A ~$45 pocket companion with a voice, a camera and a face
The companion device takes your AI companion out of the browser. It is a pocket-size piece of hardware, the M5Stack CoreS3 Lite, that costs about $45 from electronics stores and talks, listens and shows simple expressions on its small screen. Reality Fabricator does not sell it and takes no cut, no fees, no markup and no subscription. You buy the hardware, turn it on, plug it into your computer over USB, and the site flashes the firmware from your browser. No toolchain, no manual steps.
Once paired it shares your account's companions and conversation history, so the personality you talk to online is the one in your pocket. It holds a full voice conversation, changes its on-screen expression as it talks, can generate and display images on its own screen, and can receive video. Point the camera at a bug, a plant, homework or a recipe and ask about it. It can award points for achievements, which is useful when it is playing tutor.
It was built first as a tutor for the founders' own kids, and it works as a kitchen companion too: magnets on the back hold it to the fridge while it reads recipes, sets timers or chats. It can also carry a voice-driven adventure anywhere you go. Live2D animation, email and passive monitoring are in development.
Open RFab Companion Device on Reality Fabricator
What you can do
- Full voice conversation in and out with your account's companions
- A camera it can see through: ask about bugs, plants, homework or recipes
- On-screen expressions such as happy, thinking and surprised
- Generates and displays images on the device screen and receives video
- Awards points for achievements when used as a tutor
- Firmware flashed from your browser, no toolchain required
How it works
- Buy an M5Stack CoreS3 Lite for about $45 from one of the stores listed on the page.
- Turn the device on, then plug it into your computer over USB.
- Click Flash and Pair. The site writes the firmware and pairs it to your account in the browser.
- Pick the companion personality it should use and start talking.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the companion device cost?
About $45 for the hardware, an M5Stack CoreS3 Lite sold by electronics distributors. Reality Fabricator does not sell it and charges no fees, markup or subscription on top.
Do I need to know how to flash firmware?
No. Turn the device on, plug it in over USB and click Flash and Pair on the page. The firmware is written from your browser and the device is paired to your account in the same step.
What can it actually do?
Voice conversation, on-screen expressions, image generation shown on its own screen, receiving video, seeing through its camera so you can ask about what it is looking at, and awarding points for achievements.
Does it use the same companions as the website?
Yes. Once paired it shares your account's companions and conversation history, so a companion you configure online is the one the device uses, and a conversation started on the device continues online.
Is it suitable for children?
It was built first as a tutor for the founders' own kids. If you use it that way, lock your account in SFW mode. A parental lock keeps that setting behind a password only a parent knows.
What is still in development?
Live2D animation of the companion's avatar on the device display, email integration so the companion can reach you when you are away, and passive monitoring for content you do not want a child exposed to.