Alexa Ruxpin - Raspberry Pi & Alexa Powered Teddy Bear

There are tons of virtual assistants out on the market: Siri, Ok Google, Alexa, etc. I had this crazy idea...what if I made the virtual assistant real...kinda. I decided to take an old animatronic teddy bear and hack it so that it ran Amazon Alexa. Now every time you ask it a question, it will move its eyes and mouth to answer your question.Watch the video to find out more!
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Teddy Ruxpin Build - • Toy Hacker: Reviving A...
Amazon Developer Portal - developer.amazon.com/
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[@areamusicale]

it's amazing how you made all this with your bear hands. Ba Dum Tss!

[@WizardClipAudio]

Aye,... but your pun is wasted because Teddy Ruxpin is not a bear. It's mentioned quite a few times throughout his adventures. He's an illiop, an imaginary primate in Ken Forrse's extended universe that only happens to resemble a bear.

[@thegreatest58]

Wizard Clip Audio you seem fun at parties

[@wmoecke]

*The Greatest* fun as in, "Bazinga"? LOL

[@ExStaticBass]

I know it's been done to death but here's my two cents. I'd love to see this done to a furbie. I think it would be hilarious to see and more fun to watch someone build.

[@zigafide]

Cool I didn't know you could create your own alexa

[@carson_39]

Yeah it just takes a lot of programming

[@universityrepairFL]

Look up Billy Bass Alexa. They even sell them factory now

[@wumbology8421]

Thank you. Thank you so much. You have shaped me into the person I am today. I first watched your "how to make a website" video years back, and that video alone is what sparked my now immense interest in computers. It's amazing how much an impact a single person can make, and I can't imagine the ways I would be different if it weren't for your video. Once again, thank you, and I appreciate everything you have done.

[@Tinkernut]

thanks so much for the feedback! it really means a lot to me!

[@rebane2001]

You should make a smart mirror with some plexiglass and a Pi Plexiglass is a mirror, when no light is on the other side, so you can make a display show all black except for the stuff you want to see

[@TekNeez]

Oh my god. That's so freaky. You've turned my childhood bear into a monster. That's wild

[@davidharrison67]

geekphreak I had one too

[@jamesanthony8438]

Sorry, but I think Wicked Cool Toys did that when they brought back Teddy Ruxtpin with those evil, weird-assed LCD eyes =)

[@problem9941]

geekphreak wow

[@TDGalea]

3:53 | Command line! You've made me proud :)

[@jimday666]

Wow, this channel has quality and interests my peak too! Subbed right away!

im glad you read my comment on last video and use a rpi :D they are great for ai and automation :d will you add a cam so it can do face recognition?

[@universityrepairFL]

Nice job! Fun fact: the guy that made Its a Small World for Disney, made Teddy when he retired.

[@dvdragond2]

Would be pretty cool to see more animatronics or robotics

[@DiyintheGhetto]

Hey Tinkernut Thanks for creating the next female good girl doll, You mad evil genius you :)

[@xronosabre]

Dude this is absolutely incredible... Teddy Ruxpin was my best friend when I was a toddler, this is one of the coolest throwbacks I didn’t think I’d find ha ha you rock man

[@rnk482]

This is the first time I've seen your channel. I came here for teddy ruxbin, but see that your knowledge of electronics might be something I'm interested in. I'm now a subscriber.

[@JasonOBrienThinksHeCan]

Awesome build. Had no idea Alexa could be deployed on non-aws hardware, thank you for opening our eyes

[@scratch3406]

I see what you did there

[@Mr.Donahue]

Now with dead eyes!

[@Perska]

I'd make the Teddy Ruxpin have a *_3D_* camera and some machinery for the legs, and use a VR headset and a controller to make the Teddy walk around. Also have it repeat whatever sound is fed to the mic?

[@explodingpineapple7471]

Perska If that thing could walk, it would rather be a FREDDY RUXPIN.

[@aeriumsoft]

no, it would be nightmare fuel.

[@johnoshman7635]

Then after he's walking around take all of the electronics out of the Teddy and put them into a My Buddy doll...

