There’s something delightfully mischievous about Halloween—the one time of year when grown-ups are encouraged to embrace the absurd, the eerie, and the downright silly. And as a team of engineers, designers, and unrepentant tinkerers, we couldn’t resist the urge to build a few things that blur the line between "cool" and "mildly terrifying."
Take, for instance, the Sentient Eyeball. What started as a motorized lens mechanism quickly devolved into office shenanigans when we realized it could track movement with unsettling precision. ("Why is it staring at me like I owe it money?" someone muttered.) Then we taught it to blink. Then to wink. Now it roams the lab like a disgruntled muse, judging our caffeine intake and occasionally rolling away under desks.
We became obsessed with making paintings live—not through screens, but by letting viewers physically alter the artwork. Thus, the Mechanical Interactive Frame was born.
Picture this:
- Turn the gear, and the Victorian lady's gown shifts from emerald to crimson
- Pull the lever below, and cracks spiderweb across the knight's armor
- Crank the handle fast, and the entire scene flickers like vintage film
Then there’s the Gesture-Controlled Will-o’-the-Wisp, a floating orb of plasma that dances to hand motions. During testing, we discovered two things:
- It’s mesmerizing.
- Cats love it.
We've upgraded our lab with something delightfully devilish - meet Labubu, our holographic Halloween host with attitude.This sassy specter lives in its display case but rules the room, serving equal parts charm and terror:
• When you approach: "Trick or treat? Frankly you look like you could use both."
• If you hesitate: dramatic sigh "My battery's draining faster than your social courage..."
• Wave at it: Expect a slow clap with translucent hands
• Bring kids nearby: Suddenly remembers 17 "spooky" knock-knock jokes.
And we want to design a device called “Mirror Maze of Mayhem”
Each mirror has personality. Some turn reflections into skeletons, others insist you look "great...for a zombie." The centerpiece "Truth Mirror" assigns random Halloween personas like "Pumpkin Slayer" or "Sentient Bedsheet."
Why Bother?
Because Halloween should be playful. Because a well-timed jump scare can make a memory. And because, deep down, we all want to believe in a little magic—even if it’s powered by Arduino and bad puns.
So this year, we’re sharing the blueprints. Not because these gadgets are groundbreaking (they’re not), but because they’re fun. And isn’t that the point?
Now, if you’ll excuse us, the Eyeball just rolled into the break room. Again.
Got a haunted project in mind? Our engineers survive purely on coffee and Halloween candy:
huyidian@mindyn.com