MY FIRST ROBOTICS PROJECT
Building the Mind and Face of a Humanoid Robot: My Journey in the MEP1001 Project
When I joined IIT Delhi, had never expected that I'd land onto such a huge project under the most fascinating course in my life 'MEP1001'. The project is - ANTHROPOMORPHIC FACE AND HAND, a fully functional AI robot. I am truly excited to learn and build together with my best team directly under guidance of our course mentor and professor - Sunil Jha sir.
The Vision
Our goal is to build the upper body of a humanoid robot equipped with:
- 3D printed skull and facial structure
- Functional eyes capable of tracking objects
- Lips and facial expressions to convey emotions
- Articulated neck, arms, and hands for realistic movement
- AI-driven decision-making and environmental awareness at later stages
This robot will be showcased in our semester exhibition — a statement of innovation and teamwork.
My Role in the Project
I wanna participate and perhaps lead the design, fabrication, and integration of the humanoid’s head — essentially, giving our creation its face and ability to think through AI and API integration.
1. 3D Designing the Skull
We have purchased a CAD model of Will Cogley which will be 3D printed retaining proper dimensions for eyes and neck integration, camera and servo motors to making it funcational.
2. 3D Printing the Parts
The CAD model will be further polished to producing G-Code to get it printed from the Central Manufacturing Facility of IITD. Later giving the printed model, it's skin made of silica.
3. Electronic and Mechanical Integration
This is where the head comes to life:
- Neck assembly for 2-axis rotation (up-down, left-right)
- Attaching camera-enabled eyes to mimic human tracking
- Connecting jaw and lip servos for expressions
4. AI & API Integration
The “brain” of our robot will be powered by:
- Speech recognition for voice commands
- Computer vision for object/person detection
- Natural language processing for conversational ability
- AI decision-making logic to make the robot “act” independently
My role here is to bridge hardware and software — ensuring that AI instructions are translated into smooth mechanical actions.
Challenges Ahead
- Designing a head that balances realism, weight, and function
- Achieving easy motion without mechanical noise or latency
- Integrating multiple subsystems (eyes, lips, neck) without overcrowding the head interior
- Calibrating AI for real-time response
Why This Project Matters
For me, this is more than a course requirement. It’s a gateway into the world of robotics, AI integration, and human-machine interaction. It’s about learning to merge mechanical model, electronic parts with artificial intelligence to create something truly live enough.
By the end of this journey, I aim to not only complete a working humanoid but also gain skills that will set the foundation for future robotics and AI innovations.
Currently also planning to participate in upcoming Robotics event organised by IITB! This course is truly important for me.
I thank Sunil Jha sir for such a wonderful course and opportunity in such a huge project, providing me a way to enter into the real life, interact and make connections, build trust over myself after a very depressive phase of JEE and more importantly, building something that really matters to the world and for which the world pays for!
Research
Below is a small research from my side before getting started with this ambitious project.
Stay Tuned
I’ll be sharing progress updates, CAD renderings, printing trials, and AI integration demos here. This is just the beginning — the head is only one part of the humanoid, but it’s the part that will make itself and me feel alive.