EDTECH — NATURAL-LANGUAGE ROBOTICS
SaySpark
Robotics education through natural language. Kids tell the robot what to do in plain words — and it does it. No syntax errors, no barriers to entry.
LLMsSpeech InterfacesRoboticsEdTechProduct Design
◈ HERO PHOTO: SaySpark robot with a student
## Problem
After years of mentoring hundreds of elementary students in robotics across Windsor, Ontario, one pattern was undeniable: kids love robots, but syntax-heavy programming stops many of them before the fun starts. A missing semicolon shouldn't end a child's engineering journey.
## Solution
SaySpark lets children program robots through natural language — spoken or typed. An LLM-powered layer translates a child's intent into safe robot behaviors, so the first experience of robotics is creation, not frustration. It's the foundation of my current venture, Aibotics.
## Demo
◈ VIDEO: child commanding the robot in plain English (embed here)
## Features
- Natural-language robot programming (speech and text)
- LLM-powered intent → behavior translation with safety limits
- Progression path from natural language toward real code
- Classroom-ready hardware design
## Tech Stack
LLM APIsPythonEmbedded C++Speech RecognitionCustom Hardware
## Challenges
- Constraining open-ended language into safe, predictable robot actions
- Designing for young users: durability, simplicity, delight
## Lessons Learned
- The best product insights came from the classroom, not the workbench
## Gallery
◈ PHOTO: prototype
◈ PHOTO: classroom testing
◈ SCREENSHOT: software interface