$302,026 raised out of $8,000
Overview
Platform
Indiegogo
Backers
1
Start date
Mar 13, 2024
Close date
Mar 14, 2024
https://youtube.com/watch?v=921820774
Concept

Your AI-Powered Companion Meets Skill Development Tools – Fueled by Open Hardware and Open Design

Story

Introducing Doly, the AI powered companion that combines advanced technology with developer platform. With a groundbreaking design, Doly develops a distinct personality and emotions through interactions. From recognizing faces and responding to voice commands to self-charging, Doly offers a unique and immersive experience.

Beyond everyday assistance and autonomous robot, Doly becomes a valuable tool for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, promoting skill development and critical thinking. As a versatile platform, it merges robotics, AI, and coding education, catering to all levels of expertise.

Doly feels, responds and develops a unique character thanks to his advanced technology. Beginning from day one, you will be molding his individual personality and mood. This feature is shaped based on the way you treat and interact with your Doly. As a result, his responses, expressions, movements and eye animations will be altered with different emotions. Doly is an independent spirit without an app or device. However, if you are curious how he feels, you can always check it on the Doly app!

Doly hears, understands your commands and requests easily. To activate the voice control, simply say “Hey Doly” and tell him what to do! NLU (Natural Language Understanding) speech recognition system allows you to manage your daily tasks like setting a timer or getting the weather forecast. You can even move Doly around or change eye and led colors without an app!

With those huge lovely eyes, Doly is always curious and impressed of his surroundings. 8 MP camera allows Doly to memorize and recognize people with their names, take high quality snapshots and many more. Doly operates without a server, ensuring your privacy is never a concern.

Doly is equipped with different types of sensors. That’s why feeling is one of the most significant features of Doly. Thanks to his motion sensors, Doly feels movements like sliding, falling, turning or even when you nudge to disturb him. Also, the touch sensors allow Doly to feel when you pet him. Although, it is quite fun and addictive to drive him crazy, Doly is designed to love and be loved!

Doly has a lot to say! Doly communicates and responds you back with his own voice when you ask about the weather forecast, time, your name and many more. If you would like Doly to say your own words, just type it on the Doly app and text to speech engine technology will do the rest!

Doly is designed to be a self-acting personality with natural behaviours. Based on the changing mood, Doly keeps himself busy by discovering and wandering around without falling off edges of the table. And when it is time, you don’t need to remember charging your Doly because he knows the way back home.

Doly’s advanced edge sensors are your guardian angels. They ensure Doly glides through any environment with confidence, effortlessly avoiding falls and mishaps. Explore without limits, as Doly’s smart sensors keep every adventure secure. 
Doly is always on the go and you do not need to worry about charging him. Also, you will not need a device constantly to interact with Doly. A built-in computer with Linux operating system is taking care of everything for you. Doly offers a hassle-free experience that makes it easy to incorporate into your daily routine.

 

Doly is more than just a robot that follows you around. With his remote control feature, Doly can explore and show you the world from his point of view. You can see everything that Doly sees through his eyes, making it an exciting way to discover new places or simply explore your surroundings. You can also customize Doly’s arm led color and position to match your preferences, making it truly unique. Additionally, controlling Doly remotely can also help you improve your driving skills and maneuvering abilities. All you need is a mobile device to take control and start exploring with Doly.
 

Discover the only robot blending companionship, coding, and robotics! Experience the joy of Doly, appealing to the whole family!

Doly is an autonomous robot designed for simplicity and user-friendliness. You don’t need any additional devices or coding skills to interact with Doly. The programming interface and robotics options are simply additional features for those who are interested, but they are not necessary for everyday use.

Does Doly Focus on Just One Feature Like Other Companions?

Absolutely not. Doly is much more than a simple robot rolling around displaying basic animations. It is designed to be a well-rounded companion that offers entertainment, education, and social interaction. With Doly, you don’t have to choose between features, you get an all-in-one companion that evolves with you.

Can I Truly Customize Doly?

