Voice assistant devices like Amazon Echo with Alexa have quickly become incredibly popular due to their convenience, but often lack personality or character due to their bland voices and mass market appeal designs. Workshop Nation has come up with an innovative way to add some flair and charm back into Amazon Echo by turning it into an animated robot robot!
At Workshop Nation, they transformed an Amazon Echo into something reminiscent of something out of an eccentric scientist’s lab in an ’80s robot movie. Working with salvaged parts like an old CRT TV and new components sourced from flea markets and salvage shops alike, an animatronic robot was assembled using Alexa as its brain. For added visual charm when Alexa speaks she produces voicewaveforms on CRT that mimic an electronic display while signal voltage drives one of electron beam coils for driving purposes.
At the core of this transformation lies an Arduino Mega 2560 board, which acts as the control center for animatronics. Additionally, it monitors a Useful Sensors Person Sensor designed to detect human presence and direct animatronic eyes toward individuals nearby. Users have additional flexibility by bypassing Alexa wake word restrictions to initiate inquiries with any term they prefer instead. All components centered around CRT monitor are securely attached via laser-cut clear acrylic and threaded rod frames for added protection and convenience.
Workshop Nation has created a magical combination of technology and creativity, giving new life to the Amazon Echo device. Their innovative approach showcases how customization and artistic expression can transform ordinary devices into captivating companions; by adding personality and charm, this animatronic robot takes your Amazon Echo experience to new heights.
No matter whether it’s engaging in lively dialogues or providing valuable assistance, Workshop Nation’s Amazon Echo-turned-animation robot demonstrates the endless potential that lies within technology and imagination. Their creation offers a glimpse into a future where devices seamlessly blend functionality with charm for truly enjoyable interactions and unforgettable experiences.
What Is an Arduino Mega 2560
The Arduino Mega 2560 is a microcontroller board powered by an ATmega2560 microcontroller and part of the open-source hardware and software products made by Arduino. Specifically designed to meet projects requiring greater I/O pins, memory space, or processing power than are available with regular Arduino boards, this version offers more I/O pins, memory capacity and processing speed compared to its counterparts.
The board features 54 digital input/output pins, 16 analog inputs, 4 hardware serial ports, a 16 MHz quartz crystal oscillator, USB connectivity and power jack for powering it all up. Programming it using Arduino software provides an intuitive user-friendly environment for writing and uploading code onto the board.
The Arduino Mega 2560 is an ideal choice for projects such as robotics, home automation, prototyping and interactive installations, thanks to its extensive capabilities that support multiple sensors, actuators and communication interfaces.
The result is a contraption that combines all of the convenience of a modern voice assistant with the aesthetic appeal of a science fair reject.
