Unofficial mod transforms the Playdate into a charming robot pet

Although Panic paused development on its official Playdate charging dock, an enterprising character artist has swooped in with an open-source kit (via Gizmodo) that transforms the device into an interactive robot pet.

PlayBot is Guillaume Loquin’s name for the cute add-on, which anyone with the right know-how can build. (For those without know-how, don’t be shocked if you eventually see others sell builds on platforms like Etsy.) Made with two wheels, a motor, a microcontroller and a 3D-printed casing, it taps into the Playdate’s built-in accelerometer, microphone and sensors to turn the indie game console into a charming desktop companion.

A Playdate console attached to a motorized / wheeled dock, navigating a corner in someone’s home.
Guillaume Loquin / YouTube

Loquin, whose day job is as a character artist at Ubisoft, put those skills to use in bringing the device to life. Although it won’t do anything crazy like have a chat, pop wheelies or play fetch, Loquin’s video below shows it reacting to a wake-up tap, navigating around a corner and getting dizzy after spinning the Playdate’s crank. It can also scoot around your desk, steering clear of obstacles and avoiding a plummet off the edge.

The developer estimates 45 minutes of play per charge. When you aren’t playing with the device (in game console or robot form), the robo-dock charges the console.

Loquin provides the 3D printing instructions, companion app’s code and firmware for its Teensy 4.1 microcontroller on GitHub.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/unofficial-mod-transforms-the-playdate-into-a-charming-robot-pet-180500961.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/gaming/unofficial-mod-transforms-the-playdate-into-a-charming-robot-pet-180500961.html?src=rss
Établi 25d | 17 déc. 2024 à 19:10:03


Connectez-vous pour ajouter un commentaire

Autres messages de ce groupe

Our unofficial, silly and meaningless CES 2025 awards, just for fun
11 janv. 2025 à 21:50:23 | Engadget
What to expect at Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Unpacked event

Samsung’s big Galaxy S25 launch is right around the corner. The

11 janv. 2025 à 19:30:28 | Engadget
Fortnite Festival adds local co-op so you can relive the glory days of Rock Band and Guitar Hero

Fortnite Festival will support local multiplayer starting Tuesday January 14, meaning you’ll be able to sit down in a room with your friends and jam out on plastic guitar controllers toget

11 janv. 2025 à 19:30:27 | Engadget
CES 2025: The best tech and gadgets we saw in Las Vegas

CES 2025 has come to a close — Friday was the final day of the show — and team Engadget has departed Las Vegas. Our reporters an

11 janv. 2025 à 19:30:26 | Engadget
The Xbox Elite Series 2 Core controller is on sale for $98

If you're in the market for a new controller, you're in luck.

10 janv. 2025 à 22:40:11 | Engadget