RoboTotem is an experimental robotic assistant designed for stores and shopfronts, built to be a friendly, expressive point of interaction rather than a full humanoid robot. Even in its unfinished state, it is one of the most beautiful creations I made together with my good friend Bob.
Created back in 2019, RoboTotem already responded to voice commands and moved with surprisingly natural, almost character-like motion.
How it works
RoboTotem focuses almost entirely on the head. The expressive eyes are the core of its personality and also its biggest technical challenge. To make them work, we developed custom software that converts standard images into a color-encoded, pixel-mapped format compatible with the eye displays. This allowed the robot to render emotions, attention, and reactions in real time, turning a simple screen into something that feels alive.
Beyond the Head
RoboTotem may just be a head, but it has a lot to say. If you’re curious about expressive robots, unconventional interfaces, or where physical AI can add real value, let’s talk and see where the ideas lead.
