# AI use cases for Tiny Engineer (jamro/tiny-engineer) Repo: [jamro/tiny-engineer](https://github.com/jamro/tiny-engineer) | Use cases: 4 | Page: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/jamro-tiny-engineer/ Tiny Engineer is an open source desktop robot with servos, an OLED face, and a speaker that physically acts out what a coding AI agent is doing, driven over Wi-Fi HTTP or USB serial. This file holds every use case of this repo. Each one starts with a "## " heading and ends with its URL. - Show your coding agent's progress on a desk robot: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/jamro-tiny-engineer/show-agent-progress-on-desk-robot/ - Send poses and speech to the robot from any script: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/jamro-tiny-engineer/drive-robot-from-any-script-over-http/ - Control the robot over USB serial instead of Wi-Fi: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/jamro-tiny-engineer/drive-robot-over-usb-serial-without-wifi/ - Design a custom robot shell by changing the CAD files: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/jamro-tiny-engineer/design-custom-robot-shell-with-cad/ ## How to show your coding agent's progress on a desk robot with Tiny Engineer Repo: [jamro/tiny-engineer](https://github.com/jamro/tiny-engineer) | Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 6 hours | Basis: From the README Build the robot so it moves as Claude Code or Cursor reads, writes, and finishes tasks. **Who it is for:** A developer who runs Claude Code or Cursor for long tasks and wants to see at a glance when the agent is working, reading files, or done, without watching the screen. **The problem:** Agent activity happens in a terminal or editor window, so it is easy to miss when the agent starts writing code, pauses, or finishes. **The outcome:** A small robot on the desk mirrors the agent's state: it looks around when reading files, types when writing code, looks up when thinking, and rings the bell when the task is done. ### Steps 1. Buy the parts from the shopping list at docs/shopping.md. 2. Print the body with the models in 3d_models/README.md or order prints from docs/3d/order-parts.md, then assemble it using docs/3d/assembly.md. 3. Plug the ESP32, servos, OLED, and speaker into the main control board as described in docs/hardware/main-control-board.md. 4. Flash the board using the Web flash page at https://jamro.github.io/tiny-engineer/flash/ or docs/flash.md, and join it to your Wi-Fi. 5. Run `npx -y tiny-engineer setup` and follow the setup for Claude Code or Cursor, using docs/integration.md for details. ### Prompt to paste into your agent ```text Use the repo github.com/jamro/tiny-engineer. Run `npx -y tiny-engineer setup` for on the machine at . Expected output: the agent integration is set up. Verify by starting a short agent task that reads one file and confirming the robot looks around. ``` ### Caveat The build is a medium-difficulty hardware project, so the time estimate covers printing, wiring, and flashing and will vary with your printer and experience. Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/ URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/jamro-tiny-engineer/show-agent-progress-on-desk-robot/ ## How to send poses and speech to the robot from any script with Tiny Engineer Repo: [jamro/tiny-engineer](https://github.com/jamro/tiny-engineer) | Difficulty: Advanced | Time: 5 hours | Basis: From the README Call the robot's HTTP API from a custom agent, hook, or script to set animations and play speech. **Who it is for:** A developer who has their own AI agent, CI job, or automation script that can send HTTP POST requests and wants a physical status output. **The problem:** Most agent setups are not one of the named integrations, so there is no built-in way to make the robot react to a custom workflow. **The outcome:** Any script that can POST can set the robot's pose with POST /anim and make it speak with POST /play, giving custom workflows a physical output. ### Steps 1. Build and flash the robot following docs/getting-started.md, and connect it to your Wi-Fi. 2. Find the robot's address on your network after it joins Wi-Fi. 3. Read the request format for POST /anim and POST /play in docs/api.md. 4. Send a POST /anim request with one pose or animation to the robot's address. 5. Send a POST /play request with a speech clip to confirm the speaker works. ### Prompt to paste into your agent ```text Use the HTTP API in the repo github.com/jamro/tiny-engineer, documented in docs/api.md. Send one POST /anim request to the robot at and report the HTTP status and response body. Expected output: a success response and a visible pose change on the robot. Verify the robot moved before you send anything else. ``` ### Caveat The HTTP API is documented in docs/api.md, so exact request fields and animation names should be taken from that file, not from this summary. Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/ URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/jamro-tiny-engineer/drive-robot-from-any-script-over-http/ ## How to control the robot over USB serial instead of Wi-Fi with Tiny Engineer Repo: [jamro/tiny-engineer](https://github.com/jamro/tiny-engineer) | Difficulty: Advanced | Time: 5 hours | Basis: From the README Connect the robot by USB cable and drive it from your agent through the serial transport. **Who it is for:** A developer whose robot sits somewhere without a Wi-Fi connection or who prefers a wired link to the computer running the agent. **The problem:** Wi-Fi may be unavailable, unreliable, or undesirable on a shared or locked-down network, so the default HTTP link does not always fit. **The outcome:** The robot receives agent poses over a USB cable, using the serial transport from the same setup tool. ### Steps 1. Build and flash the robot following docs/getting-started.md. 2. Connect the robot to the computer with USB and confirm it is powered by the 5 V supply. 3. Run `npx -y tiny-engineer --transport serial` to use the serial transport, then check docs/serial.md for the exact framed USB serial format. (inferred, check the README) 4. Start a short agent task and confirm the robot reacts over the cable. ### Prompt to paste into your agent ```text Use the repo github.com/jamro/tiny-engineer and its serial transport described in docs/serial.md. Run `npx -y tiny-engineer --transport serial` on the machine connected to the robot at , then report whether the robot responds. Expected output: a confirmed serial connection and a pose change on the robot. Verify the robot reacts to one test pose. ``` ### Caveat The README names the serial transport flag but the exact subcommand and port handling are documented only in docs/serial.md and docs/integration.md, so check those before relying on this flow. Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/ URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/jamro-tiny-engineer/drive-robot-over-usb-serial-without-wifi/ ## How to design a custom robot shell by changing the CAD files with Tiny Engineer Repo: [jamro/tiny-engineer](https://github.com/jamro/tiny-engineer) | Difficulty: Advanced | Time: 8 hours | Basis: From the README Edit the CAD source and print a new body or mod for the same electronics. **Who it is for:** A maker or engineer who wants a different look or shape for the robot and is comfortable with CAD and 3D printing. **The problem:** The default body may not fit a desk, a theme, or a personal style, and the README asks users to change the CAD for their own builds. **The outcome:** A custom printed shell that still houses the same main control board, servos, OLED, and speaker, with the design shared back to the project if wanted. ### Steps 1. Read the CAD and printable model overview in 3d_models/README.md and browse mods/*/3d_models/ for existing mods. 2. Open the CAD source in 3d_models/ and change the shell design for your build. 3. Print the changed parts on your 3D printer, using M2 screws to assemble them as in docs/3d/assembly.md. 4. Plug the existing electronics into the main control board as described in docs/hardware/main-control-board.md and check that every servo moves freely. ### Prompt to paste into your agent ```text Use the repo github.com/jamro/tiny-engineer and its CAD sources in 3d_models/. Open the CAD file for the shell, make , and export the printable parts. Expected output: printable files for the changed shell. Verify the servos still fit and move without touching the shell. ``` ### Caveat Hardware designs are licensed under CERN-OHL-S-2.0 and the Tiny Engineer name and logo are not licensed, so check LICENSING.md and TRADEMARK.md before sharing a changed design under the project name. Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/ URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/jamro-tiny-engineer/design-custom-robot-shell-with-cad/