EmotoBots

March 1 - 4, 2022

EmotoBots

This week, our class had one last class project to do before the final project's deadline was upon us. On groups of two, or in my case, group of 3, we were to build a robot using instructions, and later program it to show a human emotion.

On the Tuesday, March 1, our group first started and finished building the bot with a little bit of difficulty and sass. As the whole class was following instructions, my group tried to do the same but were met with either a bent foot, some cables ready to break ad cease to exist, and a bit of a misshapen head for the bot. All of these imperfections lead to the perfect name for our group's son, Clanky. Although I mentioned a bit of troubles we came across, they were quickly solved or decided to shrug it off as we asked for advice from our TA or professor.

The whole lab got even more fun and funny on Thursday as we finally were taught how to program our bot to have emotions.

Of course the first emotion our son felt was love.

The second was flirty.

The third was jealous.

As the circle of life is in a bot. It's hard having to deal with only one emotion as a time like Tinkerbell.

For the third one, we couldn't let anyone know because groups had to go up to present and have the class guess the emotion from a list that was given. Our class didn't get it the first few tries but quite soon someone figured it out. Clanky was lovesick. Clanky should talk with Wall-E.

Looking back at the start of the workshop, I honestly didn't have any idea as how a robot could be programmed to have emotions but I wasn't worried. If this class has taught me anything is that in the end, things would work out. And since we were going to be guided through the steps, all I needed to do is collaborate with my team, actively listen, and do what I had to do. When in need, ask for help, if something isn't working out, try a different way after reflecting on what went wrong first, and so much more.

When Thursday came around and they told us we would need to use a software like of like Scratch to code, my shoulders slumped in relief since I've used Scratch before and seeing something I have a little of experience before. Creating the emotional faces with the grid-lights was the best since that's were most of our giggle came from. Who knew a robot could actually make the smug emoji face.

I posted a video of Clanky in my Instagram story the day after, and my sister now wants a pink flirty robot for herself too. I guess I could practice 3D printing later on...