Sci-Fi Meets Reality in a Singapore Bedroom
In a bedroom tucked away in Singapore, surrounded by wires, soldering tools, and scattered prototypes, 25-year-old Jacob Uy is building what many have only seen on the big screen. With a mix of technical ingenuity and childhood imagination, Uy has brought to life working versions of Spider-Man’s web-shooter and a Star Wars-style lightsaber—two of the most iconic gadgets in science fiction history.
Armed with a 3D printer, LED strips, and a strong grasp of engineering, Uy has spent the last six years refining these gadgets at his bedroom desk. It’s a cluttered space that more closely resembles a sci-fi lab than a typical workspace, but it’s where Uy is shaping his lifelong dream into a full-time career.
A Lightsaber That Truly Retracts
The centerpiece of Uy’s engineering efforts is his lightsaber prototype—now in its sixth iteration. While most department store lightsabers are hollow plastic toys that collapse inward, Uy’s version goes several steps further, incorporating retractable components and brilliant lighting effects to better mimic the cinematic experience.
His homemade saber uses a magician’s cane: a slim, spring-steel strip that folds into a compact hilt and extends in just three seconds with the help of a tiny motor. Lined with ultra-bright teal LEDs, the cane folds and expands in unison, evoking the distinct glow and motion of Cal Kestis’ lightsaber from the Star Wars video game series.
Uy began developing the saber in 2022 while attending Olin College of Engineering in Massachusetts. Reaching out to fellow enthusiasts via email, he found a group of peers eager to help bring the fantasy of Star Wars into physical form.
“Spider-Man makes his own web-shooters. Tony Stark builds his own suit, and even Luke Skywalker built his own lightsaber… You can describe engineering in many different ways, but for me, engineering is the bridge between science fiction and reality,” Uy said.
The Web-Shooter That Went Viral
Before lightsabers, it was web-shooters that first sparked Uy’s viral fame. In 2018, he posted a video showcasing his early prototype—a wrist-worn device that launches a spring-loaded thread. The video quickly went viral, racking up around 41 million views and propelling Uy into the spotlight as a content creator.
The gadget functions much like Spider-Man’s own device. A small cartridge within the watch-sized housing contains a tightly coiled thread that shoots out up to three meters when activated. A magnet at the end of the string allows it to latch onto metal surfaces, letting users playfully channel their inner superhero by yanking objects toward themselves.
Uy is currently working on an upgraded version that includes a built-in retraction mechanism, eliminating the need to manually wind the thread back into place.
From Hobby to Business
The viral success of his web-shooter paved the way for Uy to launch HeroTech, his company registered in Singapore. Now with over 300,000 YouTube subscribers, his channel serves as both a creative outlet and a revenue stream that sustains his business operations.
Sales of the web-shooter, which retails at US$349 (S$450), have surpassed 1,000 customers in six years. Uy is careful about what products he offers for sale, particularly when it comes to potential copyright infringement.
“There’s no copyright over things that shoot out string,” he noted, explaining why the web-shooter is one of the few prototypes he markets.
His lightsaber, on the other hand, remains a passion project—one he continues to refine but isn’t planning to sell anytime soon.
Building a Future in Sci-Fi Engineering
Though he’s now a full-time content creator, Uy remains deeply focused on innovation. He plans to reinvest his earnings into hiring engineering interns and further developing new prototypes. His ultimate goal isn’t just to sell gadgets but to share the joy of building them.
“HeroTech’s main thing is about making these designs and sharing the process on social media so that other people can learn from it,” Uy said.
From a bedroom bench lined with soldering irons and LED strips, Jacob Uy is proving that with imagination, engineering, and a touch of cinematic inspiration, science fiction doesn’t have to stay fiction.