[@vreeg3917]

Cool! my dad is doing this sort of thing with our 80s arcade machine. It didn't work but he fixed it (everything works except the speakers) and he says he's going to put a raspberry pi into it and make it better and he's going to fix the speakers by finding new ones and removing the old ones. I'm really exited to play with it when he is all done! 😃

[@WizardClipAudio]

This is way cooler than the Chippy Ruxpin Project. I'm glad I dragged my ass on hacking my teddy with a dead tape player. I have a grubby grubby too,... so If this works than I'll try that too if I can somehow manage to get components to fit in it.

[@JustinTannenbaum2295]

Just want to congratulate you on another great year of awesome videos. I deff will give this one a try! Thank you Daniel for your inspirationg!

[@Tinkernut]

Thanks for being such a long time supporter!!!

[@theeverythingplace672]

dude you crazy? this is awesome! so creative and useful!

[@ryanhuber1491]

That's on a whole new level of dopeness!! Nice work! thanks for informative hack!

[@louisciamillo8690]

i like the crazy collar.

[@MRrwmac]

Nice work on your first animatronics. Really enjoyed it! Didn't see Teddy's eyes move though? Next project: With it being near Christmas, a lot of people have purchased the simple laser light projectors (approx $40h you connect power to and it rotates a simple selection of programmed projections onto the front of your house at night. Could you please show us how we might hack the inboard set of display projections to something we might input ourselves?

[@Tinkernut]

They work. It blinks every 5 seconds...just caught it in between blinks...you can see my previous vid for proof that the eyse work ;-) I like that idea for a laser light projector. I'll look into it.

[@TimurTripp2]

Didn't see the upper lip move either. In revision 2 bear this is controlled by a different servo than the bottom lip.

[@thijs3e]

this project is very very cool!!

[@fatherdoctor]

so you chose amp modulated... great job

[@agentwd-40dicksteel20]

Pretty cool

[@aryamaanpratapsingh5547]

Could you do a video... like where you make an attachable accessory(pi with Alexa) which can make anything artificially intelligent!! For example a sticky magnet for a refrigerator which can answer all your cooking doubts(I guess you get what I am saying .. right!) That would really be exciting!!

[@SudoTech]

OMG that's so cool!

[@MrMKFreak]

Prepare that thing to attach it to a friends toilett, as soon as they go and sit down, have it flush, close the lid and make a horn sound!

[@beastialmoon2327]

as if Ruxpin couldnt get sny more terrifying

[@goodBEan]

Wakes up on christmas morning Runs down stairs "WOOT, ITS CHRISTMAS MORNING. MERRY CHRISTMAS" Opens fist present "ITS WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED, the TINKERNUT ALEXA RUXPIN COMMENT SHOW, YIPPEE!!!"

[@goodBEan]

Hows that for the first comment of the show?

[@Tinkernut]

It would've been perfect if I hadn't waited til after the holidays to do the comments show :-/ Sorry, goodBEan...and you worked so hard on it :-(

[@goodBEan]

its cool, I figured this would happen so I had a back up comment already posted. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mairhGp8a7Fkaac&lc=z122dnqhfoaoe5uji04ch1z5evzmd1srnqs0k

[@AlexMcCombie2100]

Total genius.

[@yuGtahT]

I like the video where they turned the talking novelty wall fish into Alexa.

[@Tinkernut]

That's what inspired me!

[@misery13666]

I love this so much

[@FloorEncer]

"Crazy Collar": You can be a bird drawing a predator away with the broken wing ruse. OR The dead RadRoach corpse pose of Fallout games. Dying RadRoaches have the presence of mind to stick out a wing when they are meeting their demise. "I am dead, stop firing on my remains."

[@aryamaanpratapsingh5547]

Hey TINKERNUT... it's been a while now... you haven't mentioned me in your COMMENTS SHOW!! It's about time that YOU Dedicate at LEAST 5 seconds of your video for ME!!.. Just kidding.. great video man.. Proud of you!!

[@hungryhungryhummer]

I'm watching this on a homemade raspberry pi 3 smart tv box

[@ignaciocamps9922]

You could use a motion sensor instead of a button to trigger Alexa. Then, by controlling the eyes of the Teddy bear, you could make the eyes open when the bear sees you!

