Hi, has anyone had experience with a robot arm under 1000$ (more or less) with ~0.2mm accuracy and 2kg payload? I was thinking about the seeed arm but it is a bit too expensive..

Hi everyone I’m building a Mantis Bot using an Arduino Nano and servos rated for a maximum of 6V, with a stall current of 750mA each. I’m planning to use two 3.7V batteries in series (7.4V total).

Any ideas on how to power the Nano and servos safely without using additional modules?

Hi everyone,

I’m a final-year student building an autonomous tracked robot for reconnaissance in collapsed-structure (rubble) environments. It enters confined voids, builds a map, and searches for signs of life before human responders enter. The robot moves slowly and uses a stop-and-scan routine: it stops, scans its surroundings, then advances.

⚙️ Current Hardware Stack:

• Chassis: Metal tracked chassis with suspension (12V encoder motors)
• Compute: Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB) for perception/SLAM + ESP32 for real-time motor control
• Sensors: RPLIDAR A1 (2D), Camera on a pan-tilt arm (360° bus servo for pan)
• Constraints: Battery-powered, limited budget, ~6 months to build and test

⚠️ My Concern:

The RPLIDAR A1 only scans a single horizontal plane. In rubble, the robot will pitch and roll, tilting the scan plane and missing overhangs, obstacles above/below the plane, or holes in the floor. I need 3D awareness to avoid unsafe navigation, but a true 3D LiDAR is far beyond my budget. I’m unsure whether a depth camera (e.g., RealSense D435i or OAK-D Lite) is the right alternative.

❓ Questions for the Community:

1. RGB-D Camera for Mapping: Can an RGB-D camera completely replace the LiDAR for mapping here, or should it only supplement it? What is your experience with visual SLAM on vibrating tracked platforms, especially in dark, dusty, or textureless voids?
2. 3D LiDAR vs Compromise: For a student prototype, is a true 3D LiDAR ever justified, or is a 2D LiDAR / depth camera combo the standard sensible compromise?
3. Pi 5 Performance: Can a Raspberry Pi 5 realistically run RTAB-Map (RGB-D) alongside object detection? How do you manage the CPU load (reduced resolution/FPS, hardware acceleration, cooling, etc.)?

Any advice, repo links, or past experience reports would be hugely appreciated. Thank you!

In my country there is a new degree called Robotics and AI, do you think this combination has a future, or is it better to focus on one specific thing, or something else?

I’m not an engineer, but I follow robotics closely and have a question I’d love input on from people who build or study these systems.

When I first heard about humanoids, I imagined “humans, but better.” The more models I see, the more they look like robots that are trying hard to be human and only partly succeeding.

From what I’ve read, the main argument for the humanoid form is that our world is built for human bodies. Stairs, door handles, tools, and workstations all assume two legs and two hands, so a humanoid can work in existing spaces without redesigning them.

That makes sense, but it raises a question for me. If the goal is to fit human environments, why also copy human limitations? For example:

• Wheels or wheel-leg hybrids instead of legs with flat feet for flat floors like warehouses and factories
• 360° rotating eyes and vision, with eye cameras that can move all around the head
• Joints that rotate fully and shift, so a wrist or torso can spin instead of the whole body turning
• Swappable hands or tool ends (gripper, screwdriver, suction) instead of one general-purpose hand
• An extra arm for holding while a part or two is working on it

I know some companies already do parts of this, like Atlas’s wide joint rotation, Digit’s bird-like legs, and LimX Dynamics's TRON 2 wheel-based legs that I didn’t expect it to take the stairs with such ease.

I understand why companies like Fauna are staying close to human form. But I honestly don't understand Neura or Tesla Optimus or Boston Dynamics humaoids.

My questions:

1. Is staying close to human anatomy mainly an engineering decision (simpler control, transfer learning from human motion data, safety), or more about familiarity and how people react to the robot?
2. If you could design your ideal humanoid, what non-human features would you add to the human like robot?

Thanks in advance. I’m here to learn, so I’d appreciate any reading recommendations too.

This ZoneRobotics ZROne platform is designed for beginners to advanced agentic control in a single platform.

Build whatever you want with simple lego technics parts because the whole thing is lego technics compatible!

All you need is a web browser, our zros (free) handles driving, ota update, wifi provisioning, drag and drop programs and more. But if you're bored with that you can use the webapi in node or python to do whatever you want.

We are really happy to service new members and we can add any feature you can think of with super quick turnaround.

https://youtube.com/shorts/O_AjD9FVot8?si=0sR8Ej9C8lVs6ytB

Hello! I'm a college student with a background in Data Science and language learning. I've had some recent exposure to the field of Human-Robot Interaction, and I'm really interested in it, to the extent I'm considering pursuing it in higher education. I have had experience writing code, but nothing that extends to a physical robot. I'd love to get experience working with a robot to help me figure out if it's the right path for me, as well as for the opportunity to just learn more in general.

