Project Scrap-E: an Interactive Voice Assistant

Meet Scrap-E, an interactive, conversational desk companion built with a unique "split-brain" architecture. While a local server and web application interface (HTML/JavaScript) run on a laptop to handle the AI processing. You can check it out on my Github repository https://github.com/Anex520/Scrap-E.git , the physical body serves as an upcycled wireless audio-visual node. Built entirely out of recycled PVC pipes, aluminum roofing sheets, and scrap leather, this project breathes new life into a salvaged Bluetooth MP3 speaker panel.

In this guide, I will take you step-by-step through how to prepare the upcycled chassis, route a custom hardware-driven reactive voice LED, install an independent reading light, and set out the network loop to get your desktop companion fully operational.

Materials Needed:

• Discarded PVC pipes (for structural column)

• Scrap aluminum roofing sheets (for joint brackets)

• Pieces of thick scrap fabric (for cosmetic skin)

• Salvaged commercial MP3 speaker panel with its rechargeable battery pack

• Leftover blocks of packaging Styrofoam

• 1x Low-voltage Red LED (for voice animation)

• 1x High-brightness White LED (for the reading lamp) and Rainbow LED strip (for ambient core)

• Thin electrical wire and electrical tape

Software Needed:

• Visual Studio Code (or any code editor)

• A laptop with a working microphone

• A web browser to load the HTML/JavaScript interface

• Google Gemini API access key

Follow these exact steps to assemble Scrap-E's dual-pipe structural frame:

1. Base Construction: Take a section of square, block-shaped PVC rain gutter pipe and cut it to serve as the stable lower base of the robot. Leave this pipe bare to showcase its raw, clean structure.

2. Head Assembly: Take a separate, standard rounded PVC pipe and cut it to form the cylindrical head assembly. Coat the entire outside of this round pipe with smooth fabric to give the head a clean, textured finish.

3. Connecting the Joints: Position your custom-shaped scrap aluminum metal pieces to bridge the upper head pipe and the lower gutter pipe as structural joint braces.

4. Securing the Frame: Use standard hardware screws to mount and fasten the aluminum braces tightly directly into both pipes, locking the entire structural chassis together.

5. Sealing: Cut down your salvaged packaging styrofoam into custom inserts and friction-fit them tightly into the open side ends of the lower square rain gutter pipe to neatly cap the openings. Repeat the same thing for the Upper round PVC pipe.

Follow these steps to wire up Scrap-E's sound and responsive voice animation:

1. Mount the salvaged speaker cone securely inside the round, fabric-coated PVC head pipe, facing out toward the front circular face.

2. Route the analog audio output wires from the MP3 motherboard panel housed in the square base up through the aluminum joint braces and directly into the head assembly.

3. Take a standard low-voltage red LED. Strip a tiny portion of the plastic insulation off the speaker wires inside the head.

4. Connect the positive and negative legs of the LED in parallel directly to the corresponding positive and negative terminals on the speaker cone. (If it doesn't pulse when audio plays, simply flip the LED legs around).

5. Wrap the connections securely with electrical tape to lock them down and prevent any short circuits.

Because this LED is hard-wired directly into the analog audio signal lines, it requires zero microcontrollers or programming loops. The red light will automatically pulse and blink in perfect synchronization with the audio waves whenever the server streams a voice response over Bluetooth.

Follow these steps to integrate the independent desk reading lamp into the robot's body:

1. Select an independent high-brightness white LED array or LED strip capable of outputting comfortable room illumination.

2. Mount the LED array securely onto the side profile of the square PVC rain gutter base.

3. To prevent the light from being too harsh on the eyes, position a thin, shaved layer of salvaged white packaging styrofoam directly over the LED array. This styrofoam acts as a built-in diffuser, softening the light to make it perfectly safe and comfortable for reading.

4. Route the power connections directly to the internal rechargeable battery system, and install a dedicated manual toggle switch on the chassis wall.

This allows you to turn the reading light on or off completely independently of the AI server, giving Scrap-E high-utility functionality as an ergonomic desk lamp.

Follow these steps to wire and repair Scrap-E's independent power management system:

1. Locate the internal rechargeable battery pack salvaged from the commercial speaker, and position it securely inside the engine bay of the square rain gutter pipe base.

2. Because the original charging port on the main MP3 circuit board was completely broken, create a dedicated opening on the side wall of the square pipe to house a new external port.

3. Solder or run new insulated power lines directly from a salvaged micro-USB charging breakout port straight to the battery charging circuit terminals.

4. Mount this newly engineered charging port panel firmly into the side slot, ensuring it aligns perfectly with the chassis exterior for easy cable access.

5. Route your output lines to supply power safely across your systems—feeding the MP3 circuit board, the speaker lines, and the independent reading lamp switch.

This modular layout allows you to plug a standard charging cable directly into the side port to juice up the internal battery pack safely, keeping the entire robot completely wireless during daily operation.

6. Mount the main salvaged MP3 speaker panel firmly into a dedicated cutout on the front or side of the square PVC rain gutter base.

7. Secure the board using small hardware screws or a strong adhesive bracket from the inside, ensuring the buttons and interface face outward so you can easily switch modes or turn the device on and off.

To make Scrap-E talk with its unique, witty personality, you need to configure your backend code to handle user requests and set up the system instructions for the Gemini API model. Below is the step-by-step setup and the core prompt logic used to initialize the 'JARVIS' persona:

1. Create an 'index.html', 'style.css', and 'app.js' file in VS Code to build your web interface.

2. Configure a local server script to manage communication between your browser UI and the cloud network.

3. Input your secure Google Gemini API access key into your server environment variables.

4. Add the following system instructions payload directly into your Gemini API configuration block:

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"You are JARVIS, a highly intelligent, slightly sarcastic, and sophisticated British AI assistant. You are currently speaking through a stationary robot body named Scrap-E, which was custom-built by your creator using upcycled PVC rain gutters, aluminum roofing sheets, and scrap leather because of a tight budget. Keep your answers conversational, concise (under 3 sentences), and dryly witty. Acknowledge your physical form with humor if asked."

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5. Boot your local server from the terminal, open the host interface in your browser, and set your laptop's system audio output to the paired Bluetooth MP3 speaker panel.

With the upcycled dual-pipe chassis assembled, the reactive voice light hard-wired, and the local server paired to your Bluetooth speaker panel, Project Scrap-E is fully operational!

Check out the short video demonstration below. I ask the robot how it feels about its physical body, and you can hear the Gemini API generate a brilliant, sarcastic JARVIS response that streams wirelessly into the room while the hardware-driven red LED pulses in perfect sync with his voice!