YouTuber Creative Mindstorms created an AI LEGO PixelArt Robot, by merging AI-generated art with LEGO construction. This device converts images created by DALL-E 3 into physical LEGO mosaics using custom software and a mechanical structure constructed using Lego parts. The robot functions like a 3D printer, assembling LEGO pieces on a 32 x 32 grid to form the final image.
The process begins with a user providing a textual prompt to DALL-E 3, which generates a detailed 1024 x 1024-pixel image. This image is then scaled down to 32 x 32 pixels, ensuring compatibility with the LEGO canvas without significant distortion. The robot is equipped with a hopper containing 1 x 1 LEGO bricks in 15 colors, and custom software maps the image colors to the closest available LEGO colors. A preview is shown to the user for approval before the robot starts the physical assembly.
The robot itself features a moving plate on the Y-axis and a perpendicular arm on the X-axis that accurately places each brick. LEGO Mindstorms motors and a Smart Brick is used to control the robot, with a touch sensor periodically resetting the position to prevent drift. This precise coordination of components ensures that the final LEGO art piece closely matches the AI-generated design. The whole project is open source and the firmware for the robot can be found in Creative Mindstrom’s GitHub repo.
