Protocol droid
A slim humanoid translator with formal and conversational stances, expressive arm gestures, and optional exposed torso wiring.
Open in workbenchview
variant
pose
torso
drive
Click it to move the conversation on a gesture.
Theming
Set a role and the same CSS goes in your own app — every robot under it follows.
Install
bunx --bun shadcn@latest add https://robocn.dev/r/protocol-droid.jsonNotes
- Front elevation is the drawing it always had. A humanoid drawn from the front says nothing about its own depth: off that axis the torso, pelvis and head are boxes and the limbs are tubes set through the body, at the same joint angles the pose already solved.
- Each named pose is deterministic and immediately rendered; interpolate props outside the component when animation is needed.
- The form is an original translator archetype rather than a character replica.
Usage
import { ProtocolDroid } from "@/components/ui/protocol-droid"
<ProtocolDroid pose="converse" gesture="explain" headAngle={15} exposed />Props
| Prop | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| view | "plan" | "front" | "profile" | "iso" | "front" | Where the camera stands. One droid, four projections: straight down, straight on, side elevation, or three-quarter from above. |
| pose | "formal" | "converse" | "cautious" | "formal" | Whole-body posture and leg stance. |
| gesture | "none" | "explain" | "greet" | "point" | "none" | Controlled arm and forearm pose. |
| headAngle | number | 0 | Head rotation in degrees, clamped to −55..55. |
| exposed | boolean | false | Reveal the torso cable loom instead of the closed service panel. |
| behavior | "converse" | "idle" | "static" | "converse" | Converse works through its gestures a beat at a time with the head turning to whoever is being addressed; idle waits politely. |
| speed | number | 0.35 | Gestures per second. |
| animate | boolean | true | Off parks the machine at phase and stops rendering. A reduced-motion preference does the same. |
| paused | boolean | false | Freeze where it stands. |
| phase | number | 0 | Seconds of offset, so a row of machines breaks step. |
| interactive | boolean | true | The head turns to the pointer, and a click moves the conversation on to the next gesture. |
| onGestureChange | (gesture: ProtocolDroidGesture) => void | — | The gesture a click moved it to. |
| variant | "solid" | "outline" | "blueprint" | "wire" | "solid" | How the machine is painted. Geometry never changes between variants. |
| size | "xs" | "sm" | "md" | "lg" | "xl" | number | "md" | Rendered width in pixels, or a step on the scale. |
| showGround | boolean | true | Draw the contact line or shadow beneath the droid. |
| signal | "idle" | "ready" | "warning" | — | Status-lamp state using neutral, accent, or shell colour; each component documents its visual default in the demo. |
| label | string | — | Optional technical caption under the drawing. |
| color | string | var(--robot-shell) | Body panels — the colour the machine reads as. |
| accent | string | var(--robot-accent) | Status colour: tip light, live tool, readouts. |
| metal | string | var(--robot-metal) | Bare machined parts: collars, bolts, tool bodies. |
| dark | string | var(--robot-dark) | Cast joints, base, shadow side. |
| palette | Partial<RobotPalette> | — | Override any subset of roles at once, including glow and grid. |
Source
src/components/ui/protocol-droid.tsx
"use client"
import * as React from "react"
import { usePointerTarget } from "@/hooks/use-pointer-target"
import { useRobotClock } from "@/hooks/use-robot-motion"
import { clamp, toRadians } from "@/lib/robocn/kinematics"
import {
aboutPoint,
capsulePath,
extrudedPath,
px,
resolveRobotPalette,
resolveRobotSize,
robotCamera,
robotSurface,
roundedFootprint,
type RobotPaletteProps,
type RobotSize,
type RobotVariant,
type RobotView,
} from "@/lib/robocn/style"
import { cn } from "@/lib/utils"
export type ProtocolDroidPose = "formal" | "converse" | "cautious"
export type ProtocolDroidGesture = "none" | "explain" | "greet" | "point"
export type ProtocolDroidBehavior = "converse" | "idle" | "static"
