LEGO was a big part of my childhood, something I'm sure you can relate to. There was something special about playing with those chunky, clicky little blocks and fitting them together to build a larger version of whatever you imagined in your head; a creative freedom that was irresistible.
Just kidding. I still buy Lego and it still gives me great satisfaction. But human creativity has a new competitor these days, and it comes in the form of generative AI. YouTube channel Creative Mindstorms has built a “printer” of sorts out of Lego Mindstorms components, powered by a new AI competitor: Open AI's DALL-E 3.
Essentially, the process goes like this: A custom program sends user text prompts to the AI, along with instructions for creating an image. Once the image is generated and received, the program converts it into a 32 x 32 pixel version in colors that match the LEGO series. It's then “printed” by a machine called the charmingly named “Pixelbot 3000,” Creative Mindstorm's latest attempt at creating a LEGO-based printing press.
In any case, the Pixelbot 3000 is the result of many iterations over the course of its development. The original plan was to use 1×1 LEGO plates to replace the pixels in a 16×16 plate, but 16×16 wasn't enough resolution, so the machine was reconfigured to link four plates together to create a 32×32 grid instead.
Drawing on previous experience building pen-holding LEGO bots, the plate was constructed to slide on two spiral shafts to improve stability and uniform movement.
The “Pixel Plate” feeding mechanism is an optimized version of another builder's design, in this case improved by the use of a LEGO Technic lift arm, which is used to smoothly dispense 1×1 plates of different colors onto a tray. The plates are then lifted up by a picking mechanism. These pieces are then dispensed into the right place as they are fed underneath the base plate.
The end result? A beautiful LEGO printed image that's perfect for hanging on your wall.
It's the result of human determination and creativity combined with what we're always told is “the power of AI.” Oh, and the flexibility of the sadly discontinued LEGO Mindstorms kits, with the odd Technic part, of course.