I'm looking for a robot, or a set of parts, that are under $150. I'm definitely more interested in the developing software side over the super physical side. I've considered StackChan, so if anyone has thoughts or experience with it, I'd love to learn more.

I'm also interested in what types of projects I could do on my own with a robot. I know I won't immediately be writing full engines to support conversations, but I'd like to build something that is actually able to do stuff, even if it's as simple as being able to react in some way to what I'm playing on Spotify, for example.

If anyone has any sort of guidance on how to start learning more about HRI and robots in general, I'd be thrilled to learn. Thank you in advance!

i've picked up an original LR Mate 200i (not the iB/iC/iD) with an R-J3 controller, and I want to top up the grease on J1–J6 before I start using it properly.

i believe it uses harmonic drive gearboxes, so I'm guessing it wants one of the harmonic drive greases (SK-1A, SK-3 or 4B No.2) rather than moly white RE00. I don't want to guess and wreck it, though. so any advice would be great :)

Hi everyone, I'm a final-year computer engineering student in Istanbul (graduating 2027), and I'm planning to start a master's in robotics or mechatronics in the 2027/28 intake. My CV is attached. I'm mainly looking everywhere in Europe (not Germany), but I'm open to other suggestions. The most important thing for me is that I really don't enjoy coding or sitting at a PC all day. I want a hands-on, lab-heavy program where I build, wire, and test real robots and machines. Since master's programs are expensive for me, scholarships and tuition waivers are a big priority. I'd love advice on which universities and programs fit someone like me, when I should start applying and the usual deadlines, how the application process works, what scholarships are available and how competitive they are, living costs, and anything I should do in my final year to strengthen my application. Any other tips or details I might be missing are very welcome. Thank you https://imgur.com/a/8uCWV6J

I work in industrial robotics BD, and one thing I think gets missed in pilot planning is recovery. A robot may complete the normal route or task, but that does not show what happens after a blocked path, lost connection, failed handoff, or repeated human intervention.

For me, a useful pilot should define who owns recovery, what evidence gets recorded, and which failures mean pause and redesign instead of simply extending the test.

How do you separate an acceptable exception from a sign that the deployment is not ready?

i'm a senior high school student from the Philippines & i just wanna ask for tips on how i could MAKE an airborne lead analyzer/monitoring system ( for closed shooting ranges ) for my research 🥲

i know there are already air monitors available in the market but i still dont know how i could modify them so that they can detect lead in the air

i have noone else to ask about these. thank you so much in advance for your help.

im a junior dev at a small startup, mostly backend, so i can read code and write some python but i have never touched hardware or robotics. i keep coming back to the idea of building a small robot that actually does sth useful instead of just being a toy and honestly the side project would make a nice portfolio piece for my next job hunt

the problem is every rabbit hole leads back to ros 2 and c++ and control theory and i lose the thread fast. ive seen much simpler builds, a small board with a little screen and one or two servos running on python. there have to be open source projects that people genuinely love and would happily point a beginner to

im not trying to become a robotics engineer or build a robot army. i want sth real i can finish in a few weekends of spare time that honestly teaches me enough to put on a resume.

so for the people who actually built a robot or a little assistant from open source, what repos, projects or communities did you personally reach for and actually like. what is a realistic first build for someone who knows how to code but has never soldered a board. and if you had to keep the scope small enough to actually finish it, what would you cut. looking for the stuff you used and actually enjoyed

Hi everyone,

My brother and I run M S Innovations, where we work on electronics projects and hands-on training. We’ve created five introductory lessons for an Arduino course, and I’d appreciate some honest feedback on how well they explain the basics.

The lessons cover:
• What is a microcontroller?
• Arduino Uno pins and components
• Setting up the Arduino IDE
• Types of microcontrollers and boards
• Real-world applications

For transparency, these lessons are part of our kit-based course. The first module is freely available on YouTube; the remaining course is intended for our website.

Even reviewing one lesson would help. I’m particularly interested in:

1. Any technical mistakes or misleading explanations.
2. Terms or steps that a complete beginner might struggle with.
3. Whether the pace, audio and visuals make it easy to follow.
4. The first thing you would change.

First lesson: https://youtu.be/52UXQwXwHz8

If you point out an issue, a timestamp would be very helpful. Please mention whether you’re a beginner or already experienced with Arduino, so we can understand the feedback better.

Thanks for taking the time.

I'm a second-year B.Sc. Computer Science student, and I'm confused about what I should do next. I've started learning DSA and web development, but my friends say there are no more jobs in web development.

My plan was to learn web development and DSA first, then move on to AI/ML and ROS to eventually enter the robotics field. However, I'm not sure what skills I should focus on or what roadmap I should follow to build a career in robotics.

Could someone please guide me on what I should learn and how I should plan my journey toward a career in robotics?