[@KossolaxtheForesworn]

Hello, Im Teddy Ruxpin - *I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN YOU CRITIC!*

[@lehman]

very cool

[@Woddawic]

We hack all the things and drink all the beer Bravo Sir

[@rma2873]

NICE VIDEO

[@rabbitdrink]

Don't use a full arduino for that. Arduinos only make good prototypes. Use an atmega or even an attiny for that. They are only a dollar each.

[@Tinkernut]

You're totally right on all your points. But seeing as how this was just a prototyping project, the Arduino does fine.

[@aryamaanpratapsingh5547]

Tinkernut where are ur videos dude

[@jmcmahon1931]

Going to try this with Elmo!

[@Splatzloki]

+Tinkernut can you rig a mini copter drone with a lazer that points down and then program it to hover at a predetermined distance off the ground?

[@swapnilarya4441]

Man dont use that bear in the dark.. those eyes are the last think mankind would see

[@kamoroso94]

"For more go to Tinkernut dot ..." dot what? DOT WHAT?! NOOOOOOOOOO

[@kevinoerlemans6685]

Kyle Amoroso i't is www.tinkernut.com/

[@kamoroso94]

Kevoemie Orker You don't say????

[@learnayg]

Nice video.

[@athenian2447]

For my own talking animatronic,i say big mouth billy bass.(like the video)

[@str8upfune480]

Someone should make a Alexa talking mounted deer head would really be good and talking about freaking people out

[@OldGuyStudent]

Could this be modified to someone act like a Bluetooth speaker and or a Bluetooth hands-free device? How hilarious it would be to sit at Starbucks and have a conversation through this. Imagine people who saw and paid attention. They wouldn't know what to truly think.

[@corneliuseinem3674]

nice video

[@staplegun3703]

@Tinkernut Ideas page is down or central america connection sucks it guffy?

[@pavanagrawal1261]

Hey Tinkernut! I think you should use the github.com/alexa-pi/alexapi for the alexa client. The other fork is not updated anymore and has been consolidated into this one. (this one gets updated a lot more frequently...)

[@Tinkernut]

I agree. I had initially used the other one because I had my own fork of it where I edited the original code and added my own custom code. I ended up not using it for this project, but sadly I didn't update my references.

[@WillOnSomething]

This would be the perfect gift for the person(s) I hate.

[@mylifeascry]

you're awesome

[@sirdrakey]

Nice

[@daab889]

now you only need to add red leds in the eyes of the TEDDY-900 and skynet will be up and running

[@kulgan96]

next project animatronic glitchpin

[@AshtonSnapp]

Tinkernut we have a crisis. Someone has hacked my country's nuclear silos and has sent 5 nukes to the comment show.

[@megafreddyb123]

I wish I had gotten a TEDDY FUCKING RUXPIN

[@GeirGunnarss]

Very cool!! but... how is this a foray into animatronics? This was just a Pi, python, audio conversion video.

[@FloorEncer]

Abraham Lincoln figure at a Disney location 'speaking' in sync or out of sync.

[@Tinkernut]

This was a continuation of my previous video where I hacked a Teddy Ruxpin. So put those together and you have a project where you automate a toy to talk in response to audio. Animatronics, according to wikipedia, is bringing lifelike characteristics to an otherwise inanimate object, so I think it fits the bill.

[@patrickboots7799]

Unless you are doing beginner animatronics like Axtell Puppets or this Teddy, "automated" mouth movement isn't really good. If you want full-size ones like Disney or The Rock-afire Explosion style then pre-programmed skits or live feedback from key-presses are better. For these you'll need an animatronics controller..there is a lot of folks out there who make those. Animatronics is a really fun skill once you get to know it!!

[@marten3451]

can you plan on making a raspberry pi into an outernet receiver

[@staplegun3703]

you should try making it a robot bank, by making a encrypted wallet, now you have a alexa ruxpin bank

[@jaxfan]

Damn Macgyver

[@Enigminthemist]

I need to do this to my casettape Big Bird! Yep, that just dated me. That toy came out in 1986.

