Bloop AI: Your Tiny Desk Buddy

Meet Bloop AI — a small robot that sits on your desk and helps you with everyday things. Bloop can tell you the weather, answer general questions, and even talk with you when you feel bored. It has a cute face that can blink and show emotions. When you say something, Bloop listens and gives friendly replies. It’s like having a tiny smart friend right next to you.

Bloop may be small, but it’s very smart. It can help you with reminders, tell you fun facts, or just keep you company while you work or study. With its simple design and fun personality, Bloop AI: Your Tiny Desk Buddy is always ready to chat and help out. It makes your day a little easier — and a lot more fun.

ESP 32 (The Brain) - Link

1.54 TFT LCD - Link

Limit Switch - Link

Wires - Link

3D Printer (Up to you) - Link

Soldering Iron - Link

The first step in bringing Bloop to life was designing its body in Fusion 360.

Before jumping into the details, I wanted to get an idea of how big Bloop would be. So, I started by sketching some basic shapes for all the electronic parts that would go inside — like the screen, speaker, and microcontroller.

My idea for Bloop’s design was to give it a big round head with a cute screen for eyes.

I sent the whole design and sent it off to be 3D printed. And to be honest, for my very first time designing something just for 3D printing, I think it turned out pretty well!!

But once I got the parts in my hands, I noticed that the screen wasn’t fitting quite right. It was just a little too snug. So, I grabbed a small trimmer and carefully shaved down the inside of the print until the screen fit nicely. It wasn’t a big fix, but it made a huge difference. Now the screen sits perfectly in Bloop’s head, and it looks super clean.

TFT Display (ST7789) to ESP32 Wiring

1. VCC → 3.3V
2. GND → GND
3. SCK (Clock) → GPIO 18
4. MOSI (SDA / Data) → GPIO 23
5. CS (Chip Select) → GPIO 5
6. DC (Data/Command) → GPIO 2
7. RST (Reset) → GPIO 4

Limit Switch to ESP32 Wiring

1. One terminal → GPIO 19
2. Other terminal → GND

Note: When adding the limit switch, make sure to add a spring next to the limit switch. (See the attached video for more info.)

Here is the code:

Feel free to change anything you like!!

I have to say, Bloop turned out even better than I imagined. That big head and the blinking eyes give him such a fun, cartoon-like personality. When he sits on my desk and randomly blinks or reacts, it really feels like he’s alive — like a tiny, friendly robot just hanging out with me.

Honestly, my favorite part is tapping him on the head and instantly seeing a response — whether it’s the weather, a quick visual cue, or just a blinking reaction. It’s weirdly satisfying, and I probably do it way more than I need to, just because it's fun.

I wasn’t able to get the sound working yet since I’m still missing a few parts, but I plan to add that in the future. There’s still a lot more I want to build into Bloop — more expressions, smarter responses, maybe even some hand gestures someday.

If you’re building your own version or want to improve it, feel free to remix the idea and make it your own. I’d love to hear what you come up with — let’s keep building and make Bloop even better together!