TN-24 V2.0 (Cute Desktop Companion Robot)

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TN-24 V2.0 (Cute Desktop Companion Robot)

What happens when you combine curiosity, creativity, and a love for cute robotics? You get TN-24 V2.0 — a small, expressive desktop companion that responds to your interactions, shows emotions on its OLED face, and now features a slick 3D-printed body that adds a professional finish to its charming personality.

V2 is here — sleeker, smarter, and a lot more fun to be around.

From Cardboard Origins to a 3D-Printed Personality

The original TN-24 was born from humble beginnings — a weekend project crafted out of recycled cardboard to keep things eco-friendly and accessible for makers of all levels. It was a hit: simple, interactive, and full of charm.

With TN-24 V2.0, I wanted to take everything that made the first version great and make it more robust, customizable, and better suited for long-term use.

What Makes TN-24 V2.0 Special?

TN-24 V2.0 isn't just a robot — it's a little personality on your desk. Here's what’s new and improved:

3D-Printed Casing: Durable, clean, and far more customizable.
Cute Web Interface: Control your robot via browser with mood-based actions.
Emotion System: TN-24 reacts with happiness, tiredness, or excitement based on how you interact.
OLED Expressions: Displays animated faces that shift with mood or environment.
Ambient Behavior: It wiggles when ignored, blinks curiously at you, or even plays animations on special occasions.

Upcoming Updates

TN-24 is evolving into a smarter, more emotionally aware desktop companion with features like mood-based interactions, playful attention-seeking behaviors, wellness reminders, simple games, personalized greetings, and even music responsiveness—making it not just a robot, but a charming assistant that brings joy, connection, and utility to your everyday workspace.

Supplies

Components & Development Process

Building TN-24 V2.0 was an exciting journey of combining smart electronics, creative design, and a love for cute robotics. Here's an in-depth look at the core components and tools I used, how I brought the robot to life, and what's next for this little companion.

Electronics & Core Hardware

At the heart of TN-24 is the Xiao ESP32S3, a powerful and compact microcontroller that manages everything from servo movements to WiFi communication. It’s perfect for small form-factor robotics like this one, especially with its built-in USB-C, camera interface, and wireless connectivity.

Here’s what’s under the hood:

Xiao ESP32S3 – The main brain of the robot. Small but mighty.
4x DFRobot Micro Servo Motors – These handle leg movements to create an expressive, animated walk.
MPU6050 Motion Sensor – Gives the robot the ability to detect orientation and movement, making interactions more dynamic.
0.96" OLED Display – Used to show a wide range of animated eyes and emotions, giving TN-24 a personality.
3.7V Lithium-ion Battery – Keeps TN-24 powered while staying compact and rechargeable.

Schematics and Wiring

Connect the components as shown below:

Software Environment

I developed TN-24 in the Arduino IDE, thanks to its simplicity and robust library ecosystem. Here are the key libraries I used:

#include <Wire.h> // For I2C communication

#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>

#include <Adafruit_SSD1306.h> // For the OLED display

#include <Servo.h> // Controls the servos

To bring TN-24's eyes to life, I created a series of animations displayed on the OLED. Here's a snippet showing how to get started with it:

Adafruit_SSD1306 display(128, 64, &Wire, -1);

void setup() {

if (!display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, 0x3C)) {

Serial.println(F("SSD1306 allocation failed"));

while (true);

}

display.clearDisplay();

display.setTextSize(2);

display.setTextColor(WHITE);

display.setCursor(0,0);

display.print("Hello!");

display.display();

}

The robot also hosts a web interface served from the ESP32’s WiFi, letting users control and interact with TN-24 in real-time using a friendly dashboard built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

You can find the full code on the Projects GitHub Repository.

Designing the Enclosure

For TN-24 V2.0, I wanted a polished, professional-looking design—so I moved away from the recycled cardboard of V1 and dove into 3D modeling using Fusion 360.

The process involved:

Designing a compact and modular shell that can house all electronics snugly
Creating cutouts for the OLED display, servo wires, and switches
Ensuring the structure was lightweight enough not to strain the servos

3D Printing the Case

To bring the design to life, I needed to 3D print the casing, but I don't own a 3D printer so I turned to JUSTWAY, who generously 3D-printed the casing for me. Their print quality is excellent, and I highly recommend checking them out if you're looking for high-quality, reliable prints. You can visit their website here: JUSTWAY. Ordering is simple you just upload your 3D files choose the material, color and finish you want.

Next Steps: Custom PCB

While the current version works great on a breadboard and with jumper wires, I’m now in the process of designing a custom PCB to make assembly faster and neater for future builds. This is especially important as I prepare to scale TN-24 into a commercial product.

Why TN-24 V2.0 Matters

This robot isn’t just fun — it’s educational and emotionally engaging. It’s:

Beginner-friendly — Easy to build, even for new makers.

Customizable — Reprogram it, redesign the case, add your own features.

Eco-conscious — Originally made with cardboard, and still low-waste.

Show & Tell

Final Thoughts

TN-24 V2.0 is more than just a walking bot, it's a digital companion that reflects your creativity, and hopefully brings a smile to your face every time you see it.

Whether you build it with cardboard or 3D-print a body like I did, it’s a project that grows with you.

What's Next for TN-24?

TN-24 started as a personal project, but the love it's received has inspired something bigger.

The next step? Commercializing TN-24 — turning this cute, customizable companion into something anyone can have on their desk.

Imagine a world where TN-24 is your daily mood booster, your child’s first step into robotics, or even a tiny digital friend that helps you focus, smile, and stay curious.

If you believe in that vision, whether you're a designer, investor, educator, or just someone who wants one of these bots on your desk — I'd love your support to help make TN-24 a reality for everyone.

Let’s build a future where robotics is not just functional… but friendly, fun, and full of heart.

Let's give the world a taste of TN-24. 💛

I would like to hear what you guys think about TN-24, leave a comment, suggestion or a recommendation below. Don't forget to give it a thumbs up

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