The Robot Barber: Shane Wighton’s Robotic Hairdresser

Introduction

The epidemic has disturbed people’s life all around the world, forcing them to adjust to new methods of performing routine things. One such activity is getting a haircut, which has become difficult owing to safety concerns and company constraints. Shane Wighton, a YouTuber, came up with an innovative solution to this problem by developing a robotic barber that could cut his hair. 

Many people’s creativity and invention have been sparked by the pandemic, leading to new solutions to common challenges. The epidemic has expedited the move toward remote work and the usage of technology in a variety of areas.

Shane did not want to go to a hair salon, so he built a hair-cutting robot. In his YouTube video, he describes how he trained the robot to separate sections of his hair and cut it using scissors. The robot employs a computer program that offers a person with haircut style alternatives.

For safety, the robot’s scissors are hooked to an adjustable lever that rotates around the head. The haircut is acceptable, but due to physical restrictions, the robot ends up leaving Shane with a beautiful mullet. The robot illustrates that barbers can be replaced by robots.

The Creator: Who is Shane Wighton?

Shane Wighton is a YouTuber and American engineer known for his engineering-focused channel, Stuff Built Here. According to the channel’s description, it is “about taking things that you can buy anywhere and making them yourself to save money.” Throughout 2017, the channel has gained over 2 million subscribers.

The Inspiration: Why Build a Robotic Barber?

When the pandemic rendered it futile for individuals to visit hair salons, Wighton decided to take matters into his own hands. He describes how his hair was becoming too long and how he decided to build a robot to trim it for him. Wighton is known for his unique and creative engineering projects, and developing a robotic barber was no exception.

The Technology: What’s Inside the Robot Barber?

The Raspberry Pi-powered robot barber detects and separates hair parts using machine learning methods. It has a pair of scissors for cutting the hair, a suction system for pulling the hair tight, and an adjustable lever that rotates around the head. It is equipped with sensors that let it detect the contours of Wighton’s head in order to make an equal cut. The machine can separate parts of hair and trim them to the desired length, much like a hairdresser. The device is constructed mainly of off-the-shelf materials and 3D-printed elements.

The Robot Barber: How It Works and user experience

Wighton explains how he trained the robot to separate sections of his hair like a human hairdresser in the video where he introduces the robotic barber. His first idea was to use combs to lift locks, but he immediately learned how difficult the operation would be. Instead, he chose a suction system. The suction within the robot pulls the hair tight, which makes it easier to cut through with the scissors.

The robot uses computer software that provides a person with haircut style options. The individual having the haircut can choose the length and style of their hair. While the robot trims Wighton’s hair, it questions him about the weather and other small chat subjects, replicating the whole salon or barbershop experience.

Robotic barber v/s traditional haircuts

The robotic barber uses scissors instead of trimmers, adding another level of complexity to the operation. One of the more difficult aspects of the robotic barber is that it must separate hair into smaller pieces in order to laser in on that section, just like a human barber would. The scissors on the robot are hooked to an adjustable lever that rotates around its head. The robot assesses the distance between the hair it intends to clip and the scalp as a safety precaution.

There are some differences between conventional haircuts performed by human barbers. Traditional barbers are often trained to cut men’s haircuts that are shorter and more classical. Barbers are additionally known for their skill with clippers. While salon stylists are trained to cut longer, fuller men’s hairstyles.

The Future: What’s Next for the Robot Barber?

While Wighton developed the robot barber primarily for his own use, it has gained widespread interest from the media and the engineering community. The robot’s technology has several possible uses, ranging from assisting professional hairdressers to cutting hair for those with disabilities. Other experts, however, believe that robotics and artificial intelligence would eliminate millions of jobs, including barbers. 

While there are concerns regarding the quality of haircuts and safety issues, these are expected to be resolved as technological advancements. The robot barber, like any new technology, will take time to become mainstream, but it is a prospect that cannot be overlooked.

Conclusion

Ultimately, Shane Wighton’s robotic barber is an impressive engineering effort that illustrates the promise of machine learning and robotics. The ability of the robot to trim hair and make small chats has piqued people’s curiosity, and it will be interesting to see what other inventive concepts Wighton comes up with in the future.

Check out Shane Wighton’s Youtube channel – click here

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