A group of researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles has unveiled PhoneBot, a compact robot standing at just 48 centimeters tall. This innovative two-legged machine is capable of walking, following individuals, and even rising from a prone position. At its core, an ordinary Android smartphone acts as both the eyes and brain of the robot, leveraging its camera, motion sensors, and processing capabilities. The smartphone communicates movement instructions via Wi-Fi to a small onboard computer, which manages the robot's 13 motors. The estimated cost of the components is approximately $400, excluding the smartphone itself. PhoneBot aims to serve as an economical platform for student experiments and laboratory research. The team intends to make the designs and software available to enable other researchers and enthusiasts to expand upon this project. Would you be interested in having one?
Informational material. 18+.