/** The gestures a conversation cycles through, in order. */
const gestureOrder: ProtocolDroidGesture[] = ["none", "greet", "explain", "point"]
export interface ProtocolDroidProps
extends Omit<React.ComponentProps<"svg">, "color">,
RobotPaletteProps {
size?: RobotSize | number
variant?: RobotVariant
/** Where the camera stands. One droid, four projections. */
view?: RobotView
pose?: ProtocolDroidPose
/** Head turn in degrees. Omit and it turns to whoever it is talking to. */
headAngle?: number
/** Hands. Omit and `behavior` works through them. */
gesture?: ProtocolDroidGesture
/** What it does unattended: hold a conversation, or wait politely. */
behavior?: ProtocolDroidBehavior
/** Gestures per second. */
speed?: number
animate?: boolean
paused?: boolean
phase?: number
/** The head turns to the pointer, and a click moves it on to its next gesture. */
interactive?: boolean
onGestureChange?: (gesture: ProtocolDroidGesture) => void
exposed?: boolean
signal?: "idle" | "ready" | "warning"
showGround?: boolean
label?: string
}
/** The droid is drawn standing straight on; that is the camera it defaults to. */
const NATIVE_VIEW: RobotView = "front"
/** Where it stands in the frame, and the depths a front elevation never had
* to give: how far the body, limbs and head reach through the picture. */
const CENTRE = 85
const GROUND = 199
const BODY_DEEP = 11
const LIMB_DEEP = 5.5
const viewNames: Record<RobotView, string> = {
plan: "plan view",
front: "front elevation",
profile: "side elevation",
iso: "isometric view",
}
const poses: Record<ProtocolDroidPose, { lean: number; leftLeg: number; rightLeg: number }> = {
formal: { lean: 0, leftLeg: 0, rightLeg: 0 },
converse: { lean: -3, leftLeg: -4, rightLeg: 5 },
cautious: { lean: 6, leftLeg: 6, rightLeg: -7 },
}
const gestures: Record<ProtocolDroidGesture, { left: number; right: number; forearm: number }> = {
none: { left: 4, right: -4, forearm: 0 },
explain: { left: 26, right: -48, forearm: -58 },
greet: { left: 8, right: -112, forearm: -42 },
point: { left: 12, right: -72, forearm: 64 },
}
function ProtocolDroid({
size = "md",
variant = "solid",
view = NATIVE_VIEW,
pose = "formal",
headAngle,
gesture,
behavior = "converse",
speed = 0.35,
animate = true,
paused = false,
phase = 0,
interactive = true,
onGestureChange,
exposed = false,
signal = "ready",
showGround = true,
label,
color,
accent,
metal,
dark,
glow,
grid,
palette: paletteOverride,
className,
style,
onPointerDown,
...props
}: ProtocolDroidProps) {
const palette = resolveRobotPalette({ color, accent, metal, dark, glow, grid, palette: paletteOverride })
const width = resolveRobotSize(size)
const svgRef = React.useRef<SVGSVGElement>(null)
const clock = useRobotClock({ speed, animate: animate && behavior !== "static", paused, phase })
// A click takes the conversation on a step and holds it there.
const [asked, setAsked] = React.useState<number | null>(null)
const pointer = usePointerTarget(svgRef, {
enabled: interactive && headAngle === undefined && !paused,
toWorld: React.useCallback((unit: { x: number; y: number }) => ({
x: (unit.x - 0.5) * 2,
y: (unit.y - 0.5) * 2,
}), []),
})
const scripted = protocolDroidPose(behavior, clock)
const shown = gesture ?? (asked === null ? scripted.gesture : gestureOrder[asked % gestureOrder.length])
const turn = finiteClamp(
headAngle ?? (pointer.target ? clamp(pointer.target.x, -1, 1) * 48 : scripted.head),
-55,
55,
)
const stance = poses[pose] ?? poses.formal
const arms = gestures[shown] ?? gestures.none
const shell = robotSurface("shell", variant, palette)
const machined = robotSurface("metal", variant, palette)
const cast = robotSurface("dark", variant, palette)
const signalColor = signal === "warning" ? palette.shell : signal === "ready" ? palette.accent : palette.metal
// The drawing is a front elevation, so it goes through `wall` where the
// droid stands and comes out untouched straight on. A humanoid drawn from
// the front says nothing about its own depth: the torso, pelvis and head
// become boxes, and the arms and legs tubes set through the body.
