A YouTuber, known for their channel Creative Mindstorms, has created an incredible Lego printer called the Pixelbot 3000. This machine can automatically create detailed Lego mosaics, similar to those found in Lego art sets like da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or Hokusai’s The Great Wave, but with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).
The Pixelbot 3000 draws inspiration from a previous Lego printer called the Bricasso, which was invented by Jason Allemann about eight years ago. While the Bricasso was impressive, it had a complicated process. Users had to manually create a mosaic design, print it on paper, and then scan it with the machine’s camera. The Pixelbot 3000, on the other hand, simplifies this entire process using AI and some custom programming.
With the Pixelbot 3000, all you need to do is type in a description of the artwork you want. This description is sent to OpenAI’s DALL-E 3, an AI that generates images based on text prompts. The code behind the Pixelbot 3000 asks DALL-E 3 to create a simplified cartoon-style image with a resolution of 1024 x 1024 pixels.
The printer then translates this large image into a smaller, 32 x 32 grid to fit the size of the Lego mosaic. Instead of simply resizing the image, the Pixelbot 3000’s code divides the AI-generated image into a 32 x 32 grid and samples the color of the center pixel in each square. This technique ensures that the final mosaic is high-contrast and visually appealing.
One of the challenges of using Lego bricks for art is the limited color palette. Lego bricks are available in only about 70 different colors, and the Pixelbot 3000 uses just 15 of them. After the AI-generated image is scaled down, the code makes one final pass to match each pixel’s color to the closest available Lego color.
Building and programming the Pixelbot 3000 was a complex task, possibly as demanding as assembling one of Lego’s larger mosaic sets, which can have over 11,000 pieces. However, the result is a machine that can turn simple text prompts into beautiful Lego mosaics with minimal effort from the user.
If you’re interested in seeing the Pixelbot 3000 in action, Creative Mindstorms has shared a video showing the entire process, from the initial idea to the functioning printer. Watching this process is not only fascinating but also a great way to relax.
For more details and to see the Pixelbot 3000 in action, visit Creative Mindstorms on YouTube.
Information in this article was originally reported by Andrew Liszewski, a senior reporter at The Verge. The original article was published on June 18, 2024, at 5:09 AM GMT+8. To view the original article, please visit The Verge’s website for the full article here.
Hi, I'm Voss Xolani, and I'm passionate about all things AI. With many years of experience in the tech industry, I specialize in explaining the functionality and benefits of AI-powered software for both businesses and individual users. My content explores the latest AI tools, offering practical insights on how they can streamline workflows, boost productivity, and drive innovation. I also review new software solutions to help readers understand their features and applications. Beyond that, I stay up-to-date with AI trends and experiment with emerging technologies to provide the most relevant information.