An AI desktop companion robot that sees, listens and learns
Software: No subscription required
$49 deposit, credited against the final price, refundable any time before shipment. Target ship window Q3 2027.
Real-time 3D render · drag to rotate · final design may vary
What it is
A desk-sized robot lizard with a camera, voice and an animated face.
What it does
Who it's for
Families, students, schools, STEM clubs, makers and desk-setup fans.
Look inside
Keep scrolling: it opens up in real time to show the parts that do the work.
Overview
IEMI Gecko is a 23 cm AI lizard companion robot powered by the Kendryte K230D. It sees with a 5 MP camera, listens and talks through a microphone and speaker, expresses itself on a 1.54-inch LCD face, and moves its head and tail with three servos. It runs vision and voice AI on-device and doubles as an open, hackable STEM platform.
The problem
Most desk companions are either toys with no real intelligence or cloud-dependent gadgets that send audio and video to remote servers. Students and makers who want to learn embedded AI face a steep jump from tutorials to real hardware. There are few affordable robots that combine real on-device vision and voice AI with an open platform for learning.
Gecko recognises you, greets you, reacts to gestures and keeps you company with expressions and sounds.
Use Pomodoro timers, posture reminders and break nudges triggered by what Gecko sees.
Teach computer vision, robotics and AI in classrooms with block coding and lesson plans.
Program custom behaviours in MicroPython or C, train your own models and use the exposed I2C / UART ports.
Use voice commands and gestures to trigger timers, reminders and home-automation webhooks.
The OV5640 camera feeds the K230D, which detects faces, hands and objects in real time.
A MEMS microphone listens for the wake word and voice commands, processed on-device.
A behaviour engine combines vision, voice, touch and motion sensing to choose a response.
Gecko responds with animated eyes on its LCD face, sounds from its speaker, and head and tail movements.
Add new skills from the companion app or write your own code with the open SDK.
In the app
The Gecko companion app sets up your robot, adds new skills and personalities, and includes a block-coding editor and lessons for STEM learning.
Recognised face, waved tail
Block coding · "Follow my hand"
Homework time — 30 min timer started
Resting motion for 5 minutes
Runs on-device · Kendryte K230D AI processor
Detects and recognises enrolled family members, stored only on the device.
Model: RetinaFace-mobile + MobileFaceNet
Recognises waves, thumbs-up and simple hand signs.
Model: YOLO11-n hand detector + keypoint classifier
Recognises common desk objects for games and lessons.
Model: MobileNetV3 / YOLO11-n
Responds to its name and a set of offline commands.
Model: On-device keyword spotting (DS-CNN) + small ASR model
Detects being picked up, tapped or bumped and reacts accordingly.
Model: IMU event classifier (BMI270 + ADXL372)
Targets for production units. Subject to change during development.
| AI processor | Kendryte K230D AI processor (RISC-V, KPU) |
|---|---|
| Camera | OV5640 5 MP (MIPI CSI) |
| Sensors | BMI270 6-axis IMU · ADXL372 impact sensor · Capacitive touch (front and back) · MEMS digital microphone (I2S) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi · Bluetooth LE · USB-C (power and debug) · I2C (Qwiic) and UART expansion |
| Power | 2S Li-ion 7.4 V 2000 mAh with BMS; USB-C charging; 5 V / 3 A servo rail |
| Enclosure | Rounded, child-safe polymer body with enclosed electronics and ventilation slots |
| Dimensions | 230 × 90 × 75 mm |
| Weight | ~320 g |
| Ingress rating | Not rated (indoor use) |
| Processor | Kendryte K230D |
|---|---|
| Camera | OV5640 5 MP, MIPI CSI |
| Vision AI | Face, gesture, object recognition |
| Processing | 100% on-device for vision and voice |
| Display | 1.54-inch IPS SPI LCD, 240×240 |
|---|---|
| Microphone | MEMS digital mic (I2S) |
| Speaker | 4 Ω 3 W with MAX98357A I2S amp |
| Voice | Offline wake word and commands |
| Servos | 3× MG90S (head pan, head tilt, tail) |
|---|---|
| Servo driver | PCA9685 16-channel PWM |
| IMU | BMI270 6-axis |
| Impact | ADXL372 |
| Touch | Capacitive, front and back |
| Battery | 2S Li-ion 7.4 V 2000 mAh |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 2–4 h active (target) |
| Charging | USB-C (TP4056-class 2S charger) |
| Size | 230 × 90 × 75 mm |
| Weight | ~320 g |
| SDK | MicroPython and C |
|---|---|
| Beginner | Block-based coding in the app |
| Expansion | I2C (Qwiic), UART, spare PWM channels |
| Safety | Overcurrent and short-circuit protection, BMS |
Built with
Proven, off-the-shelf components our prototypes are built on. Final production parts may differ.
