STARVIS
STARVIS, my custom AI companion inspired by TARS from Interstellar, and JARVIS from Iron Man. Instead of a boring voice assistant, im making it as a microwave looking box, with sliding doors on the back, and one on the side. It will have a built-in screen and a mix between JARVIS's and TARS's personality, blending wit and sarcasm for a passive aggressive desktop AI companion. I’m using a Raspberry Pi 5 with a Hailo-8L AI Kit so the AI can run locally on the hardware instead of the cloud, which makes it faster and more private. The goal is to build something that actually feels like a real person that doesn't sound AI (sucking up) I can talk to while I’m on my computer.
Created by
nate318yu
Tier 1
26 views
1 follower
nate318yu
added to the journal ago
Audio PCB And CAD Progress
Some rough outlines of the new PCB for audio control. Reviewer said i needed a PCB to up the tier, so here i am. Its gonna go in the basement of the tesseract chassis, and will be the controller of the audio logic (e.g huddle button, TARVIS voice injection). It'll either slide up from the bottom or in from the front. good thing blueprint got extended. also finished STARVIS CAD supports
zsharpminor
requested changes for STARVIS ago
Hi! Love the creativity here, but this needs work per https://blueprint.hackclub.com/about/submission-guidelines. You're missing the "How" section in your README (how to actually build it & how you designed it), and while you have a CAD folder and wiring diagrams, we cannot fund a $400 raspberry pi kit (???) I'd highly recommend making your own PCB, since this is intended to be a Tier 1 project - currently, this is a Tier 4, 3 at best. Please resubmit with these critical sections added. Thanks!
nate318yu
added to the journal ago
Redesigning the case
Got the prototype case from my teacher, he said its too bulky, and i agree. im remodeling the CAD and decided to connect the parts with magnets. Hollowed out the top aswell. The new model isnt finished yet, but i think it looks good so far.
nate318yu
submitted STARVIS for review ago
nate318yu
added to the journal ago
Final BOM Updates
Ready to submit for review, asked some people on slack for opinions but nothing, oh well. Checked the carts again and a SSD on CanaKit went up 50 bucks so im getting a different one off amazon.
nate318yu
added to the journal ago
Firmware
got Gemini to write me some firmware, havent tested yet though. I'm not a very good coder so theres likely many errors or things that just dont make sense or work. I think the weather and news feed are good starters for stuff like this though.
nate318yu
added to the journal ago
Finished CAD!
All done the CAD modeling, i think it looks pretty good for my first model. Its probably not going to be the final product, but its better than a prototype model. I've sent the case and door files to be 3D printed so i can see if there needs to be any changes. Gotta write firmware and then i think im all set!
nate318yu
added to the journal ago
Back door design
Designed the back door with a simple bolt lock. Added the signiture STARVIS star for extra details. I made it so the door, once bolts are retracted, i can take the door out and work on the Pi from the back. Changed the sliding from the side to the back to match the door and changed interior supports. Now i just need to do the sides and maybe do something more with the front, and then i think im done the CAD!
nate318yu
added to the journal ago
top designing in TinkerCAD
Designing the top of the TARVIS "Tesseract" housing was pretty fun. I integrated a 4 point star overlayed with a 6 point star for the main "logo" of TARVIS. Added hex holes for heat exhaust while making them look like stars. i think its pretty cool. also added heat vents in the form of slots to exhaust excess hot air. didnt really do much else
nate318yu
added to the journal ago
Remodelling and hardware changes
The old CAD design looked like a stubby arcade machine, and i didnt like it, so i switched it out for a tesseract-like design. It was originally going to be a microwave, but i didnt really like it. As for hardware, I will be getting the Multiprotocol Development Tools Seeed Studio XIAO nRF52840 Sense (Pre-Soldered) from Mouser. Im thinking of making a custom macropad to control TARVIS and some protocols / modes i have planned. The XIAO also has a microphone, which i can use instead of some USB mic. All in all, i like this design much more than the old one. Scrapped the camera.
nate318yu
added to the journal ago
CAD and screen change
Almost done modeling the case in TinkerCAD, it doesnt look great. I feel like it looks too blocky and kind of like a strange arcade machine, which isnt what i was going for. I downgraded the 8in screen to a 7in screen from AliExpress, risky, but necessary for the other features.
nate318yu
added to the journal ago
Modelling progress
Done modelling the Raspberry Pi 5 with the Cooler and Pimoroni Base duo + Hailo-8L and a SSD!
suprisingly didnt take long. asked people in the slack to check it out and tell be if theres something wrong, but nobodys responded yet execpt for this one guy but he said the files have been taking 20 to do something (i forget what it was) so thanks to that guy
still dont have many ideas for the actual design
nate318yu
added to the journal ago
CAD designing and Financial gut punch
Figured out TinkerCad (sort of)! I've finished modelling the screen, 
but I still need to model the case and I still don't really have any ideas for the design. Canakit, the store I'm buying the RaspPi from, defaults to USD. It's called CANAKIT! So I had to downgrade to the 8GB model to keep everything relatively in the budget. After discussing with Gemini, I've decided to change many things. I found out about the Hailo-8L AI kit for the RaspPi. I didn't know they had their own AI! So I'm using a Pimoroni Base Duo to use a SSD and the AI kit on it so it can run at high speeds. Had to cut back on the screen too, but for size reasons. Delaying many physical features such as the "huddle" button and the camera gets some money back, and I could program the button to some keybind on my keyboard.