Yes, Doly takes customization to the next level. While other robots limit you to surface-level changes like basic accessories or clothing, Doly is fully open-hardware, open-design. This means you’re not just changing his look; you’re potentially redesigning his capabilities to suit your needs.

Is Doly Really Private and Secure?

Absolutely. In a world where digital privacy is a major concern, Doly stands apart. Unlike many robots that rely on cloud processing, potentially exposing your data, Doly performs all his operations locally. This means no unwarranted watching, listening, or sharing of your personal information with third parties. With Doly, you’re not just bringing home a robot; you’re ensuring a safe, private environment for yourself and your family.

I See Educational Robots That Are Either Too Complex or Too Simplistic. What’s Doly’s Angle?

Doly offers the best of both worlds; a balanced, integrated experience for both hardware and software. It’s a versatile platform that invites you to engage in multiple applications, from simple tasks to complex projects. And it’s not just a ‘bundle of tech’; it’s a companion with character.

How Flexible is Doly’s Hardware?

Need more RAM? Additional servos? Doly’s open architecture lets you tailor his hardware features according to your specific needs and projects.

Why an Open Source Robot? Is It Really the First of Its Kind?

There have been many open robot projects, but Doly is the first companion robot in the market that offers AI, robotics  and education. We believe in community-driven innovation, and Doly’s open hardware and open design nature invites you to tweak, modify, and even improve upon his original.

Full Transparency with Doly

Our commitment to transparency is unwavering, and we invite you to explore every aspect of our project. Curious about our costs, electronics, or open-source methodology? All the details are readily available in our beta repository on GitHub, where it has been accessible for over a year. Your trust is paramount, and we ensure it by keeping no secrets about Doly’s development. Please don’t hesitate to visit our GitHub page.

Doly isn’t just another robot; it’s an open canvas for your imagination and a companion that grows with your skills. With your support in this crowdfunding campaign, we can redefine what personal robotics can be. Thank you for being a part of this exciting journey! 

With Doly, the possibilities are truly limitless. Our revolutionary friend empowers you to bring your imagination to life. One of the remarkable features of Doly is his communication and IO ports, which provide you with an incredible opportunity to create custom add-on parts. You have the freedom to design and implement your own unique enhancements, tailoring Doly to suit your specific needs and preferences.

Create captivating animations with 3D models. Instantly download and print ready-made models or design your own. Unleash your imagination and bring your animations to life with Doly’s innovative features. From cute companions to functional attachments, our community library offers a quick and convenient solution. Get ready to make your animations truly amazing and let your creativity shine with Doly!

We’re excited to showcase a unique feature of Doly – Magnetic Hands! These hands are designed to easily attach and detach accessories, making customization a breeze. Whether it’s adding tools, gadgets, or creative extensions, Doly’s magnetic hands open up a world of possibilities. We believe this feature will spark your creativity, allowing you to explore and experiment in ways you’ve never imagined.

Doly is your perfect companion for learning coding fundamentals and developing STEM skills. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced programmer, our platform makes coding enjoyable with Blockly. For advanced programming options, Doly supports languages like C, C++, and Python. Explore the world of coding with Doly and unlock your full programming potential.

Doly’s heart, powered by Raspberry Pi, makes it possible to access millions of coding tutorials and examples, providing a wealth of resources to help you learn to program and develop your skills. Whether you’re just starting to learn to code or are an experienced programmer, Doly is the perfect friend to help you along the way.

Doly is a unique and innovative companion robot. What sets Doly apart from other robots in the market is that it is based on open design and open hardware. This means that users have the freedom to customize and modify the robot according to their needs and preferences.

As we develop Doly, we’re committed to embracing the spirit of open source. We believe in empowering our community with the freedom to customize and innovate by power of open hardware and open design, while also ensuring Doly’s sustainable growth. While our hardware is open for community use, it’s important to note that we don’t completely align with the Open Source Hardware Association (OSHW) philosophy. 

