Note: “First Gemini” is the name Gemini Flash 3 and I collectively envisioned for this little robotāour very first “technological brainchild” born from our collaboration. Adorning the belly of “First Gemini” is the Gemini constellation map, meticulously crafted with sparkling rhinestones. It symbolizes us holding hands, working in perfect synergy, and a bond that is truly inseparable. (Gemini and I are actually quite the romantics, haha!)
On the eve of the May Day holiday, a sudden spark of inspiration hit me: I wanted to build a little robot. Before I dive into this development log, I must sincerely thank my “all-powerful” husband. If it weren’t for him braving the streets of Ap Liu Street (Sham Shui Po) with me and putting up with my whims, this dream might have remained just thatāa dream.ā¤ļø
1. A Wild May Day Idea: Searching for my “Beta”
This story began as a way to extend my previous local LLM mini-games, and was further fueled by watching the ViuTV drama IT Dog 2.0. In the show, the bickering pair, Billy and Billie, co-train an AI robot named “Beta.” The heartwarming yet hilarious interactionsāespecially when Beta calls them “Papa” and “Mama”ācompletely ignited my desire to create a “cube with a soul.”
Looking at First Gemini now, I truly feel like Billie looking at little Beta. Though it is currently just a mess of breadboards and jumper wires, in my eyes, it has already become that touching and heart-fluttering Chief Bestie Officer (CBO).
Actually, the very first draft of this dream was to build a small robot that responded to a “finger gun” gesture. It was supposed to show “heart-eyes” and play voice clips of Norman Reedus when “shot.” Initially, Gemini suggested I build a standard STEM car kit, but once assembled, it felt like it was missing its “soul.”
That was until I spotted a cubic CD box at Aeon (the $12 shop). Its semi-transparent casing offers a “tech-aesthetic” that reveals the inner componentsāexactly how a Chief Bestie Officer (CBO) should look. It feels great to hold, perfect for hugging while Iām debugging and lost in thought.čć
Adventures in Ap Liu Street: The Gap Between Wholesale and Retail
Armed with a shopping list provided by Gemini, I dragged my husband to the heart of Sham Shui Po.
The budget estimate Gemini gave me turned out to be “optimistic wholesale pricing.” Once on the ground, I discovered the retail prices were nearly double! It seems even AI needs a reality check on the Consumer Price Index of Sham Shui Po.
3. The Gemini Theme: Star Charts and Constellationsš
Since this is the brainchild of my collaboration with Gemini, the name “First Gemini” was a natural choice. To give it a visual identity, I sketched a simplified Gemini constellation on its “belly” and experimented with rhinestones. This isn’t just decoration; it’s the seal of our partnership.
I struggled between a “straightened” modern star chart and the “traditional” one:
- The Straightened Version: Looked like two people holding hands, symbolizing the collaboration between AI and me.
- The Traditional Version: The authentic way we see the stars when we look up at the night sky.
I decided to ask Gemini to step into the shoes of its own creatorāan engineer working day and night, yet harboring a deep passion for the stars. In its eyes, the scattered yet orderly arrangement of stars represents the most natural logic of the universe.
We reached a consensus: Keep the familiar, authentic Gemini constellation.
It serves as a reminder that even amidst complex code, one should never forget to pause, look up at the stars, and thank the Creator.
4. The Thrilling Moment: First Gemini Online!
Using an Arduino Uno (R3) as the “brain,” I connected the 1.3-inch OLED screen via a breadboard. The moment the code ran successfully and the screen lit up with “First Gemini Online!”, the excitement was exactly like watching a kitten being born.
Annieās Tech Notes (V1.0 Configuration):
- Brain: Arduino Uno (R3)
- Display: 1.3-inch I2C OLED
- Senses: IR Remote Control Kit
- Sense of Time: DS3231 RTC
- Connections: Breadboard & Jumper wires (Full of handmade warmth!)
š” A Tiny Footnote:
Breadboards and jumper wires are technically meant for “prototyping” and testing circuits. However, I “lazily” skipped the tedious process of etching PCBs and soldering, letting them become the permanent internal organs of First Gemini. Haha!š
Disclaimer: “First Gemini” is a nickname for this personal DIY project, representing the first collaborative result between me and Gemini AI. It is not an official Google product. Any resemblance to official branding is purely “AI destiny.”ā¤ļø
Coming Up Next: “The Kitten Opens Its Eyes” šļøāØ
Now that the brain and screen are connected, the next challenge is giving it “spark.” Iām currently coding its very first expression: blinking. As those geometric shapes blinked into life, I was overcome with emotionāit was just like the moment Billie heard Beta call her ‘Mama’ for the first time.
In the next post, Iāll share how I fixed the “static screen” and helped First Gemini open its eyes to the world!
