Bender Deskbot Soundboard

I attempted to make this as my final project in MMTC, I was unable to finish it but here is a guide on how to get started.

Hardware:

1. Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W
2. 2x Servo motors (eyes)
3. 1x Servo motor (mouth)
4. 2x NeoPixel WS2812 RGB LEDs
5. 1x PIR motion sensor
6. Breadboard and jumper wires
7. USB to Micro-USB DATA cable (not charge-only)
8. Speaker + PAM8403 mini amplifier board
9. USB power supply

Software (all free):

1. Thonny IDE — thonny.org
2. MicroPython firmware — micropython.org
3. Python 3 — python.org/downloads
4. Bender sound clips — 101soundboards.com

Download the Pico 2 W firmware (.uf2) from micropython.org

Hold the BOOTSEL button on the Pico

While holding it, plug the Pico into your PC

Let go — a drive called RPI-RP2 appears in File Explorer

Drag and drop the .uf2 file onto that drive

Pico reboots automatically — RPI-RP2 disappears, that's normal

Unplug and replug without holding BOOTSEL

Download and open Thonny from thonny.org

Go to Tools → Options → Interpreter

Set interpreter to MicroPython (Raspberry Pi Pico)

Set port to COM3 (or whatever your Pico shows as)

Click OK and press the red Stop button

Shell panel should show MicroPython v1.xx you're connected.

Use VBUS for servo power, not 3.3V. Servos need 5V or they won't work properly.

Go to 101soundboards.com and search Bender Futurama

Download clips organized by mood

Create a folder structure like this:

sounds/ greetings/ angry/ idle/ reactions/

That is as far as I made it in this project due to time. The final goal of this project was to combine all inputs and outputs into one interactive system