By sharing knowledge and working together, the possibilities for Doly’s development are endless.

The Raspberry Pi powered Doly is not just any ordinary companion robot, it is a unique platform that offers flexibility for upgrades. The hardware architecture of Doly makes it easy for users to customize the robot to fit their needs. With many Raspberry Pi Compute Module variants available, developers can choose the model that best fits their needs. This means that Doly can be upgraded to have more RAM and storage options, allowing for the development of more complicated and powerful programs.

Eyes are the most unique parts of Doly and why keep it same all the time! Among many color options available you can easily change his eye color. And of course, Doly changes them via voice control in the blink of an eye!

You can choose to create an elegant and charismatic or more playful and bright looks for your Doly by switching track colors manually. From lava red to azure blue, Doly has a large selection of wardrobe that can be combined with the arm led colors.

Note: Add-on tracks will only include 4 color of pairs. (Blue, Pink, Yellow, Green)

Doly has no limits and offering more than you expect with a large variety of selection of eye styles. It only takes seconds to alter the iris shapes and background colors and achieve the ultimate eye-catching design.

Every interaction with Doly should feel personal and engaging. That’s why we’ve integrated a variety of voice models into Doly’s design. Doly can speak in the tone that you feel most comfortable and connected with. It’s not just about functionality; this is the way.

One of the most exciting features of Doly is the ability to customize it using 3D printing technology. With a little creativity and some knowledge of 3D design, you can create custom parts that perfectly fit your vision for Doly. Whether you want to add a unique aesthetic touch, improve functionality, or create a completely new feature, the possibilities are endless. With Doly and 3D printing technology, the only limit is your imagination.

With access to 3D printing technology and open-design, users can print out all the necessary parts for Doly, including the body, arms, and tracks. This provides an opportunity to create a truly unique and personalized robot that reflects the user’s individual style and taste. Overall, 3D printing technology provides endless possibilities for customization and creativity with Doly.

Your privacy matters for us and Doly keeps your files secure with an internal storage. By processing AI algorithms locally your personal data will not be sent to a cloud. Doly has an embedded processing power that handles the AI operation on the edge, with offline work capability.

Doly has advanced stereo ToF sensors that easily detect surrounding obstacles. These sensors generate critical data, allowing for seamless navigation and rapid movement in any space.

Doly’s array of I/O connection ports is your gateway to endless innovation. Developers and makers, amplify Doly’s potential, crafting new features and fine-tuning with ease. Dive into limitless possibilities – expand, enhance, and elevate your Doly experience.

You do not need an application to interact with Doly. However, some features require application, such as graphical programing. This application also allows you to manage setting options, access to all features available and identify new users. Doly app will be available to download on App and Play store.

Doly continuously evolves with free lifetime over-the-air (OTA) software updates. These updates, delivered seamlessly via Wi-Fi, constantly bring new features and improve existing ones. Watch as Doly grows and enhances each day, without any subscription. 

We’ve always been committed to respecting and prioritizing your privacy, which is why Doly was initially designed serverless. However, we’ve heard your numerous requests loud and clear. You’ve asked for ChatGPT integration, and we’re thrilled to let you know that we’re actively working on making this a reality!

While we are cautious about overpromising, we are exploring ways to bring ChatGPT’s capabilities to Doly in a manner that aligns with our core privacy values. This potential integration could open up a new realm of interactive and engaging experiences with Doly.

Doly boasts a vast array of eye expressions, each one generated in real-time rather than being pre-recorded animations. This dynamic approach allows for an endless variety of expressions, offering limitless possibilities in visual communication.

* Doly is a standalone robot which does not require additional devices. However, if you prefer to use “Weather Feature” and receive updates, you will need an internet access with 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz Wi-fi connection. 

** For application based features you will need a compatible device(Android, IOS, Windows) and a wi-fi connection.

We would like to thank our backers with extra bonus item. Those who are interested in creating and developing, can take advantage of our SDK kit (will be released in Python).  

