Current Projects
- Mechanical Dog – A life-sized AI-powered Miniature Bull Terrier, built for emotional realism and maximum absurdity.
- VerifyIt.org – A media literacy game for high school students.
Mechanical Dog
Back in 2007, I created artificially intelligent dogs in the virtual world Second Life under the name Virtual Kennel Club. They were popular, quirky, and surprisingly lifelike — and the experience stuck with me.
Now, I’m bringing those ideas into the physical world by building a life-sized Miniature Bull Terrier using a resin 3D printer, micro servos, a Raspberry Pi, and sensors for sight, sound, balance, and motion. The goal? Emotional realism — not just through machine learning, but through movement, posture, and personality.
This won’t just be a bot. It’ll be a curious, trainable, occasionally bewildering companion with a unique behavioral fingerprint. I plan to use third-party libraries for things like object recognition and sound processing. It’s a long shot — maybe a 10% chance of success — but for me, the journey is the destination.
Workshop & Prototypes
🛠️ Photo gallery coming soon — watch this space for resin prints, servo rigs, and maybe a fur-covered Frankenstein dog.
Journal
Coming soon: the occasional rant, rave, or revelation.