Unofficial mod transforms the Playdate into a captivating robotic pet

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

PlayBot is Guillaume Loquin’s identify for the lovable add-on, which anybody with the proper know-how can construct. (For these with out know-how, don’t be shocked should you ultimately see others promote builds on platforms like Etsy.) Made with two wheels, a motor, a microcontroller and a 3D-printed casing, it faucets into the Playdate’s built-in accelerometer, microphone and sensors to show the indie recreation console into a captivating desktop companion.

Loquin, whose day job is as a personality artist at Ubisoft, put these expertise to make use of in bringing the gadget to life. Though it received’t do something loopy like have a chat, pop wheelies or play fetch, Loquin’s video beneath reveals it reacting to a wake-up faucet, navigating round a nook and getting dizzy after spinning the Playdate’s crank. It could additionally scoot round your desk, steering away from obstacles and avoiding a plummet off the sting.

The developer estimates 45 minutes of play per cost. Whenever you aren’t enjoying with the gadget (in recreation console or robotic type), the robo-dock fees the console.

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