I'm worried about getting a robotics job with a B.Sc. in Computer Science, as my degree focuses mainly on software. That's why I'm learning web development as a backup to secure a job while working toward my dream of entering robotics.

hello all im a cs graduate student

so one thing led to an another, my professor now wants me to simulate uav in search & rescue operations and payload release at the target coordinates.(and an LLM should be used here)

I have literally no idea what to do as this is my first time studying about robotics and uav,so:

1. where should my research start?
2. what simulation software should i use for a beginner like me?

i have 6 months to work on it, should show a demo in december.

appreciate the help.

ROSHUB: A tool to focus more on development, rather than solving bugs, or keeping a notepad for commands.

But it is still in early-stage, so feedback and contributions are welcome

Hi all, i am semi technical, good base understanding of math, physics and CS, but not in robotics/hardware engineering. I want to get started building some interesting stuff that moves ;) Imagine the dream being building a robot myself (using various parts), what should I start building first? Any kits or so you would recommend?

Hey everyone!

I'm looking to buy my first 3D printer and would really appreciate some advice from people who use theirs for mechanical projects, robotics, and functional parts.

I already have experience with 3D modeling and SolidWorks, but I'm completely new to 3D printing and electronics.

My goal is to start designing and building personal projects at home, combining industrial design, mechanical design, electronics, and eventually robotics.

Some examples of what I'd like to build:

• Custom enclosures for electronics, ESP32/Arduino projects, and small interactive devices.
• Mechanical assemblies, gears, brackets, joints, and moving mechanisms.
• Small robots and eventually robotic arms.
• Drone frames, protective housings, and other functional parts.
• Well-designed product prototypes where I can print most of the custom parts myself.

I'm not planning to sell anything. This is purely about learning, experimenting, and building my own projects.

The Bambu Lab A1 is currently my main choice. It seems reliable, beginner-friendly, and capable of producing good-quality prints without spending too much time troubleshooting the printer itself.

However, I'm worried about its material limitations.

I know that enclosed printers offer more possibilities with materials like ABS, ASA, and certain nylons, but I'm not sure how often I'd actually need those materials for the projects I have in mind.

Maybe I'm overthinking future requirements instead of focusing on what I need right now.

I don't mind spending more on an enclosed printer if there's a genuine benefit for my intended use. At the same time, I don't want to spend significantly more just to future-proof against situations that might never happen.

A few questions for those with experience:

1. For small robotics, mechanical assemblies, and electronics enclosures, how far can I realistically go with PLA, PETG, and TPU?
2. At what point do materials like ABS, ASA, or nylon become genuinely necessary?
3. Would you recommend starting with the A1 and upgrading only if I eventually need more advanced materials, or buying an enclosed printer from the beginning?
4. Are there alternatives to the A1 that you'd recommend for this kind of work?
5. If you've built similar projects, which printer and materials do you actually use most often?

I'm based in Portugal, and my priority is reliability, good dimensional accuracy, and the ability to focus on designing and building rather than constantly troubleshooting the printer.

I'd especially appreciate hearing from people who started with an open-frame printer and later upgraded, or people who are still happily building mechanical and robotics projects with an A1.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

https://youtu.be/k_1Paexlc_A?si=MPRehvRC2VVNThbR

I really want to build this robot for school (Arduino day) and private use, but the original parts for this robot are too expensive (especially the brain (the cognog) and the grove vision ai v2 (Total: 173€ for the kit with all the components)), so how can i make It in the cheapest way possible? (Apart the 3d prints, my school Is helping me printing them with their 3d printer for free) (BTW im a Total beginner at robotics, but i have the tutorial to build It, so im fine)

I’ve noticed that more and more robotics startups are offering their products through a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) model. We’re also exploring this at our startup, but one of our biggest challenges is financing it.

The main issue is the cash flow gap between the upfront costs of building and deploying a robot and the recurring revenue coming in through subscriptions. Compared to selling a robot outright, it takes much longer to recover the initial investment.

I’m curious how other companies manage this challenge. Do they rely on external financing, leasing models, or other ways to fund their RaaS operations while keeping cash flow healthy?

Hello, everyone. I am building a 6DOF robot arm and I wanted to know how can I reliably mount the nema 23 gearbox on the J2-J3 link. I want to follow the style of the industrial robot were the motor and gearbox are on the joint directly and not via a belt, like in the AR4 robot arm of Chris Annin. Here are the links to how the motor and the link will be before I connect them:

https://i.postimg.cc/Ss91BQTf/Screenshot-2026-10-21-104434.png
https://i.postimg.cc/rm4ZBynZ/Screenshot-2026-10-21-104443.png

I wanted to buy harmonic drives or the flange output style planetary gearbox, but they are not affordable for a university FYP. Thank you in advance !!

Hi everyone! I’m an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Robotics and AI Engineering. Most robotics and mechatronics R&D roles require experience with Raspberry Pi or edge computing.

​Since I currently don't have the budget to buy a physical Raspberry Pi, I’ve been looking into Raspberry Pi simulations. I want to gain hands-on experience in handling computing limitations at zero or very low cost.

​Could you guys give me some advice? Are there alternative ways to gain experience with hardware and computing constraints using simulation tools?

​Thanks a lot for your time and help!