[@gmm7650]

I WANNA EAT A RASPBERRY PI KNOW

[@lemonyylime]

If I did this, I'd make a some FurReal Friend talk!! XD

[@andresvillarreal3012]

how did you get a MacBook?

[@MichaelRabbitBass3]

now if you could just change Alexa's name to Teddy Ruxpin. That would be great!

[@Amirt1999]

hello Tinkernut can you make next video "cnc that can drill PCB hole"

[@LetsJustThink]

so have we completely removed the bears circuit board im confused

[@Electronic4081]

What code are you using to convert the analog to digital?

[@aryamaanpratapsingh5547]

Hey TINKERNUT.. Could u pls make your very own raspberry pi(ur own single board computer) that runs all raspberry pi images!!

[@coolguy9192]

Imaging if you went and made... hmmm.... A smart Porg?

[@mzfirez1980]

You should make a phillips hue bluetooth light bulb using led lights and a arduino/rasberry pie

[@vicr123]

Should there not be a little "PING" when it starts listening and when it stops listening? :)

[@Tinkernut]

The original code has an LED notified that let's you know when it is and isn't listening. It should be simple enough to modify it so that it plays a tone instead.

[@KHDecoder]

This video inspired the Child's Play reboot

[@BrightenCloudLeastPalladium]

i would automate a skull similar to what could be found on the pirates of the caribbean ride.

[@altaccount648]

*Bleep Bloop* is ya boii

[@manoftheday8704]

Hey man I have been watching your videos since the cnc project but until now I couldn't make it because of driving issues for the stepper so please help

[@ammarnafie9598]

Can you do a GSM door controller ?

[@AndriusKamarauskas]

i dont know how but maybe you could make something where you use Newton or Lagrange interpolating polynomials:D

[@syunghyukseo]

I saw someone make Alexa to be a moving fish assistant

[@ShubhamGupta14]

I would rather have the robo as my "mini-google"!

[@tmobilesux1]

Do you live in Portland Oregon?

[@azharAD]

Does it have to be an arduino! I think a single transistor will do fine

[@Tinkernut]

Go with what you have

[@casualkitty1381]

Too bad you can't get it to talk with Phil Baron's original creepy Ruxpin voice.

[@gamesforlife9]

you better not start a restaurant

[@gamesforlife9]

GamerSrijit DIY pizza with led's and ardiuno

[@NahuelNada]

Awesome video, but it would be awesome if you gave it some expression. like making it blink

[@Tinkernut]

It does blink (check out the first video in the series), I just caught it between blinks in this video. If you use the same code that I provide, yours will also blink.

[@NahuelNada]

:D awesome, I just saw it.

[@swapnilarya4441]

What if Alexa gets an update from Amazon?..How to get that update installed on Rpi?

[@SamTronicshow]

use LED strip to make load progress bar or notification light

[@anonymous7192]

Grey tshirt. Open-necked shirt. Pinstripe waistcoat. Flat cap. "Steampunk" welder's goggles. LOOK AT ME EVERYBODY. LOOK I'M DIFFERENT!

[@JellyfishButterGaming]

could you do this with a humanoid and give it moving arms and legs too and then make it cute

[@firefly2472]

0:13 sound fucks up ? nice video btw

[@Tinkernut]

That was my "skynet" sound effect :-)

[@robfriedrich2822]

Isn't another male voice available, that is more like the original Teddy voice

[@kentowakai1234]

Three words: talking toilet seat.

[@aryamaanpratapsingh5547]

where are ur videos man!!

[@Tinkernut]

I'll post an update video this weekend

[@aryamaanpratapsingh5547]

Tinkernut I was so eager for more projects!!.. that's why I asked.. btw man .. where did u go.. or were u working on something BIG!! I got a request to make: Could you pls make your own version of raspberry pi ..which also runs raspberry pi images!! U know.. just for R & D.. Plus it would be SOOOOOOOO COOL.. (I know it's REALLY REALLY REALLY HARD ... but Tinkernut can do anything😊😊)

[@thetinker398]

Tinkernut i have a cool idea i know it kinda hard to do but put projectors in her eyes like r2d2

[@AlyFizzystopher]

hack into a furby connect and make it sing and dance to any song ever