Project Overview
Interactive robotic sculpture built from scrap electronics that tracks viewer movement and turns its head responsively using ESP32 kinematics.
Problem Statement & Engineering Motivation
Creating an engaging, expressive art piece that merges technical robotics principles with organic sculpture using only discarded materials.
Technical Architecture & Implementation
Fabricated an expressive robotic head with servo-driven neck joints, connected to an ESP32 microcontroller reading optical sensor inputs and Python face-tracking coordinates.
Key Technical Features
- Smooth servo pan-and-tilt neck actuation with software PID dampening
- Interactive responsive behaviors (turns away when covered, tracks moving viewers)
- Aesthetic blend of raw electronic circuitry and industrial design
Technology & Component Stack
- ESP32
- C++
- Servo Kinematics
- Optical Sensors
- Scrap Metal Fabrication
Outcomes & Engineering Lessons Learned
- Non-linear acceleration curves make robotic motion appear substantially more organic and friendly to human observers.
Related Research Study
This engineering build is connected with academic research investigation: /research/social-robotics-vision-fusion