CON-E is a computer vision-enabled robotic traffic cone designed to be more than just a passive roadside object. Built during BitHacks 2025, CON-E explores how expressive robotics and assistive autonomy can bring personality and utility to simple infrastructure. CON-E uses a 2-wheel drive system to move, tracks orange-colored objects using a camera and computer vision, plays audio through a speaker, and changes an RGB LED to reflect its mood or internal state.
CON-E was awarded “Best Meme Hack” at BitHacks 2025.
CON-E is built inside a real traffic cone with tightly integrated electronics and 3D printed mounting. The system includes:
- RGB LED – system state indication
- 6V DC Gearbox Motors (x2) – cone movement
- Webcam – camera input for vision tracking
- L298N Motor Driver – drives motors from ESP32
- Raspberry Pi 4 – computer vision and state logic
- ESP32-S3 Dev Board – motors, RGB LED, and audio control
- DFPlayer Mini and Speaker – audio playback module, voice and sound effects
- 9V Battery – powers ESP32 subsystem
- USB Power Bank – powers Raspberry Pi
- Traffic Cone – cone body for housing
- 3D Prints - custom designs for base plate and internal hardware housing
- C++
- Python
- OpenCV
- ESP-IDF
- VSCode
- Raspberry Pi OS
- Arduino and PlatformIO
- Onshape – CAD design for 3D parts
- Bambu Studio – slicing and printing
This is just the beginning. CON-E is a prototype—an early proof of concept. Future directions include:
- AI and ML integration
- Voice control and speech recognition
- Omnidirectional wheels for improved mobility
- An LCD screen for dynamic facial expressions
- Swarm functionality for multi-cone deployments
- A mobile app for remote control and coordination
Li Keller
Erik David Piolo
Morgan Olivia Evans
Sebastian Ala Torre
