United3dArtists Archive

I would first like to say hello to everyone as I have been away for quite some time.
You may ask why, well I moved onto a new chapter in life.
Many of you know me for the 3D animation and design work but I doubt any of you know that I have a degree in electronics and studied programming in my earlier years, along with having a MCSE and A+ in computers.
Well I decided to combine all of that knowledge into one package.
Right about now you are saying this is impossible, well lets get down to it.
I have noticed that more and more of our population that is elderly can not do certain thing for them.
I also noticed that most of them sit at home alone with no one to talk to and not company other than a TV.
What a life that is, along with this most of the disabled have the same or similar problem.
So I decided to try and help with this situation.
Welcome to the Assistive Companion (Robot).
I have designed every bit of this by myself, no help from anyone from the electronics to the programming to the animated face.
I did not use any prebuilt boards or any type of kit in any way shape or fashion.
This is totally all mine.
The computer that is used to control the unit is a old Toshiba, that is about the only piece that I did not design.
Everything else is mine and is all original.
The robot does the following:
Uses voice recognition for controlling it.
Has 200 motion banks for storing and saving predefined motions EG. go to kitchen etc...
Has 10,000 jokes built in.
Has 400 great little one liners in it.
Remembers important dates and will remind you of them.
Responds by calling the name of the robot (Jeeves).
Has 25 books in it that can be read by the computer with its British voice and the animated head talk to the voice.
Can be used as a security guard of sorts, will patrol the house and detect if anyone passes its path and alert you.
Can be accessed from a remote location.
Will not accept any foul language.
Drinks can be placed on top of it an it will bring them to you (Motion Command).
There are more options that I am working on but not ready yet.
While most of this is not animation the 3D animated face and its expressions are.
The assistive companion is the height of a coffee table so when drinks or other items are brought to you they are easy to reach.
So here are some pictures of Jeeves and I hope you enjoy.

Perhaps it can run for Congress being as citizenship is not required?

Good work. Better get patents.

All the best Jeff.... it looks wonderful.

Nice. Keep us posted on it's development.

This it's a huge project and it looks like it's working well! I am impressed. I hope you get to meet the right people that can help you distribute them en masse. The features are a good plus.

I heard on nz news that they were testing a similar concept for really, but out didn't have any mobility. does tours have any confection to the internet so they can skype our watch videos or search things?

I hope the bout gets off the ground to a great start! Great cause.

Thank you all for the great comments.
While I could add the ability to do skype or any of those other online applications I most likely will not at this point.
This is more of a companion and a assistant.
For the elderly or disabled that are at home alone and lonely this will provide company as it does talk to them.
Once it learns your house, it can then do small tasks.
Most elderly people do not have the internet or know how to use it, that is the reason for voice recognition.
It can be controlled by a computer remotely or locally on the same network if the end user has one.
For the most part the voice recognition is the primary way of controlling.
The current one is the prototype and is made out of aluminum the final production model will be made out of plastic so it will be much lighter.
I have sent drawings and templates to a plastics manufacturer and waiting back on the quote to have it produced.

jeffroig wrote: Most elderly people do not have the internet or know how to use it

But,some do and more of them will (the internet is like 20-30 years old now). So, it probably would be a good idea to add Internet apps or Internet. As a person who has been to several nursing home, old and disabled isn't as old as you would think... Sometimes they are in their 40s and 50s, and sadly enough I've seen younger.

On another note... This reminds me of the movie "Robot and Frank"... Have you seen it?

Damn that's impressive. I'll be watching this definately

Finis wrote:Good work. Better get patents.

I'm not a big expert, but there may be a couple of minefields with that. Not sure where you are Jeff but in the UK there was some small scale news of a similar endevour being attempted by a company. They may already have some international ones which effectively block yours out. Might be worth checking out, because you probably can get around that by taking the Robert Dyson approach of patenting a few of the individual things like its function or the contents of the code and so on. Or even not having to go through that problem at all by ensuring it's kept under 'trade secrets'

ATB
Steve

Wonderful idea and effort.

Using my businessman mind....
Do Not worry about putting everything you can think of into it; at this stage. Concentrate on finalizing the design and working out All the possible bugs with what you have already. You can't make an effective sales pitch with a flawed product.
Keep the thinking/possibilities wide, but the work concentrated on what you have.

Greatest of luck with this endeavor Jeff.

Way to go Jeff!

Pretty darn cool Jeff!
I'm sure we all can come up with a lot of suggestions for your robot but this one is your baby. Good luck with your new endeavor. Please keep us updated with your project.

Thanks Steinie,
As I told you in my email you would be surprised.