bumsteadsean
A buddy of mine picked up the Toys R Us and Walmart exclusive Luvabeau animated baby doll. Okay, don't laugh because I know what you are saying. What is a grown man doing buying a baby doll. Well, this doll is made by the Canadian toy company Spinmasters and a lot of R&D went into it.
The doll is basically a robot baby that has very recognizable facial expressions. It's AI is also impressive as it's simulated learning abilities blurring the lines between hard-code programming and actual learning based on environmental responses. There are many YT videos highlighting the girl version of the doll that is basically the same.
So why am I bringing this toy up? Well we sat and tore this doll apart to see what makes it tick and found that it is loaded with servos and it's control board has a UART port as well as an internal pin-out for a USB!
I would like to hack this toy so that it says the most outrageous vulgar things and instead of it asking for and sucking on its pacifier, it puffs on a cigar! I also imagine that it would be easy to modify the girl version so that it looks like the doll in the movie Annabelle.
I will more than likely try to find one of each for myself (boy and girl) to hack.
The following link is very cool. It is the website of the sculptor that Spinmaster hired to make the doll's heads.
https://wynnviscom.carbonmade.com/projects/6382247
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My biggest design challenges and what kept me from buying one is, where to put a camera? Because I can't make an el-crepo robot eye or drill a hole in the baby's head. I know others here could pull it off and make it look awesome, but I know the limit of my skills.
I did have the thought of just rolling with it though and making a Star Trek TNG Baby Borg. But then I thought why not just buy a cheap baby doll and customize that?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPkLgNmd-l4
Baby androids are high maintenance!
But really - that's the only thing stopping you from buying one? What about the creepy-lose-sleep-omg-what-the-heck-is-happening factor?
I will definitely keep an eye on this project! Keep us updated please.
This could become a scary Hack. If there are facial expression servos in the face or if some could be added, the sweet looking face could become a Chucky grimace... A cigar smoking baby would be kind of cool, especially with a e-cig option for real smoke.
I would think twice before I left it alone, on the workbench at night !
This could be a fun project.
Ron
This project could turn into a comedy show goldmine for YouTube, "Ez-Robot Builders and a Baby!"
I installed the EZ Camera in Antonn's nose. Maybe there if there is room? Do you think maybe in the eyes or worst case in the chest? If @bumsteadsean gets one or can get his friend to share the teardown they did, maybe we can see if there is room.
Ron