Overview
A low-cost, Raspberry Pi-based 12-DOF quadruped designed for teaching at Stanford and released as open source in 2020. It spawned MangDang's Mini Pupper and a large community of builders. University clubs build it too, such as the Viking Robotics Society at Portland State University with its Pupper-based Q-Dog. The v1/v2 code is now end-of-life. Pupper v3 (brushless, RL gaits) replaced it.
- Type
- Quadruped robot · Desktop / hobby kits
- Maker
- Stanford Student Robotics
- Released
- 2020
- Price
- Not for sale (DIY)
- Status
- Discontinued · unavailable
- Best for
- Ages 16+
- Programming
- Open source (hardware + software)
Price and shipping
Built from a parts list (est. ~$600–900 per robot). Community kits were sold briefly by third parties.
Shipping: Build it. Not sold as a product. Parts must be sourced and assembled. Pupper v3 is the current design.
Specifications
| Category | Quadrupeds · Desktop / hobby kits |
|---|---|
| Released | 2020 |
| Country | USA |
| Availability | Discontinued · unavailable |
| DIY build plans | Stanford Pupper (servo version) · parts $900–$1,000 (2024) (estimate) · difficulty 3/5 Stanford Pupper v2.1 (DJI motor version) · parts $1,600 (2023) (estimate) · difficulty 4/5 |
| Programmability | Open source (hardware + software) |
| Built-in autonomy | None / scripted · Moves only when controlled, or plays preset motions |
| LLM support | Possible via SDK · No built-in LLM. Its SDK lets software on a computer control it. |
| MuJoCo simulation | Maker URDF only · Pupper v2 URDFs published in puppersim (a PyBullet sim). No MuJoCo model found. puppersim ↗ |
| NVIDIA Isaac simulation | Maker URDF only · Pupper v2 URDFs published in puppersim (a PyBullet sim). No Isaac asset found. puppersim ↗ |
| Gazebo simulation | Maker URDF only · Pupper v2 URDFs published in puppersim (a PyBullet sim). No Gazebo package found. puppersim ↗ |
| Best for | Ages 16+ (estimated) |
| Vision sensors | Camera |
| Actuators | Hobby servos |
| Audio | No audio |
| Compute type | Raspberry Pi, Arduino / ESP32 / microcontroller |
| Compute | Raspberry Pi 4 + Teensy |
| Weight | Not published (est. ~2 kg) |
| Speed | Not published |
| DOF | 12 |
| Sensors | IMU, optional camera |
| SDK | Open-source Python controller (StanfordQuadruped) |
Common questions
How much does Stanford Pupper cost?
Not for sale (DIY). Built from a parts list (est. ~$600–900 per robot). Community kits were sold briefly by third parties.
Can Stanford Pupper be bought today?
No. It is discontinued and no longer sold. Not sold as a product. Parts must be sourced and assembled. Pupper v3 is the current design.
Who makes Stanford Pupper?
Stanford Pupper is made by Stanford Student Robotics. It came out in 2020.
Can Stanford Pupper be programmed?
Open source (hardware + software). Open-source Python controller (StanfordQuadruped).
Does Stanford Pupper have AI chat or LLM support?
Possible via SDK. No built-in LLM. Its SDK lets software on a computer control it.
What age is Stanford Pupper for?
Ages 16+ (estimated).
Ratings & reviews
Ratings and reviews load on the live site.
Related guides
- Fastest Robot Dogs · the top 20 ranked by speed
- Robot Dog Actuators · how to choose the leg motors
- 8 vs 12 DOF Robot Dogs · two or three motors per leg
- Robot Gaits and Gait Training · how legged robots walk, trot and gallop
Similar robots
Bittle / Bittle X
Mini Pupper 2
XGO-Mini2 / Mini2S
PuppyPi (Standard → Pro Ultimate)
ROSPug
DOGZILLA-Lite (= XGO-Lite2)Sources
Image credits
- Image 1: source (CC BY 2.0, Max Morse)