-ion cell form factor, but it’s nonetheless an important development.
Right now, 6.0Ah battery packs provide for longest runtime, but everything I’ve seen suggests that the cells in 5.0Ah battery packs are capable of higher current loads, at least in theory and based on datasheet values.
If true, Bosch’s new 18V EneRacer 6.3Ah pack might be a truer evolutionary step forward than going from 5.0Ah to 6.0Ah. And if the battery form factor is appreciably larger than the 18650s popular in 18V-sized battery packs, they could offer the potential for even higher capacities.
Thank you to Leo for the heads-up and link to the following Bosch media event intro video:
First Thoughts
Funny, I thought that Dewalt would be the first brand to try to respond to Milwaukee’s One-Key tool customization tech. Bosch’s stepping into this arena is definitely welcome.
A lot of users are very critical and doubtful that customizable tools will be of any benefit to them, but I don’t think Bosch would have walked down this path if they didn’t believe in it. It’ll be very interesting to see how things turn out.
Chris K
I can’t wait to see these come here. I know a lot of guys don’t like the wireless battery packs but I do. I’ve got three chargers and two 2-0s and one 4.0 packs for my small Bosch tool lineup. I am hopeful the larger packs will come with the built in induction function (conjunction junction, what’s your function) for the wireless users. Can’t wait to see the new pro EC tools hit the US market too.
Pete
I can see one reason to “track productivity” when you have a guy on the crew who is slacking but is really good at hiding it. Hand him one of these and see how much “work” he is actually doing lol. Watch him be a drywaller and he only screws in 50 screws a day. FIRED!
fred
I like the idea of a tool that not only helps with productivity but can help measure it. But be careful what you measure because it can have untoward results. The clever slacker may find ways to beat the system. In WWII Kaiser was building Liberty Ships with welded (rather than riveted) hulls on the west coast faster than thought possible. The story was that some welders were still slacking off – but they could not figure out who or how since they were measuring work by counting the welding rods used. Then someone thought to look at the bottom of the graving dock after the ship was launched – and found lots of unused welding rods tossed there secretively by the slackers. In your example – you might find lots of drywall screws driven in all an inch apart in a closet.
BonPacific
Being able to remotely lock down a tool could be big boon for large crews, or even diy’ers. Tool theft is still one of the most common items in the police blotter of my hometown.
I hope someone does a comparison of a wireless-vs-dumb tool to see what the passive battery drain is. I just don’t trust any tool company to write battery-conscious software.
Peter
The new Bosch Bluetooth functionality is powered with a coin cell behind the screw-on lid as shown in the video. The only reason for having this lid is so that you can replace the coin cell without having to take the tool skin apart.
Powering the Bluetooth functionality with a coin cell is done so you can communicate with the tool skin even when the li-ion tool battery is removed. Otherwise you wouldn’t be able to track your tools anyway as the li-ion batteries are often removed.
Mike
I’ll bet the people complaining about customizable tool settings wish they were still driving cars with manual steering and cable actuated four wheel drum brakes.
Thinman
I get a kick out of reading all about cordless and now “computer manipulated” tools. More power to those who like the world of apps but I’m so old I still believe the best car radio was the one with five push buttons and an analogue receiver that allowed me to adjust the frequency just a tiny bit back and forth to improve reception.
GrumpyBugger
Meh.
Steven
Agreed…
-“Look at me guys!!!! Im using my phone to do stuff with my tool”
-“wow, you are so awesomely cool, can I come to your birthday party”?
(Me looking over shoulder, rolls eyes……keeps working with non bluetooth tool)
mikeakafazzman
Seems interesting,still dont see these features useable or really needed for the average DIY folks,but for a construction or manufacturing pro theres alot of usefulness.
I like how they are going about it a bit differently than the others as well. Ive been a fan of Bosch for years. Technology is advancing in tools so fast,its neat to watch.
Christopher Luce
This is all great for Europe, but are they really the larger market for Bosch Tools? I guess it’s the same rant heard before. Seriously thinking of switching away from Bosch to Milwaukee just for the availability, both launch and local retail. Bosch’s silence on this issue is unnerving.
mike aka Fazzman
Seeing as most Bosch stuff is made there id imagine so.
Jason
Bosch needs to come out with a variable speed sawzaw or focus on improving basic tools.
Jason
Also l, I don’t even think it’s worth talking about new Bosch tools in Europe. I’ll believe it when I see it here in the states in 3 years.
Dacan
Adjusting the time out on the drill LED light is cool, but overkill if its the only feature you use. Controlling the flood light remotely sounds nice also, what would be great is if you could adjust the light output anywhere between min and max.
My biggest fear with Bosch’s system and Milwaukee’s One Key is more things to go wrong, technology always has issues, it messing up your drill/impact from working in its basic function would be annoying.
Peter
Related Bosch press releases:
Increased efficiency and productivity:
Bosch expands Connectivity system for professionals
Networking provides improved performance and results
Seven new networked measuring and power tools
Clear information for users, from products through to inventory management
Connected products can be configured and controlled using a single app
Read more: http://www.bosch-presse.de/presseforum/details.htm?txtID=7665&tk_id=112
Consistently focused on professionals:
Bosch Power Tools relies on connectivity
Increased productivity and efficiency in day-to-day work
Seven new connected measuring and power tools for professionals
Cloud-based system, from products through to inventory management
Exclusive insights at the “Bosch Blue Innovation Summit” in Frankfurt
Read more: http://www.bosch-presse.de/presseforum/details.htm?txtID=7664&tk_id=112
victor
Hi Stuart – { top of page } – could this be a snap-shot of the “brushlless” BRUTE which we’ve all been anticipating……….Stuart : any specs on this beast yet ………..also release date late 2016 or early 2017……………..thx………………victor.
Stuart
I think so!
No specs or USA availability info, sorry.
victor
BOSCH – BRUTE – DRILL — any word on new “multi-tool”………..thx…………victor.
Stuart
I’ll have to look into that. I know new corded ones are coming out with new Starlock interface, dont know about cordless yet. I’d imagine that an updated model was in the works.
Caleb
I am so in the market for at least half of these tools. Particularly the brush less angle grinder and the flood light, as well the heavy duty drill and the thermal imager. I am a dedicated Bosch cordless user, in professional industrial controls and maintenance. I’ve had an eye on a cordless Bosch grinder for quite a while, and never thought they had a good design, then they came out with their new one currently on the market. Was planning to buy one of those, when this news of a brush less version with slim handle comes out. Guess I’ll wait.
Goodnight Johnboy
This has to be the lamest idea for tools I’ve ever seen. WTF do power tools have to do with Bluetooth, Apps, or WiFi. Absolutely nothing! Power tools have been out for a long time & there wasn’t a need for this garbage when they were invented. And thus far tools keep getting far less durable than tools that were made 40+plus years ago when tools were made in America. If they stopped making tools with the cheapest materials available & started making stuff that was built to last, there wouldn’t be a need to research and market gimmicks like “connected” tools. Nobody would give a damn about some wireless crap if they knew they had something that was a true workhorse. Due to greed companies don’t care about building a tool that you only have to buy once or twice in a lifetime. Case in point when they stopped making power tools out of metal. I got an old Stanley circ. saw & it fell 37 feet & hit the concrete. My help on the ground picked it up & started cutting up 6×6. Worked like it never fell. The plastic garbage they make now, I would have to replace my circ saw. If you ask me Bosch & Milwaukee need to get their head & their ass “connected” & stop this nonsense with wireless technology gimmicks and focus on building tools that are well built.