Grab a book, cuddle up, and let the reading begin! This is Rey the Rhino Reader, an original robotics project designed and programmed by Princeton University graduate Aneekah Uddin. Rey was part of a larger “Art & Robotics” exhibit on campus last spring.
As you can see from the set up below, Rey wears a camera on his head, which is in turn connected to a laptop. When you place a book in front of Rey’s nose, the program will scan the page and read the book aloud to you! Flip the page, and the story continues at your pace.
While the concept appears very simple, it turns out that programming a robot to read can get rather…complicated. I caught up with Aneekah to ask about her inspirations for this adorable project.
Hi Aneekah! Tell us a little about yourself!
Hi! I was born and raised in Montclair, NJ, and I recently graduated from Princeton (Class of 2024) with a degree in Computer Science and Theater. I love exploring new places, performing arts, and crafting—particularly metalworking and upcycling clothes. One of my favorite childhood book series was Cam Jansen!
How did this project begin?
In my final semester at Princeton, I participated in an Independent Work Seminar titled “Reimagining Robotics Through Art,” taught by Professor Radhika Nagpal. At the beginning of the semester, we explored how the origins of robotics have been influenced by colonialist and patriarchal frameworks, as highlighted by Professor Ruha Benjamin in her book “Race After Technology.” Inspired by these discussions, Professor Nagpal encouraged us to reimagine a future of robotics that challenges these frameworks by centering arts and creativity. As an actress, scriptwriter, and dancer, storytelling is fundamental to my understanding of art. For my project, I aimed to create something both functional and subversive of colonialist and patriarchal norms, while celebrating my love for storytelling. This led to the creation of Rhino Reader!
Tell us a little bit about your philosophy on early literacy for kids!
Eighty-two percent of students eligible for free or reduced lunches do not read at or above proficient levels by fourth grade. I was among the fortunate 18 percent who did, thanks largely to my upbringing. My mother instilled in me the importance of reading from an early age. She read to me daily and, as I grew older, helped me practice reading, sounding out words, and tackling more challenging books. Her dedication was instrumental in my development of English skills and my eventual acceptance into a leading university. However, not every child has the privilege of having a parent who can read, who has time to spend, or who has access to resources. Studies have shown that this kind of support can significantly transform a child’s trajectory. All children should have access to the opportunities and resources they need to develop strong literacy skills from a young age.
What was the most difficult or unexpected part of this venture?
Reading children’s books is challenging! It’s even more difficult for a robot because there’s often no clear “order” to the text. Words can be arranged across pages in unconventional shapes, various fonts, and conflicting orientations. Distinguishing between line breaks and sentence endings isn’t always straightforward, and there’s the added complexity of onomatopoeia. For a robot, learning to read a children’s book is a significantly harder task than understanding a legal contract or research paper.
If you were a kid again, what book would you like the rhino to read to you and why?
Elephant and Piggy! These Mo Willems books are among my favorites, and I spent countless hours reading them to my younger siblings, who are five and six years younger than me. They hold a special place in my heart.
“The art is gorgeous, the book is inclusive, and it’s a great introduction to graphic novels. Plus, the tea dragons are adorable.”
“I still quote this book: ‘You get what you get and you don’t get upset.’”
“It illustrates the process of self-discovery.”
“It is a story about not caring what others think or conforming to the role society has written for you. With hard work, persistence and creativity, you can make anything happen – like surrounding yourself with nature, even in the middle of the city.”
“Her house is upside-down! She’s essentially the neighborhood witch, and I love how all the kids’ commonplace problems manifest in reality.”
“Adventures of a worker bee who likes to eat pollen, make sweets, and organize her honey pots.”
“It opens up a good discussion about where our food comes from.”
Darlene Dreyer – Assistant to the Associate University Librarian
“I read it as an adult and was very moved by it. The description of the family and beautiful young friendship, and the more than devastating ending.”
“I love the details in illustrations, and as a young parent I could totally understand Petson’s life with a naughty kitten. I read it in Russian countless times, and it was translated to many languages (English title: Pancakes for Findus).”
“Besides beings a nice story for children who love animals, I appreciate that it was an early exposure to thinking about ethics in scientific research. It also provided considerate thoughts about the nature of prejudice and touched on environmentalism, so not merely the endearing tale of a motherly mouse seeking to save her sick child from the spring plow, but that was also a lovely aspect of the story.”
Berta Harvey – Library Collections Specialist V, Lewis Science Library
“My children found it so engaging when they were toddlers. It has very expressive pictures and it’s fun to read.”
“A book of stories and poems, mostly whimsical, always thoughtful, and sometimes melancholical.”
“ALL of Freeman’s picture books are beautiful!”
“It was the first time I’d seen my own love for books and fantasy stories reflected back in a book.”
“This is a wonderful story about how love and care impact the ways living beings interact with the world – all wrapped up in an adorable story about a family trying to adopt fearsome watchdogs only for each dog to become more of a marshmallow than the last.”
“The illustrations are rich; my son and I see something new each time we read it. It’s also a wonderful story about how even the most contentious relationships can be healed!”
“My favorite story to read to my kids when they were young.”
“Timeless triumph of peace and gentleness over stupidity and aggression. And the cork trees!”
I wanted a horse so so so soooo very bad growing up. Wished for it, dreamed of it, waited for it. It took a couple decades, but my horse FINALLY arrived! My heart runneth over…