Pumpkin Boo
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About
A 3D-printed Halloween pumpkin that spots people and boos at them. An ESP32-CAM inside looks out through the open mouth and runs Google's person detection model, and a DFPlayer Mini plays a boo voice generated with ElevenLabs through a small speaker. A status page over Wi-Fi shows what the camera sees, with volume and quiet mode controls. The pumpkin started from a YouTuber's Onshape design, which I adapted to fit the electronics and to print faster.
Spotting people
The ESP32-CAM runs Google's person detection model on the board itself, checking the scene about every half second. When two checks in a row are confident there is a person, the pumpkin boos once for that visit.
The boo
I generated three boo voices with ElevenLabs and compared them before choosing. A DFPlayer Mini plays the sound through a small speaker at the back of the pumpkin.
Soldered electronics
After breadboarding, I designed the circuit in DIYLC and soldered it onto two perfboards: one for the ESP32-CAM and one for the DFPlayer Mini, joined with terminal blocks and powered over USB-C.
Printed pumpkin
The pumpkin started from LearnItDoItMakeIt's Onshape design. I adapted it to fit the electronics, with my own face and an open mouth for the camera, then flattened the base and scaled it down to save filament and print time.
Build Timeline
Project started
Gathered the parts for a Halloween build and posted a teaser.
Breadboard prototype
Wired the ESP32-CAM, its programmer board and a DFPlayer Mini on a breadboard.
Three boo voices
Generated three boo voices with ElevenLabs and compared them in a video.
Enclosure planning
Started planning how the electronics would sit inside a printed pumpkin.
Circuit soldered
Designed the circuit in DIYLC, then soldered the camera and audio boards onto perfboard.
Silent speaker fixed
The DFPlayer had lifted out of its socket while the boards were pushed into place. Reseating it brought the boo back.
Pumpkin printed
Printed the pumpkin bowl in orange filament and shared the CAD-to-print video.
Finished
With the electronics fitted and the green stem lid printed, the finished pumpkin spots people and boos at them.
Discussion & Feedback
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