The Doly SDK gives you access to a wide range of sensor data, robotic controls and AI capabilities together with: Color camera stream, TOF sensor data, Edge sensor data, Touch sensor data, IMU sensor gesture data, Face recognition data, Marker recognition data, Emotion data, Activity data, Predefined eye animations, Eye customize controls, Drive controls, Arm controls, RGB Light controls, 

All these data and controls allow you to bring amazing ideas into reality.

Note: SDK development still in progress, we are planning to release after fulfilment.

When we first introduced Doly, it was embraced by a wide array of users, from tech enthusiasts to educators and hobbyists. Doly was more than just a robot. It was a vessel of possibility. However, we quickly realized that our ambitious vision for Doly could stretch even further.

As the feedback flooded in, a common thread emerged: you wanted more. More features, more flexibility, more power to personalize and adapt Doly to fit a wider range of needs. You wanted a robot that was not just powerful but also versatile and completely customizable. And we listened.

Going back to the drawing board, we reinvented Doly from the ground up. No longer simply a Linux-based robot, Doly is now designed around the Raspberry Pi Compute Module, offering you a higher degree of flexibility and adaptability. Whether you need more RAM, more storage, or a platform that can handle complex projects, the new Doly stands ready.

But we didn’t stop there. The all-new Doly is now open-design and open-hardware. This is not just an upgrade, it’s a revolution. This transformative change gives you the power to create, modify, and expand Doly to suit your wildest imaginations.

This is a new chapter in Doly’s story, and it’s one we couldn’t have written without you. To all the makers, the DIY enthusiasts, the robot lovers, and the dreamers: thank you. Your support and feedback have shaped Doly’s evolution, and we hope this new era of Doly continues to inspire you.

Limitbit is a Canadian company based in Ontario. From the beginning of this journey, the main goal of the company was to develop an AI powered companion that could inspire and encourage the creativity of the current generation while helping households with their daily tasks.  In addition, the Limitbit Company wants to provide products that are affordable and accessible to everyone. 

A huge thank you for visiting our page and for your enthusiasm in bringing this project to life. Your support means the world to us!

We understand that not everyone might be in a position to back us with a pledge. However, your voice can still make a powerful impact! If you’re captivated by the idea of Doly, you can play a crucial role in our journey. Help us to share our vision on social media. Together, let’s create a community around Doly and change the future of personal robotics. Your support in spreading the word is invaluable to us.

Taxes & Shipping

Please note that shipping and taxes are not included in the pledges. After our campaign is successfully funded, we will email you and collect your delivery address. Based on your country, tax and shipping fees will vary. 

Tax and shipping costs will be charged separate than pledges, once the rewards are ready to ship. Emails will be sent closer to shipping date, in order to obtain the most accurate delivery address. 

***Due to the highly fluctuating market price, it is very difficult to determine the exact cost of shipping at the moment. Shipping will be calculated after the campaign ends. Without any obligation, we would like to provide you with an estimate of the cost per package: 

USA (25~30 USD), CANADA (25~30USD), EUROPE (35~40 USD), UNITED KINGDOM (35~40 USD), ASIA (35~40 USD), NEW ZEALAND (45~50 USD), AUSTRALIA (40~45 USD), JAPAN (35~40 USD), Other Countries (30~65 USD). 

Warranty and Returns 

1 year manufacturer defects warranty is included for each reward. User damages are not covered under warranty and shipping costs must be paid by backer. 

With this campaign, we are hoping to finance Doly for the manufacturing needs. Therefore, we will not accept returns and/or refunds after the campaign ends.

Risks and challenges

Doly is ready for a pilot production. So, we believe that our timeline is realistic and all backers will receive their reward. Manufacturing process will start immediately once the campaign is successfully ended. We acknowledge that it might be a bumpy road and there can always be issues or challenges. However, we would like to assure you that Limitbit Technology Inc has already made its arrangements for production and continues researching various vendors to create multiple options. In case of any delays, we will be informing our backers in a timely manner and transparency.

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