const camera = robotCamera(view)
const offAxis = view !== NATIVE_VIEW
const face = aboutPoint(camera.wall(), CENTRE, GROUND)
const Frame = (face ? "g" : React.Fragment) as React.FC<{
transform?: string
children?: React.ReactNode
}>
const frame = face ? { transform: face } : {}
/** A point in the frame — x right, y up the drawing is negative — set
* `deep` units toward the reader. */
const at = (x: number, y: number, deep = 0) => {
const tilt = toRadians(stance.lean)
const lx = x * Math.cos(tilt) - y * Math.sin(tilt)
const ly = x * Math.sin(tilt) + y * Math.cos(tilt)
return camera.project(-lx, -ly, -deep)
}
/** The joints of a limb: each segment turned by its own angle, in order. */
const chain = (
ox: number,
oy: number,
deep: number,
segments: readonly { angle: number; length: number }[],
) => {
let x = ox
let y = oy
const joints = [at(x, y, deep)]
for (const segment of segments) {
const a = toRadians(segment.angle)
x -= Math.sin(a) * segment.length
y += Math.cos(a) * segment.length
joints.push(at(x, y, deep))
}
return joints
}
/** A box between two heights above the ground, `deep` either side. */
const solid = (halfWidth: number, deep: number, top: number, bottom: number, x = 0) =>
extrudedPath(
roundedFootprint(halfWidth, deep, Math.min(halfWidth, deep) * 0.4, 4).map(point => ({ x: point.x - x, y: point.y })),
camera, top, bottom,
)
return (
<svg
ref={svgRef}
role="img"
aria-label={`Protocol droid, ${pose} pose, ${shown} gesture, ${viewNames[view] ?? viewNames.front}`}
onPointerDown={(event) => {
onPointerDown?.(event)
if (!interactive || event.defaultPrevented) return
const next = (asked === null ? gestureOrder.indexOf(shown) : asked) + 1
setAsked(next)
onGestureChange?.(gestureOrder[next % gestureOrder.length])
}}
viewBox="0 0 170 230"
width={width}
height={px(width * 1.35)}
className={cn("max-w-full select-none", className)}
style={{ color: palette.foreground, ...style }}
{...props}
>
{variant === "blueprint" && (
<g fill="none" stroke={palette.grid} strokeWidth={0.5} opacity={0.45}>
<path d="M 12 209 H 158 M 85 8 V 216" strokeDasharray="2 3" />
<path d="M 24 24 H 146 V 207 H 24 Z" strokeDasharray="2 3" />
</g>
)}
{showGround && <ellipse cx={85} cy={207} rx={44} ry={5.5} fill={palette.dark} opacity={0.14} />}
{offAxis && <g data-solids transform={`translate(${CENTRE} ${GROUND})`}>
{([["left", -15, stance.leftLeg, -LIMB_DEEP], ["right", 15, stance.rightLeg, LIMB_DEEP]] as const).map(([name, x, angle, deep]) => {
const [hip, knee, ankle] = chain(x, -60, deep, [
{ angle, length: 43 },
{ angle, length: 45 },
])
return (
<g key={name} data-leg={name}>
<path d={capsulePath(hip, knee, 7)} {...shell} />
<path d={capsulePath(knee, ankle, 6)} {...machined} />
</g>
)
})}
{([["left", -27, arms.left, arms.left, -BODY_DEEP], ["right", 27, arms.right, arms.right + arms.forearm, BODY_DEEP]] as const).map(([name, x, upper, lower, deep]) => {
const [shoulder, elbow, wrist] = chain(x, -103, deep, [
{ angle: upper, length: 39 },
{ angle: lower, length: 39 },
])
return (
<g key={name} data-arm={name}>
<path d={capsulePath(shoulder, elbow, 6)} {...shell} />
<path d={capsulePath(elbow, wrist, 5)} {...machined} />
</g>
)
})}
<path d={solid(25, BODY_DEEP, 110, 59)} {...shell} />
<path d={solid(21, BODY_DEEP - 1, 66, 50)} {...cast} />
<path d={solid(8, 7, 132, 108)} {...machined} />
<path d={solid(20, 14, 166, 130, turn * 0.13)} {...shell} />
</g>}
<Frame {...frame}>
<g data-frame data-view={view} transform={`translate(85 199) rotate(${stance.lean})`}>
<g data-leg="left" transform={`translate(-15 -60) rotate(${stance.leftLeg})`}>
<rect x={-7} y={0} width={14} height={43} rx={6} {...shell} />
<circle data-joint="left-knee" cy={43} r={7.5} {...cast} />
