3D printed robot receiver listens and cracks any coded messages broadcast from the world

Cipherling is a 3D printed ‘robot’ for coded messages

Meet Cipherling, a 3D printed ‘robot’ receiver that listens and cracks any coded messages broadcast from all over the world. Made by Tim Burrell-Saward and Charlie Bruce, the assistive device connects to wifi and eavesdrops on numbers station broadcasts using the remote receiver installed in the mini device. Once it detects a transmission, the light in front of the 3D printed robot Cipherling flashes to inform the users alongside an audio ping.

Then, they switch on the device, and the receiver automatically gets patched straight to the live feed. The small LCD screen projects whatever information the 3D printed robot Cipherling can find about the broadcast. The designers say it can be binary codes, morse codes, plain noise, voices, and even music. Some of them are clear, others are faint; but all of them are live broadcasts and can ‘mean something to someone,’ the duo writes. They add that the 3D printed robot receiver is inspired by the numbers stations that have operated since WWI.

all images courtesy of Tim Burrell-Saward and Charlie Bruce

Standing on its own using metal legs with rubber feet

There’s a custom ESP32-based mainboard in each Cipherling. It drives a small color display, an audio amplifier, and a green LED. Then, the 3D printed robot receiver comes with a dial on the side to allow the users to turn the audio stream on and off. Users can rotate it as well to control volume. In its rear lies the speaker, attached to an amplifying cone for a louder sound. The device stands on its own using metal legs with rubber feet.

The FDM machines (Bambu Lab X1 Carbons) produce Cipherling’s 3D printed shell and cone. The designers say in their campaign that only screws piece the entire device together, meaning that once it has reached the end of its life, it can be broken down and recycled. The colorway Lincolnshire Poache – a white front and a bright orange back – is the chosen standard model as voted by the pledgers. The 3D printed robot Cipherling can only broadcast stream via wifi. Without it, the device doesn’t work since it doesn’t contain its own shortwave receiver.

prototype of the 3D printed robot Cipherling

Open-source files after five years for maintenance

So far, Tim Burrell-Saward and Charlie Bruce plan to deliver the 3D printed robot Cipherling in late 2025. ‘Although we expect these elements may end up requiring longer if we need to build a more sophisticated system for signal acquisition,’ they write. They intend to set up an SDR (Software Defined Radio) based receiver in the UK, which receives and restreams the audio via a relay server to any Cipherlings that want to tune in.

The device is the first in a series of hardware experiments they’re calling Weird Little Devices. It’s a collection of small-batch consumer electronic devices that typically perform ‘unusual functions.’ The 3D printed robot Cipherling leads the series. The team plans to maintain the receiver and broadcast schedule for at least five years, meaning there’s a guarantee of functionality within this period. After that, they expect to open-source the files, so users can maintain and update the 3D printed robot Cipherling on their own.

the assistive device connects to wifi and eavesdrops for numbers station broadcasts

presently, there’s a remote receiver installed in the mini device

as seen, the small LCD screen projects the information received

once it detects a transmission, the light in front of the device flashes

project info:

name: Cipherling

design: Tim Burrell-Saward and Charlie Bruce | @motherultimate

campaign: here