Too much work got you feeling down? Maybe you could use a desktop robot to cheer you up. These little gadgets give their owners a way to relieve some stress or add a little fun to their day without being a distraction. And that is the key — if you want distractions, there is no shortage of options available to you. But since you actually need to get your work done, a good desktop robot will not stand in the way.
Oftentimes, these digital companions are either expensive or — for the DIYer — too complex to build at home. So, to make desktop robots more accessible, YouTuber Creative Chance created one named Deskimon that only requires a 3D-printed case and a single, inexpensive development board to make. For a little more than $30 and a few hours of work, you can build your own.
Installing the hardware in the case (📷: Creative Chance)
On the hardware front, the device uses only a Waveshare ESP32-S3 1.75-inch AMOLED Round Touch Display Development Board. As the name implies, it comes equipped with an ESP32-S3 microcontroller that is ready for hacking. It also has a round touchscreen, dual microphone array, speaker, accelerometer, and button. The ESP32 also provides Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, although it is not needed for Deskimon.
The 3D models were created in Fusion 360 by designing around a model of the device provided by Waveshare. It only requires a single filament color to print, and is on the small side, so you won’t need a fancy printer to reproduce the case.
Playing with a Deskimon (📷: Creative Chance)
Once assembled and flashed with firmware, the Deskimon will exhibit a semi-random emotion (the chance of each state occurring is weighted differently). Sometimes it will go to sleep, and you can wake it with a touch. You can also pet the Deskimon, and it will make a sound of approval. Shaking the Deskimon will make it feel confused. The brightness and sound levels can be adjusted to ensure that the gadget does not become a distraction.
The capabilities of the Deskimon are quite limited, but that’s mostly a software issue. With some work, these desk toys could do a lot more. So for the more experienced coder, this hardware platform could be the ideal starting point for building a very capable desk robot.
If you don’t mind spending a little more to avoid doing the work yourself, StackChan is worth a look.