Family drains battery: Modder arms Steam Deck with spikes and taser

One Steam Deck owner had grown tired of family members regularly borrowing his handheld, draining the battery and then failing to recharge it afterward. Instead of simply locking the device away or protecting it with a PIN, Reddit user u/ConroyyJenkinss came up with a far more elaborate solution: an automated defense system featuring spikes, a camera and a stun gun.

Spikes, camera and stun gun

As the user explained on Reddit, the project began with an orange protective shell designed in Blender and produced using a 3D printer. With its long spikes, the handheld certainly doesn't look particularly comfortable to hold. But the creator didn't stop there. He also installed a Raspberry Pi, a small speaker, a camera for object recognition and a servo motor.

A custom Python script detects people standing in front of the Steam Deck. According to the creator, the speaker first plays a silly audio clip, although it cannot be heard in the GIF shared on Reddit. A few seconds later, the servo motor activates a stun gun, whose loud crackling noise is intended to scare off anyone attempting to use the device. Based on the video, however, the setup does not appear to deliver actual electric shocks.

The system appears to work

According to its creator, the unusual security system has achieved its goal: no one touches his Steam Deck (currently available on Amazon for $1.150) anymore. That said, it isn't particularly practical for everyday use. Whenever u/ConroyyJenkinss wants to use the handheld himself, he first has to disable the stun gun and remove the spiked shell. While admittedly inconvenient, he says it's still worth the effort.

Reddit users have reacted to the bizarre creation with plenty of amusement. Many praised the modder's creativity, while also pointing out that a simple PIN, a padlock or even a better hiding place would probably have been much easier. Others wondered how the Raspberry Pi is powered. If it draws power from the Steam Deck itself, it would ironically be draining the very battery the security system is supposed to protect.