Christina Ernst, a Google software engineer and founder of She Builds Robots, has stunned the internet with the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) outfit. Known as the Medusa dress, this unique black costume is adorned with golden robotic snakes. Ernst detailed the creation process, highlighting its evolution from initial failed attempts.
What Does the Dress Consist Of?
The Medusa dress features three smaller snakes around the waist and a large one around the neck, all of which move in unison thanks to AI technology. In a video, Ernst demonstrated how AI tracks human faces and moves the snake heads in real-time. This innovative combination has captured the interest of technology and fashion enthusiasts alike.
Technologies Used to Create the Kinetic Dress
Ernst shared that she engineered the robotic snake dress and coded an optional mode that uses AI to detect faces and direct the snake heads toward onlookers. She drew inspiration from automata toys to minimize the number of motors needed, keeping the dress light. Ernst generated TinkerCAD models for the snake bodies, 3D printed them, spray painted them, and added rotating motors. Cardboard prototypes helped confirm the design would work on a moving body.
“I polished up the code, finished designing motor mounts that could be sewn to fabric, and then, of course, designed and sewed the actual dress, which involved as much math as engineering. All the wiring and microcontroller brain went into a zippered pocket in the back. There’s a lot I would improve about this dress, but thank you for all your support on this fun project,” Ernst added.
How Did People on the Internet React?
The post received widespread admiration. One user commented, “Watch a designer try to steal this and have it at the next Met Gala.” Another said, “You mentioned improvements, but the only thing I could imagine is more snakes, though that might be a weight issue. It’s beautiful as is.” A third comment read, “This is INSANELY IMPRESSIVE. You’re wildly skilled; this is the coolest right/left brain crossover ever.”
