We Built a Shaming Robot

Summary

In a creative attempt to address the noise issue in an open office space, a team designs a 'shaming robot' to politely but firmly remind workers to keep quiet. The robot, equipped with an ESP32 brain, microphone, servo motor, and LED eyes that turn red with noise, takes photos of the loudest offenders and displays them on office screens. After overcoming design challenges and incorporating a British voice for authenticity, the robot is tested and receives mixed reactions, but ultimately proves to be an effective noise deterrent.

Takeaways

• 😅 The script describes an embarrassing situation where an open office space is disrupted by noise from a nearby kitchen.
• 🤖 The solution proposed is to create a 'shaming robot' to address the noise issue without directly confronting the noisy individuals.
• 🎭 The robot is intended to be neither too scary nor too cute, but somewhere in between to be effective in its role.
• 🔊 The robot has different responses based on noise levels, with the ultimate response being taking a photo of the loudest person and displaying it on office screens.
• 👤 The robot is designed to have a British accent and use passive-aggressive language to politely but firmly ask people to be quiet.
• 🤖 The robot's face is made of Plexiglas with an 8x8 Matrix LED controller for the eyes, which change color based on noise levels.
• 🛠️ The robot's components include an ESP32 as the brain, a microphone, servo motors, an amplifier with an MP3 player, and smart Neopixel LEDs.
• 🎨 The robot's face design was initially too creepy, leading to a switch to a more friendly 2D approach, with an illustrator's help.
• 🔩 The robot's electronics were initially messy but were later organized into a small, portable wooden base with the LEDs inside the face.
• 🎙️ The robot uses the voice of a real British person to deliver its shushing messages, adding authenticity to its passive-aggressive tone.
• 😂 The final test of the robot's effectiveness shows mixed reactions, with some people amused and others annoyed, but overall it is considered a success.

Q & A

What is the main problem in the office described in the script?

The main problem is that the open space area near the kitchen is causing noise disturbances due to people chatting loudly while getting drinks or snacks, which interrupts the focus of those working nearby.

What solution is proposed to address the noise issue in the office?

A shaming robot is proposed as a solution to address the noise issue, which would respond to different noise levels and politely but aggressively ask people to be quiet.

What characteristics does the robot need to have according to the script?

The robot should be neither too scary nor too cute, have a British accent, be passive-aggressive, and have a robotic face that turns red as noise levels increase.

What components are used to build the robot's face?

The components used include an ESP32 as the brain, servo motors for the mouth, an amplifier with an MP3 player, a speaker, an ESP32 cam, smart Neopixel LEDs, and two Nokia LCD screens for the eyes.

Why did the creators switch from the initial design of the robot's face to a 2D approach?

The initial design was deemed too creepy, leading to the decision to go with a more friendly 2D approach, which was modeled by their illustrator.

What material was used to create the robot's face after the laser cutting process?

Two-millimeter Plexiglas was used to create the robot's face after the laser cutting process.

How did the creators enhance the detail of the robot's face after the laser cutting?

They used a vinyl sticker to add more detail to the robot's face after the laser cutting process.

What challenges did the creators face when assembling the robot's components?

The creators faced challenges such as managing a mess of wires, figuring out where each wire goes, and fitting all the components into a small, portable box.

How did they address the issue of the robot's voice?

They recorded the voice of a real-life British person to give the robot a British accent and make it sound condescending and unpleasant, which fits the robot's intended personality.

What was the final outcome of the robot's testing in the office?

The robot was successful in shaming people into being quieter, especially when it took a selfie of the loudest person and displayed it on office screens. However, it also attracted people who wanted selfies or tried to 'kill' the robot.

What feedback did the creators receive from the robot's interaction with people in the office?

While some people were annoyed by the robot, others found it amusing and liked its aggressive shaming approach. The creators learned that the robot needs an off-switch to control its interactions.