nate318yu
added to the journal ago
Designing and Writing
Used KiCad for the first time. It was pretty complex for me but Gemini helped me out. I made the copper front from the pins on the RaspPi to the huddle button, its not where its going to be permanatly but I got no clue what i even have to do for this. The .pcb, .sch .pro, and .gbr zip are all on the GitHub page. Speaking of Github, I calculated the costs and made a BOM. I dont know what they mean by "table form" but i made it easy to read. Total cost is ~400 USD, I couldnt really find any good deals on anything.
nate318yu
started STARVIS ago
12/31/2025 - Designing and Writing
Used KiCad for the first time. It was pretty complex for me but Gemini helped me out. I made the copper front from the pins on the RaspPi to the huddle button, its not where its going to be permanatly but I got no clue what i even have to do for this. The .pcb, .sch .pro, and .gbr zip are all on the GitHub page. Speaking of Github, I calculated the costs and made a BOM. I dont know what they mean by "table form" but i made it easy to read. Total cost is ~400 USD, I couldnt really find any good deals on anything.
1/1/2026 10 AM - CAD designing and Financial gut punch
Figured out TinkerCad (sort of)! I've finished modelling the screen, but I still need to model the case and I still don't really have any ideas for the design. Canakit, the store I'm buying the RaspPi from, defaults to USD. It's called CANAKIT! So I had to downgrade to the 8GB model to keep everything relatively in the budget. After discussing with Gemini, I've decided to change many things. I found out about the Hailo-8L AI kit for the RaspPi. I didn't know they had their own AI! So I'm using a Pimoroni Base Duo to use a SSD and the AI kit on it so it can run at high speeds. Had to cut back on the screen too, but for size reasons. Delaying many physical features such as the "huddle" button and the camera gets some money back, and I could program the button to some keybind on my keyboard.
1/1/2026 12 PM - Modelling progress
Done modelling the Raspberry Pi 5 with the Cooler and Pimoroni Base duo + Hailo-8L and a SSD!
suprisingly didnt take long. asked people in the slack to check it out and tell be if theres something wrong, but nobodys responded yet execpt for this one guy but he said the files have been taking 20 to do something (i forget what it was) so thanks to that guy
still dont have many ideas for the actual design
1/3/2026 - CAD and screen change
Almost done modeling the case in TinkerCAD, it doesnt look great. I feel like it looks too blocky and kind of like a strange arcade machine, which isnt what i was going for. I downgraded the 8in screen to a 7in screen from AliExpress, risky, but necessary for the other features.
1/4/2026 - Remodelling and hardware changes
The old CAD design looked like a stubby arcade machine, and i didnt like it, so i switched it out for a tesseract-like design. It was originally going to be a microwave, but i didnt really like it. As for hardware, I will be getting the Multiprotocol Development Tools Seeed Studio XIAO nRF52840 Sense (Pre-Soldered) from Mouser. Im thinking of making a custom macropad to control TARVIS and some protocols / modes i have planned. The XIAO also has a microphone, which i can use instead of some USB mic. All in all, i like this design much more than the old one. Scrapped the camera.
1/7/2026 - top designing in TinkerCAD
Designing the top of the TARVIS "Tesseract" housing was pretty fun. I integrated a 4 point star overlayed with a 6 point star for the main "logo" of TARVIS. Added hex holes for heat exhaust while making them look like stars. i think its pretty cool. also added heat vents in the form of slots to exhaust excess hot air. didnt really do much else
1/9/2026 - Back door design
Designed the back door with a simple bolt lock. Added the signiture STARVIS star for extra details. I made it so the door, once bolts are retracted, i can take the door out and work on the Pi from the back. Changed the sliding from the side to the back to match the door and changed interior supports. Now i just need to do the sides and maybe do something more with the front, and then i think im done the CAD!
1/13/2026 - Finished CAD!
All done the CAD modeling, i think it looks pretty good for my first model. Its probably not going to be the final product, but its better than a prototype model. I've sent the case and door files to be 3D printed so i can see if there needs to be any changes. Gotta write firmware and then i think im all set!
1/15/2026 - Firmware
got Gemini to write me some firmware, havent tested yet though. I'm not a very good coder so theres likely many errors or things that just dont make sense or work. I think the weather and news feed are good starters for stuff like this though.
1/21/2026 - Final BOM Updates
Ready to submit for review, asked some people on slack for opinions but nothing, oh well. Checked the carts again and a SSD on CanaKit went up 50 bucks so im getting a different one off amazon.
1/24/2026 - Redesigning the case
Got the prototype case from my teacher, he said its too bulky, and i agree. im remodeling the CAD and decided to connect the parts with magnets. Hollowed out the top aswell. The new model isnt finished yet, but i think it looks good so far.
1/27/2026 - Audio PCB And CAD Progress
Some rough outlines of the new PCB for audio control. Reviewer said i needed a PCB to up the tier, so here i am. Its gonna go in the basement of the tesseract chassis, and will be the controller of the audio logic (e.g huddle button, TARVIS voice injection). It'll either slide up from the bottom or in from the front. good thing blueprint got extended. also finished STARVIS CAD supports