<rect x={-6} y={43} width={12} height={45} rx={5} {...machined} />
<path d="M -8 86 H 13 Q 20 86 20 92 H -9 Z" {...shell} />
</g>
<g data-leg="right" transform={`translate(15 -60) rotate(${stance.rightLeg})`}>
<rect x={-7} y={0} width={14} height={43} rx={6} {...shell} />
<circle data-joint="right-knee" cy={43} r={7.5} {...cast} />
<rect x={-6} y={43} width={12} height={45} rx={5} {...machined} />
<path d="M -8 86 H 13 Q 20 86 20 92 H -9 Z" {...shell} />
</g>
<path d="M -25 -110 L -20 -59 Q 0 -49 20 -59 L 25 -110 Z" {...shell} />
<ellipse cx={0} cy={-59} rx={21} ry={8} {...cast} />
<g data-torso-panel>
<path d="M -15 -99 H 15 V -70 Q 0 -62 -15 -70 Z" {...machined} />
{exposed ? (
<g data-wiring fill="none" strokeLinecap="round">
<path d="M -10 -94 C -2 -86 -7 -78 0 -69" stroke={palette.accent} strokeWidth={2} />
<path d="M 0 -96 C 7 -87 2 -79 9 -70" stroke={palette.dark} strokeWidth={2} />
<path d="M 8 -94 C 1 -86 8 -79 3 -70" stroke={palette.metal} strokeWidth={1.8} />
</g>
) : (
<g stroke={palette.dark} strokeWidth={1.4}>
<path d="M -10 -91 H 10 M -10 -84 H 10 M -10 -77 H 10" />
</g>
)}
</g>
<circle data-joint="waist" cy={-108} r={8} {...cast} />
<rect x={-8} y={-124} width={16} height={16} rx={4} {...machined} />
<g data-arm="left" transform={`translate(-27 -103) rotate(${arms.left})`}>
<circle data-joint="left-shoulder" r={8} {...cast} />
<rect x={-6} y={0} width={12} height={38} rx={5} {...shell} />
<circle data-joint="left-elbow" cy={39} r={6.5} {...cast} />
<rect x={-5} y={39} width={10} height={37} rx={4} {...machined} />
<circle cy={78} r={5} {...cast} />
<path d="M -5 82 Q 0 90 5 82 M 0 82 V 92" fill="none" stroke={palette.metal} strokeWidth={2} strokeLinecap="round" />
</g>
<g data-arm="right" transform={`translate(27 -103) rotate(${arms.right})`}>
<circle data-joint="right-shoulder" r={8} {...cast} />
<rect x={-6} y={0} width={12} height={38} rx={5} {...shell} />
<circle data-joint="right-elbow" cy={39} r={6.5} {...cast} />
<g transform={`translate(0 39) rotate(${arms.forearm})`}>
<rect x={-5} y={0} width={10} height={37} rx={4} {...machined} />
<circle cy={39} r={5} {...cast} />
<path d="M -5 43 Q 0 51 5 43 M 0 43 V 53" fill="none" stroke={palette.metal} strokeWidth={2} strokeLinecap="round" />
</g>
</g>
<g data-head transform={`translate(${px(turn * 0.13)} -148) rotate(${px(turn * 0.08)})`}>
<rect x={-20} y={-18} width={40} height={34} rx={8} {...shell} />
<path d="M -16 -9 H 16 V 7 H -16 Z" {...cast} />
{[-8, 8].map((x) => (
<g key={x}>
<circle cx={x} cy={-2} r={5} fill={signalColor} />
<circle cx={x + 1} cy={-3} r={1.4} fill={palette.metal} />
</g>
))}
<path d="M -7 10 H 7 M -4 14 H 4" stroke={palette.dark} strokeWidth={1.4} />
<rect x={-13} y={16} width={26} height={6} rx={2} {...machined} />
</g>
</g>
</Frame>
{label && <text x={85} y={224} textAnchor="middle" fontFamily="ui-monospace, monospace" fontSize={6} fill={palette.foreground}>{label}</text>}
</svg>
)
}
const finiteClamp = (value: number, min: number, max: number) =>
Number.isFinite(value) ? clamp(value, min, max) : 0
export { ProtocolDroid }
/**
* One side of a conversation: a gesture at a time, each held long enough to
* read, with the head turning to whoever is being addressed.
*/
export function protocolDroidPose(behavior: ProtocolDroidBehavior, clock: number) {
const t = Number.isFinite(clock) ? clock : 0
if (behavior === "static") return { gesture: "none" as ProtocolDroidGesture, head: 0 }
if (behavior === "idle") {
return { gesture: "none" as ProtocolDroidGesture, head: Math.sin(t * Math.PI * 0.5) * 10 }
}
const step = Math.floor(((t % gestureOrder.length) + gestureOrder.length) % gestureOrder.length)
return { gesture: gestureOrder[step], head: Math.sin(t * Math.PI) * 26 }
}