elaichix

ELAICHIX / PROJECTS / SETU

A bridge between
two voices.

Meet Setu (সেতু) — a desk robot project
for conversations across languages.

Robotics · In development
Design and software exploration
Design concept for Setu: a rounded charcoal desk robot with expressive eyes and a light ring
Obsidian · Lemongrass design render. This is a concept visual, not a photograph of an assembled robot.

THE IDEA

A more approachable
front desk.

Setu means “bridge” in Bangla. The project explores how a small, expressive robot could help two people communicate across languages and help visitors find their next step.

01 / CONVERSATION

Take a turn. Be heard.

The proposed interaction gives each speaker a button. The robot turns toward the speaker, with expressive eyes and a visible listening light. The vision is two-way voice translation across all languages, beginning with Bangla and English. Additional languages are planned, with support to be tested and introduced in stages.

02 / GUIDANCE

Answers with a source.

The planned “Ask IUBAT” mode would use an approved FAQ list, with a route to staff when a question cannot be answered. Office-approved content and a pilot host still need to be confirmed.

03 / LOCAL PROCESSING

Designed to stay close.

The target is local processing on a Raspberry Pi 5, without internet-dependent conversations. Avoiding retained conversation audio is a design goal; final behaviour must be verified on the prototype.

DESIGN GALLERYCOLOUR / FORM / ASSEMBLY

Two colour directions and a look inside the enclosure. These are design renders of the proposed robot.

Setu in the alternate Sand and Jade colourway, with a light shell and green accents
01 / SAND · JADE

A softer colour direction.

The alternate finish pairs a light enclosure with jade-green accents.

View full-size render ↗
Exploded Setu design showing the separated face panel, head shell, neck, base and bottom plate
02 / EXPLODED DESIGN

See how the form comes together.

A separated view of the proposed enclosure, from the expressive face to the base plate.

View full-size render ↗

WHERE THE PROJECT STANDS

From design to a working prototype.

Prepared
A 3D enclosure design, print files, colour studies and a speech-pipeline speed-test harness.
Next
Measure the full conversation pipeline on Raspberry Pi 5, check component fit, then assemble and test the physical prototype.
Language roadmap
Start with Bangla and English, then expand toward the long-term goal of covering all languages. Each language needs speech recognition, translation and spoken-output validation before it can be listed as supported.
Still to prove
Real-device response time, translation quality in a busy front desk, hardware reliability and usefulness to visitors.

This page presents work in progress. It does not announce an approved deployment, secured funding or an institutional endorsement. Updated 6 October 2026.

SETU / CONVERSATION

Let’s talk.

Interested in the project or have feedback on the design?

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