Mediapipe human detection
First draft of Peekabot
Final draft of Peekabot

Peekabot: Peeka Peeka!

Inspiration

Our inspiration came from recognizing the immense love and care our mothers give us. We wanted to ease their burden in some small way, and that’s how we began working on Peekabot. “What if we gave mothers another set of eyes that never tire?” This question sparked the idea of combining OpenCV with Arduino to create our hackathon project. The name “Peekabot” was inspired by the classic game of peekaboo, symbolizing our goal of always keeping an eye on what matters most, even when it’s out of sight. We aimed to create a solution that is not only effective but also brings a smile to people’s faces—because safety doesn’t always have to be serious!

What We Learned

Developing Peekabot was an incredible learning experience. We gained a deep understanding of Arduinos and hardware. Of course, we faced challenges—setting up the Raspberry Pi was tough, especially without the proper parts. However, we enhanced our skills in motion tracking using OpenCV and MediaPipe, which was both rewarding and educational.

The Build Process

We started building Peekabot by experimenting with the Arduino, initially focusing on getting the motors to spin. Once we achieved that, we moved on to setting up the Raspberry Pi, which turned out to be more challenging than expected. After successfully linking the Arduino and Raspberry Pi, we tested the communication between them. Simultaneously, we 3D-printed wheels and used cardboard as a makeshift base for the robot. Once Peekabot’s locomotion design was finalized, we integrated OpenCV, cloud alert, and distance tracking features. The entire process was a lot of fun. We spent many hours at the MIX, where we were fortunate to receive help from the amazing people there, whether they were on-site or remotely, we sincerely thank them.

Challenges We Faced

No journey is without its obstacles, and Peekabot’s development was no exception. Getting the motion tracking to work effectively in various lighting conditions and environments required several attempts. Balancing constant surveillance with privacy concerns was another challenge, so we established rules to handle data responsibly and allow users control over certain features. Integration posed another complexity—bringing together hardware, software, and cloud services was like solving a large puzzle.

Despite these challenges, we are extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished. Peekabot is more than just a robot—it’s a companion that addresses real, everyday needs.

In the grand game of hide-and-seek that is home safety, Peekabot ensures that security always wins!