The Android apps that make it walk are not open source, so the open part is only the frame and wiring.
A large 3D-printed hexapod from the MakeYourPet YouTube channel, driven by 18 high-torque servos with an old Android phone as its brain. The phone talks over USB to an 18-channel servo board, either a Pimoroni Servo2040 or a Pololu Maestro. Leg-tip switches sense ground contact.
At a glance
| Parts cost | $590 (2022) builder · Summed from a fan-made parts list, leaving out its tools and servo tester. The list's own total is $771.57 source ↗ |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 3/5 Intermediate · Printing and wiring are approachable, but the parts list is unofficial and the control apps are not open source. |
| Build time | Not stated |
| Tools needed | 3D printer (large body and leg parts), soldering (switches, power wiring), heat gun, servo tester for calibration |
| Motors | 18 35 kg coreless servos |
| Controller | Android phone plus Pimoroni Servo2040 (or Pololu Mini Maestro 18) |
| Sensors | 6 leg-tip micro switches, optional current and voltage sensors, phone camera |
| Published | ✓ Parts list✓ CAD/STL✓ Assembly guide✓ Wiring✗ Software✓ Video YouTube step-by-step build videos + GitHub (STL, STEP, wiring diagrams) + fan-made parts lists; Discord |
| Activity | Last update 2023-04-12 · 1,793 GitHub stars · 222 forks; Discord server; YouTube channel |
| Kits | No kit |
Licenses
| Design files | MIT (STL and STEP files) source ↗ |
|---|---|
| Code | None found for the phone apps (MIT in the repo, which holds no app source) source ↗ |
| Documentation | MIT (README and illustrations) source ↗ |
Builder notes
Practical points from the project's issue tracker, forum and docs, each linked to its source.
- The server and client phone apps that run the robot are not in the repo, and 2026 requests for their source went unanswered. source ↗
- There is no official parts list, a gap builders raised in the first issue. The README links fan-made parts lists and warns they are not complete, and one of the three links already points to a deleted sheet. source ↗
- The Servo2040 needs firmware from a contributor's repo, and builders confused by the board disconnecting after the flash learned this is normal behavior. source ↗
- The printed tip is 9 mm across while the rubber caps in the parts list are 8 mm, so the tips need resizing before printing a full set. source ↗
Other hexapods plans
- Vorpal The Hexapod · $250 · difficulty 2/5
- RookiDroid Hexapod (Mochi) · $350 · difficulty 2/5