Compact camera module
Built-in camera for our own devices
Photo: the Raspberry Pi Foundation,CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · AI overlay added
Motion sensor (IMU)
Senses movement and orientation
Photo: SparkFun,CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons · AI overlay added
Microphone board
Hears voice commands
Photo: Raimond Spekking,CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · AI overlay added
Micro servo motor
Moves heads, tails and lids
Photo: Suyash Dwivedi,CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · AI overlay added
Lithium-ion battery cells
Hours of cable-free power
Photo: Sevenethics,CC0, via Wikimedia Commons · AI overlay added
Reference photos of commercially available components. IEMI Labs is not affiliated with or endorsed by their manufacturers. Photo credits
Planned contents
The Gecko companion app sets up your robot, adds new skills and personalities, and includes a block-coding editor and lessons for STEM learning.
Hardware: $249–$349 per unit
Software: No subscription required
No subscription required. Core features and SDK are included; optional premium skill and lesson packs may be offered later.
$249
The AI desktop companion.
$299
For makers and developers.
$349
For schools and STEM clubs.
Indicative launch pricing in USD, excluding taxes and shipping. Final pricing is confirmed before any balance is charged.
Target milestones. We will email reservation holders and pilot partners as they change.
Q4 2026
Reservations open; working K230D prototype with face tracking and servo motion
Q1 2027
Industrial design freeze and on-device voice model integration
Q2 2027
EVT / DVT builds; battery safety, drop and child-safety testing
Q3 2027
First shipments; SDK and starter lessons published
Q4 2027
Classroom lesson library and community skill sharing planned
Questions
Volume orders, clubs and institutions, integrations or anything else. We reply within two business days.
A member of the IEMI Labs team will reply within two business days.
Yes. The $49 deposit is fully refundable any time before your unit ships — email hello@iemilabs.com or use the refund link in your confirmation email. It is credited in full against the purchase price, and reserving creates no obligation to buy. Payments are processed securely by Stripe.
Yes. Face recognition, gestures and voice commands are processed on the K230D inside Gecko. Faces are stored only on the device, and nothing is uploaded unless you enable an optional online feature.
Gecko is designed with rounded edges, enclosed electronics and a protected battery, and is intended for ages 10+ (younger children with adult supervision). Safety certifications for each region are planned before shipping.
Yes. Beginners can use block coding in the app, and developers get MicroPython and C SDKs plus I2C and UART expansion.
Gecko uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE to pair with the app and receive updates. Its core vision and voice features work offline.
The target is 2–4 hours of active use, with USB-C charging. It can also run plugged in at your desk.
We are planning a 2-year limited hardware warranty covering manufacturing defects, with advance replacement for pilot and business customers. Final warranty terms will be published before shipping begins.
A small self-driving robot that paints lines on grass sports fields.
From $9,900 per robot, or $4,900 per year all-in
ReserveA smart recycling bin with a camera that opens the right lid for you.
From $399 per unit
PilotA palm-sized camera you set on a tripod beside the training field.
From $599 per unit (one net or lane)
ReserveIEMI Gecko
From $249 · Ships Q3 2027