ProxyBot: Your Physical Booking Agent

Inspired by the automated efficiency of a web scraper, the specialized service of Asimov's robots, and the intelligent interaction in 'Ex Machina', ProxyBot is a tangible solution to a modern-day frustration: the race for limited, physically-booked resources.

The Story: Imagine you're a member of a popular tennis club where court reservations for the next day open at exactly 6:00 AM on a physical touchscreen kiosk at the clubhouse. To get your preferred time, you must wake up early and be one of the first in line. ProxyBot is your personal robotic agent, a specialized assistant built for one purpose: to be there for you, securing your booking so you don't have to.

The Concept: ProxyBot is a small, portable robotic arm equipped with a camera and a stylus. A user configures it via a simple mobile app, telling it the desired time slot, location on the screen, and any backup choices. The user then clamps the device in front of the kiosk before the booking window opens. At the designated time, ProxyBot awakens, uses computer vision to 'read' the screen, and physically taps out the reservation sequence with its stylus. It's the physical embodiment of an automated script, bridging the digital world of automation with the analog world of physical interfaces.

How It Works:
- Hardware (Low-Cost): The device is built from accessible components: a Raspberry Pi Zero serves as the brain, connected to a small 3-axis hobbyist robotic arm, a cheap webcam, and a touchscreen stylus. The entire assembly is powered by a standard USB power bank and mounted on a small, adjustable clamp or tripod.
- Software (Easy Implementation): The core logic is a Python script using the OpenCV library for computer vision. The user first 'trains' the bot by pointing it at the kiosk and identifying key buttons (e.g., 'Book Court 7', 'Confirm', time slots) through the app interface. The bot doesn't need a complex AI; it just needs to recognize a small set of static images or coordinates on a specific, unchanging kiosk screen. At go-time, the script executes a pre-defined sequence of 'vision-check' and 'tap' commands, mimicking a human user. Upon completion, it snaps a photo of the confirmation screen and sends it to the user.
- Inspiration Links:
- 'Hotel Reservations' scraper: It performs the same function as a scraper—automating a booking—but acts on the physical world instead of HTML code.
- 'I, Robot': It is a specialized, task-oriented robot governed by a simple set of rules provided by its owner, flawlessly executing a mundane but important task.
- 'Ex Machina': While not a conscious AI, it passes a unique kind of Turing Test by successfully and autonomously interacting with a system designed for humans, based on visual understanding and logical execution.

Earning Potential (High): This niche project has multiple monetization paths. It can be sold as a direct-to-consumer product (priced at $250-$400) for tech-savvy club members. More lucratively, it can be offered as a 'Robotics-as-a-Service' (RaaS) subscription, where a user pays a monthly or per-booking fee ($5-$10 per successful booking) for the provider to deploy and manage a ProxyBot on their behalf at a specific location. This targets a clientele with disposable income that highly values convenience and a competitive edge.