FōnBot - Fun, Friendly and Free Desktop Robot Companion Buddy (WIP)

Introducing FōnBot - a fun, friendly companion robot for everybody, for free.

Whether you were drawn to R2D2, BB-8, or Wall-E, if you've come to this page you probably share the dream of having a robot buddy. Employing the powerful computers we already carry in our pockets, FōnBot can be that buddy!

UPDATE - the .aia file and the most current .apk file are now posted on my website

- https://sites.google.com/highrange.org/robobuddiesgear/downloads

The files are being updated very frequently.

Also, much of this instructable is about making a body. There is now a 3D .stl file, or you can make a body from a soda pop bottle. Then you can skip down to Step 13.

FōnBot features:

1. Active eyes give "life" to FōnBot
2. Practical - tells the time
3. Clock settings for Size and Color
4. Settings for when to Wake up and Sleep
5. 4 Sounds buttons for staged interactions
6. * Recognizes People and responds
7. * Voice Recognition and response

* still in development

While there are other great robots out there, they often cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and/or can take days or weeks to build. You can have your FōnBot up and running in minutes, for free. FōnBot's open source programming can be modified with the free MIT Ai2 - App Inventor.

This is a complete, yet on-going project. The possibilities are limitless, but you can download the app and run FōnBot today.

Very simple -

1. an old phone, or your current one when not is use
2. cardboard
3. glue, tape, scissors
4. FōnBot program, downloadable below.

3 Easy Steps -

1. create a Body
2. download and install the app
3. Settings

Here's how to model almost anything: make a paper pattern, test for fit, make out of cardboard. Better materials later if you wish.

First create the body out of paper. It's easy to cut, add pieces and modify. Photos in order from Left to Right -

1. Sketch out a box.
2. The front needs to be the size of your phone + the width of your cardboard x2.
3. Cut out the pattern

1.fold & assemble the box

Trim sides as necessary

hold lightly with scotch tape

2. Test fit your phone

unfold paper pattern

1. Trace pattern onto Cardboard
2. Crease the folds
3. Draw the Window for the screen.

Super important, but very simple. To fold cardboard cleanly you must crease it first. Use a steel ruler or a wooden one with a strong metal edge. Just line up the ruler on the line you want, and press firmly down. It should leave a visible crease. Now you can cleanly fold your cardboard!

Test fit the box.

1. Glue all but the back flap. Test fit the back - it should be at a slightly inward angle.
2. Mark where to cut off excess sides. Mark on the Outside.

Cut off and finish gluing.

Create the inner stand from cardboard.

Width should be about the size of your phone.,

Length should equal the length of the outer box minus the thickness of cardboard and your phone.

1. Cut it out
2. Crease two folds
3. Fold

1. Test fit
2. Add Phone

(Note - these pictures don't show the cutout for the display)

3. carefully cut a slot for the charging cable

Optional - you may need to glue the inner stand against the box walls, especially as time goes on.

Almost done.

1. Sketch out a design for the foot. I went through several designs before I settled on this one.
2. I think it looks good to be just a little longer than the body.

Trace on the cardboard.

Reverse for the other foot.

I did three layers of corrugated cardboard with one layer of white cardboard on top.  

Glue layers together.

Cover the edge of the feet. One could cut a thin piece of white paper and glue it around the edge.

1. Or for a quick job, just use masking tape! Make slits in the tape hanging over the edge so it will tuck under without wrinkling.
2. Looks great! Temporarily attach the feet with tape. Once you're sure everything is set, you can glue them.
3. Make sure to leave room for the charging cable.

1. Download the pattern in Picture 1 - click it, click the download button, R-click, Save Image As...

Print the attached file on an A4 or 8.5x11 sheet of paper.

Use this as a rough layout for your 'Bot - adjust as necessary.

2.my final version ended up a bit different.

I started with paper, then remade with heavy card stock

** Due to a family emergency, my development stopped temporarily **

Help me out here - let's design a better headcap for FonBot!

1. fit hoodie onto phone, wrapping around to back
2. find selfie camera lens and cut hole (if desired, for later Face Recognition under development)
3. pull back pieces together, loose enough to remove if needed; Tape or glue.

Add Ballast in box - I like dead batteries.

The app that brings FonBot to life is below.

• Download the app
• your phone may warn you against downloading an Unknown app
• click "Download anyway"
• Open
• click to install
• your phone may warn you against installing an Unknown app - allow it.

Edited - Updated .apk file - now you can choose Clock color or have it match the battery level color.

FonBot has many settings.

1. Main Settings bar diagram

For a detailed explanation, watch the video below.

That's all you need to do to get your FōnBot up and running.

Below this are optional details you can read or do if you wish, including how to add features through MIT App Inventor.

It is fairly easy to add features to FōnBot by coding in MIT App Inventor 2 (Ai2). MIT Ai2 features intuitive graphical building-blocks and is used by over 14 Million people - kids to retirees - around the world. The picture above is a real program that will print the famous "Hello World" on you phone screen. Programming time: less than 1 minute.

More information - https://appinventor.mit.edu/about-us

FōnBot's program is a rather complex and you will need to learn some Tutorials is you don't know Ai2.

One small downside to Ai2 is the difficulty of finding things within a large program. Luckily, Ai2 features a button (highlighted in picture above) to take you to the Center of the programming space. 

Therefore I have created a "map" in the center that will guide you to the main features in the programming. (Zoom out a little to see it all.)

For example, let's find the coding blocks that make the eyes (Ez) blink. Just to the right of center, we see "Ez Blink". Looking straight to the right - there's the code.

If you're interested in modifying FōnBot's code, contact me for the .aia file.

My first FōnBot didn't even have eyes; i just used the camera lens on the back of the phone.

Then I began to develop the idea of using the screen to show expressions.

Photo 1 - just a cardboard stand with feet made of Dental Floss boxes cut in half.

Photo2 - Photoshopped Foamboard legs and a face cover.

... but it wasn't very durable.

I've tried several other bodies since, but feel like this one is the best to allow anybody to make it.

The possibilities are limitless! Many body types are possible -

1. Photoshop of where FōnBot is headed
2. here is just one rough idea of what a 3D-printed body could look like.
3. with legs and a servos, FonBot can be much more expressive. And walk around your desk.

Ah, prototyping with masking tape! This chassis is based off the style popularized by Bob the Biped and Otto DIY robots. There's lots of arduino code to make it run. Here's the page to make a custom sized 3D print - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2457865

Let me know what you come up with!

1/25/25 - I've finally gotten back to work on him. Below is the latest file for Android phones.

I added temperature. For Fahrenheit, I've included Celsius with it.

He also has a new, temporary body while I'm traveling.

NOTE - I have moved my latest files to a website. The latest version is now here -

https://sites.google.com/highrange.org/robobuddiesgear/downloads