Gadgets

Meet the engineer who crafted a genius animatronic ‘Ratatouille’ Halloween costume

Published

2 months ago

October 19, 2024

three photos: a rat holding orange string, a woman with a robot rat on her head and a robot rat with wires coming out of it

When it comes to Halloween costume ideas, most people either scramble to find something in their closet or rush to a store before it’s too late.

But for Christina Ernst, it’s a different story. She gets to work in her lab.

A 27-year-old software engineer from Chicago, known as @shebuildsrobots on TikTok, she is a fashion mad scientist by night, crafting “wearable tech” that blends creativity with technology.

“I like things that are whimsical, things that look more magical than technical,” says Ernst. Inspired by the 2007 Disney/Pixar film Ratatouille, she decided to create a fully functional animatronic of the lovable rodent chef Remy for Halloween. Using her 3D printer, tiny motors, clever coding, and tips from her fans, Ernst brought Remy to life.

“I love making fun, wearable tech projects, and with Halloween approaching, I thought this was a perfect opportunity,” she explains. “Everyone knows Ratatouille, and it has cultural staying power. Not to mention, a rat piloting a human? I thought it would be a fun project.”

Ernst documented her project’s progress on her website and TikTok channel, where she has a following of over 82,000. Despite the occasional trolls, she found her community to be supportive and helpful, providing suggestions like coding the robot rat to mirror her arm movements.

“The most meaningful comments are when people say, ‘I’m a high school senior, and this convinced me to study engineering in school.’ That is so rewarding,” says Ernst.

From a math nerd who loved making her own clothes to a software engineer creating wearable tech, Ernst has come a long way. She now serves as the Chicago Public Library’s Maker in Residence, teaching coding classes and inspiring young women to pursue careers in science and technology. She is also working on a wearable tech dress inspired by Chicago’s history and will appear on the STEM-themed CBS series Mission Unstoppable with Miranda Cosgrove in November.

As she continues to inspire and educate, Ernst is also working on her dream projects and putting the finishing touches on Remy before Halloween. And receiving praise from the voice of Remy himself, Patton Oswalt, was an unexpected honor.

“That was so unexpected! I never would have thought this project would get that attention,” says Ernst. “I’m sure people make Disney projects all the time, so the fact that he noticed this and was impressed–I was so honored!”