Gilbert is a wearable robotic companion that helps me talk about Tourette Syndrome. It isn't just a demonstration of technology; it’s a physical manifestation of a motor tic. This project is a continuation of my Tourette-O-Tron series, where I use robotics to explore and externalize the neurological reality of living with tics.

In the world of Tourette’s, there is something called a "premonitory urge." It’s a persistent, ominous feeling — an urgency that builds up in your nervous system until it’s all you can think about. I chose a spinning saw blade to represent that. I wanted something with visual intensity, something that felt as sharp and demanding as the urge itself.


I primarily share Gilbert on social media, even though I think most of those platforms are pretty much garbage. The goal is to throw a wrench into the endless, shallow scroll.

I assume a low bar for the audience... maybe a knee-jerk reaction at first... but I hope that if someone dwells on it for more than a second, they might actually engage. Surprisingly, the reality of this has been pretty valid; beneath the surface-level noise of the comments, I’ve seen some genuine exchanges of information. Gilbert acts as a bridge, taking a private, misunderstood experience and forcing it into a space where real communication can actually happen.

@andrewfrueh #tourettes #makersmovement #mechanicalengineering #arduino #powderoflife #wearables #robotics #newmediaart #tourettesyndrome #performanceart ♬ I Can't Stop (Ekali Tribute) - Flux Pavilion

The way Gilbert works is a lot like having Tourette’s. He has his own internal rhythm. Passively and randomly, Gilbert begins to "wake up." The saw blade starts spinning and the robotic arm extends, moving that blade closer to my head.

As it gets closer, the pressure builds. To put Gilbert back to sleep for a while, I have to flick my wrist. Gilbert uses an accelerometer to track my wrist movement in 3D space. This allowed me to customize the software so the trigger closely approximates the specific motor tic I had as a child. By twisting my wrist in that specific way, I satisfy the urge. I reclaim a little bit of control, but it’s a messy process, and the physical intensity of the machine often triggers other related tics, creating a constant back-and-forth between my body and the machine.




Check out my article on Medium:
Twentysomethings, Tourette Syndrome, and TikTok

Gilbert is created with the Powder of Life framework:


Gilbert received support from:
The Greater Columbus Arts Council (Columbus, Ohio, USA)
https://www.gcac.org/
Current New Media festival (Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA)
https://currentsnewmedia.org/