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PhoneBot, an open-source project developed by UCLA researchers, turns old smartphones into the brains of humanoid robots. The phone’s processor handles computation, its camera handles vision, and its sensors handle data collection, while motors provide movement.
Built with 13 readily available servo motors, the system has a hardware cost of roughly 400 dollars, excluding the phone. The system also works with phones dating back to 2017 and with entry-level Android devices costing about 50 dollars; the phone sends commands to the motors over Wi-Fi.
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Weighing 1.8 kilograms, the robot can rotate its upper section and camera while its feet remain stationary, thanks to 13 joints in its torso. Capable of walking, the robot can get back up on its own when it falls face down, and can detect and follow people with its camera. Its microphone and artificial intelligence features enable voice communication.
PhoneBot’s goal is to move robotics research and education beyond expensive laboratories, offering an accessible starting point for those who want to learn.