A kid asked us to build him a dinosaur guide dog.
We couldn't say no. And we couldn't build it halfway.
Here's what happened when we tried to do it right — and the product that was born from it.
Before BuddyBots, there was a kid who hated cleaning up dog poop.
A.D. is one of our founding case studies. We use his initials to protect his privacy, but his impact on everything we build is anything but anonymous.
Before he got sick, A.D. was a brilliant kid with one specific, unshakeable passion: dinosaurs. Then leukemia entered the picture. Treatment saved his life — and left complications that changed it. A.D. lost his vision.
A.D. on his Make-A-Wish trip in Bynam, Montana, holding two fossils he found while on his trip.
“He didn't want to go to Universal Studios, he didn't want to go to Hawaii, he wanted to go dig up actual dinosaur bones. Make-A-Wish New Hampshire was more than happy to grant his wish.”
— A.D.'s Mom
After his Make-A-Wish trip, his mom came to us at A.D.'s request. The ask wasn't vague. It wasn't theoretical. It was exactly the kind of request that tells you everything about a person:
“Since he likes dinosaurs so much, and he absolutely hates the idea of cleaning up dog poop — can you guys figure out how to make him a seeing-eye/guide dog as a dinosaur-shaped robot?”
— A.D.'s Mom
That question did two things at once. It made us smile — because it was bold, imaginative, and completely A.D. And it set a bar that most “cool robot” ideas never have to clear: this wasn't a demo. A child would be depending on it.
We built the answer to A.D.'s question. Then we realized other kids needed it too.
A.D.'s request forced us to solve a real engineering problem: a companion robot that a child could trust. Not a toy. Not a prototype that looked good in a lab. Something safe, reliable, and built around the specific child using it.
The work we did to answer A.D.'s question became the foundation of BuddyBots — our platform for autonomous robot companions designed specifically for kids.
Built for kids like A.D. first.
Every safety standard, every interaction protocol, every design decision was pressure-tested against a real child with real needs before it ever became a product feature.
Customizable by design.
A.D. wanted a dinosaur. Your kid wants something else. BuddyBots is built around the idea that the robot should fit the child — not the other way around.
Companion, not gadget.
Educational engagement, safety awareness, and genuine interaction — designed to be a presence in your child's life, not a device that collects dust after two weeks.
Broadened for every family.
What started as a solution for medically complex kids is now a platform built for any child who could use a companion that meets them where they are.
His leukemia relapsed in 2025. He's on track for his diploma at 16.
A.D. is still in active treatment. He's being homeschooled through Stim Factory Academy — and he has progressed significantly further than he ever did in public school.
That's not luck. It's what happens when you build the tools, the curriculum, and the support around the actual child in front of you — not around what's convenient for an institution.
A.D. didn't just inspire BuddyBots. He's the reason it exists.
Every decision we make about safety, design, and what this platform should be goes back to the same question:
Is this worthy of a child depending on it?
A.D.'s story resonates differently depending on where you are.
This resonated. Let's talk about your child.
If your child's situation is complex — medically, neurologically, or both — KustomWerks builds the support around the actual kid. Book a free onboarding call and tell us what you're dealing with. We'll tell you honestly what we can do.
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Think BuddyBots could help your kid?
BuddyBots is our platform for autonomous robot companions — built first for kids like A.D., now available for any child who could use a companion that meets them where they are. Learn more about what the platform offers.
Explore the BuddyBots PlatformBuddyBots · Autonomous Robot Companions for Kids · Stim Factory Inc.
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