3. PROBLEM DEFINITION - P-Div-Engg-Exploration-Odd-2026-27/Repo-05 GitHub Wiki
PROBLEM DEFINITION
There is a need for a compact, interactive, and user-friendly desktop companion robot that can detect and follow a user's hand without physical contact. The robot should be capable of hand tracking, autonomous movement, head rotation toward the user's hand, animated visual feedback (like eyes), and sound generation while maintaining safe operation on a desk. It should have approximate dimensions of 10 × 13 × 9 cm , detect desk edges to prevent falling, use a rechargeable battery, and be developed within a budget of ₹2,000–₹2,500.
QUESTION AND ANSWER
| # | Question | Answer | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Can the desktop toy move? | Yes it can move | Objective |
| 2 | Does it have interaction with user? | Yes it can have interaction by following user's hand | Objective |
| 3 | Can a toy move without touching it? | Yes by IR Sensor / ADPS 6690 / ESP 32 CAM | Objective |
| 4 | How will the robot move forward and backward? | When both motors rotate in the same direction, the robot moves forward or backward. | Function |
| 5 | How will the robot move left and right? | The robot will use differential drive. The speed of the left and right track motors will be changed to make the robot turn. | Function |
| 6 | What is the requirement of the machine? | It should be small and interactive so that we can be play on desktop | Objective |
| 7 | What are the dimensions of the machine? | 10x13x9 cm | Constraint |
| 8 | Mode of the motion or movement? | It has 2 tanker like belt | Constraint |
| 9 | What is the battery efficiency of the machine? | It has minimum 1.5 hrs battery life | Function |
| 10 | Is the machine portable? | yes it is portable | Objective |
| 11 | What is the budget of the machine? | It costs upto 2000 to 2500 | Function |
| 12 | How will the robot produce sounds? | A small buzzer or mini speaker will be connected to the ESP32-S3 to produce simple robotic sounds and feedback | Function |
| 13 | What does the machine do when it senses the hand? | It will follow our hand maintaining some distance and up to some range | Function |
| 14 | How will the motors be controlled? | They allow the ESP32-S3 to control the speed and direction of the motors. | Objective |
| 15 | Is the machine user-friendly? | Yes its user friendly | Objective |
| 16 | How can the user start or stop the machine? | The robot follows hand when its i bought near it | Function |
| 17 | Does the machine produce any audio or visual feedback? | Yes it has screen which shows eyes expression and even makes sound | Function |
| 18 | How will the robot be powered? | A rechargeable/replacable battery will power the robot. | Objective |
| 19 | Is the model aesthetically pleasing? | Yes it is, as we add lighting for it | Function |
BASIC SURVEY AND REQUIRMENT
| Sr. No. | Functions from User Perspective | Functions from Designer Perspective |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robot should follow my hand | Detect and track hand position |
| 2 | Robot should stay near my hand | Measure hand-to-robot distance and maintain ~2-inch gap |
| 3 | Robot should recognize where my hand is | Determine left, center, or right hand position |
| 4 | Robot should move forward | Drive all four mecanum wheels in forward direction |
| 5 | Robot should move backward | Drive all four wheels in reverse |
| 6 | Robot should move left/right | Implement mecanum wheel motion for lateral movement |
| 7 | Robot should rotate | Control wheel speeds in opposite directions for rotation |
| 8 | Robot's head should look toward my hand | Control motor according to hand position |
| 9 | Head should turn up to 90° | Limit motor movement to approximately ±45° |
| 10 | Robot should not fall from the desk | Detect a desk edge using downward-facing distance sensors |
| 11 | Robot should automatically stop at the edge | Give edge detection the highest movement priority |
| 12 | Robot should have expressive eyes | Display animated eyes on an OLED |
| 13 | Robot should make sounds | Generate programmed audio feedback using a buzzer/speaker |
| 14 | Robot should be rechargeable and usable safely | Manage battery charging, power distribution and battery protection |
| 15 | Upto what speed it can move | It can move upto 10cm/s speed |
FUNCTIONS
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Gesture Tracking: The design includes a specialized processing module and sensor array interface for real-time proximity and hand gesture tracking.
-
Responsive Articulation: The robot detects hand position vectors and dynamically rotates its head assembly in the corresponding direction using an active servo link.
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Omnidirectional Locomotion: The mobility framework drives the chassis toward or away by using chain/belt like wheels of tankers.
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Surface Compatibility: The mechanical drivetrain operates optimally on smooth, flat indoor surfaces such as office desks and tabletops.
CONSTRAINTS
- Budget: The total prototype development cost must not exceed ₹2,200.
- Dimensions: The physical footprint must remain compact for desktop placement, measuring approximately 100 mm (width) × 130 mm (length) × 90 mm (height).
- Detection Workspace: The infrared sensor array, ADPS 9960, ESP32 With cam must reliably track hand placements within an optimal range of 10 cm to 30 cm (approx. 0.3 to 1 foot).
- Power Dynamics: The system requires an operational battery runtime of approximately 1 hour.
- Reliability Target: The tracking firmware recognizeses defined directional hand movements.
PROBLEM DEFINITION SUMMARY
The objective of this project is to design a lightweight, user-friendly hand gesture-controlled companion robot for desktop entertainment and interactive utility. The robot will be developed within a strict budget under ₹2,500, maintaining a small footprint of 100x130x90 mm. It features a target battery life of 1 hour .Operating effectively on smooth, flat desk surfaces, it detects hand gestures within a 10–30 mm range. The bot translates these gestures into real-time physical actions: rotating its head assembly toward the user, utilizing its omnidirectional drivetrain to follow movements seamlessly, and responding dynamically within 2 second to user presence.