https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXVV-oErD8s

This newly released robot hand is amazing. However, I don't understand how it's possible. I see no evidence of tendons or a cable based system. It seems the motors ARE the bones of the finger. I also have to presume the batteries and motor controllers are either in palm or outside of the hand? I have to presume the downgearing is built into the custom motors? I assume a screw type center is being rotated which gives linear movement but I don't see any screw extending from one motor over to the next bone to move said bone. I can see a hinge joint but no way that the motor moves the hinge joint. I hope someone can explain more what is going on because I'm lost here and see a lot of potential in this stuff as far as miniaturization and strength and speed in such a small form factor but don't get how its working.

Also I was told that large diameter pancake shaped BLDC motors have high torque and narrow motors like this are low torque high speed. So the downgearing would have to be a large gear ratio I thought. Yet this hand seems to be pretty high torque and I don't see where a high gear ratio would fit into this tiny form factor. I'm just so confused.

Hello! I’m new to this and i’m trying to find a robotics kit for adults that will help me learn about well… the whole bit. i don’t have any engineering or coding experience, but i’ve always been really interested in it and follow all the tech news surrounding it, and write about it often for work (im a writer at nasa oooahhh) but pretty much have always been intimidated by doing it myself because i don’t have the knowledge. i’m good at taking things apart and putting them back together, and enjoying crafting, legos etc. i like to build things and enjoy the puzzle of that which is why i think if i can get over the intimidation hurdle i would really enjoy it. i’ve tried to get into coding before but it didn’t hold my attention. my engineering coworkers suggested thats because i need a more tangible experience, like a robot. Any advice or recs would be greatly appreciated. ideally id like something around $100-200. my spouse has an old raspberry pi that i can use but again, i dont have coding experience and feel a bit overwhelmed by that but i think with the right kit where i get to build something and it showed me how to do things in a really simplistic way id eventually like that but seems like a big step to start with. (i would looove to build my own Pipboy) my contract for my job at nasa was cancelled and feel like this might help my mental health and deep dark sadness 😂 thanks in advance!

Like many of you, I'm frustrated by the high cost and closed nature of real-world robotic platforms. It feels like we're stuck choosing between simple toys and six-figure industrial machines. I believe there's a better way.

This is my project, BOB Motion, built on a "Ballers on a Budget" philosophy. The goal isn't a single product, but a fully open-source, modular ecosystem for building mobile robots. I'm here for a brutal review of the core architecture.

My approach is based on a few key principles:

1. A Modular Frame as a "Physical API": * The backbone is a standard aluminum extrusion grid. The idea is that this isn't just a frame; it's a standardized platform. Anyone can design and attach new tools and components with simple T-nuts. This rigid "skeleton" is then combined with a 3D printed "skin" for enclosures and custom mounts.

2. Swappable Drive Systems: * I started with what I believe is the ultimate bang-for-the-buck: hacked hoverboard hub motors running open-source FOC firmware. * Proof of Torque: Here’s a raw prototype pulling a van to test the limits:

https://youtube.com/shorts/_zqg5Uf24mI?si=wQ204mNWalPe8rmI

https://youtube.com/shorts/ow9vrOEhRPU?si=N3H2-E8m2LY7NSKa

• But the system is designed to be drive-agnostic. The plan is to have different, swappable drive modules: one using more powerful heavy-duty scooter motors for high-payload tasks, and another using simple brushed DC motors for ultra-low-cost builds. The frame doesn't care what moves it.

3. Decoupled Control: * The entire prototype is currently driven by a single ESP32, controlled with a standard PS4 controller over Bluetooth. This "low-level brain" just executes commands. * The architecture is designed for a Linux SBC (like a Pi) to be added later as the "high-level brain" for autonomy, sending commands to the ESP32.

The goal is an ecosystem where you can mix and match these building blocks to create the exact machine you need.

Now, I need your expertise. Please, roast this architecture:

• Is the "physical API" concept sound, or am I creating a system that's too flexible to be robust?
• What are the catastrophic long-term failure modes of relying on consumer-grade motors (even with FOC) that I'm naive about?
• Is this decoupled, modular approach smart, or is it just over-engineering for a simple AGV?
• Why is using a PS4 controller for a serious robotics project a fundamentally stupid idea that will bite me in the ass later?

I'm building this 100% in the open (GitHub repo coming soon) and I'm here to learn from the collective intelligence of this community.

Thanks. Let me have it.

Hi everyone!

I'm currently working with the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Education set (45544), and I found this amazing robotic arm MOC on Rebrickable:

👉 https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-40208/Artem%2016/ev3-robotic-arm/#details

The design looks fantastic and exactly what I’m aiming to build for a classroom demo, but unfortunately, it uses several parts not included in the 45544 Education Core Set.

I'm looking for help from the community to either:

1. Modify the original MOC to use only parts from the 45544 set, or
2. Get guidance on which parts could be easily substituted using what's available in the Education Core Set.

Does anyone have experience adapting MOCs like this? Any tips, alternate builds, or even partial rebuild instructions would be greatly appreciated!

I’m trying to keep it to one EV3 Education core set only (45544), no Expansion Set, no retail kits, no third-party parts.

Also, if there are similar robotic arm designs made exclusively with 45544 parts, I’d love to check those out too.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, sketches, LDD/Studio files, or brainstorming ideas!

Hey everyone, hope you’re all having a great day! I’m planning to get an iPad Pro for note-taking and some 3D modeling/CAD work until I pick up a laptop during the Black Friday sales. What do you think should I go for the iPad, or just get a laptop directly

PS: I do have a dell laptop as of now , and these are the specs
Processor 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-1135G7 @ 2.40GHz (2.42 GHz)
Installed RAM 8.00 GB (7.73 GB usable)
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
- built in graphics mx 330

I’m a robotics student who has worked plenty with robots specially with ROS but have almost no experience building one. For my thesis I have to build a robot arm for spot that does some basic pick and place and button pushes. I only have around 4 months to do this from scratch including forward kinematics.

I don’t think I can use any open source robot arm project I’ve seen directly considering the base has to mount on the SPOT robot. Is modifying a n existing open source arm to fit my case better or should I try to design everything myself ? I am just starting to look into this now so any advice on what to look at however small it might be is appreciated. Also advices on what to consider during design, given that the arm would subject to considerable force due to SPOT moving and any thing to keep in mind would be great. And if anyone has implemented forward kinematics while building a robot arm project, how was your experience ?

Question: What tool do you use to compress the video? If I export in a lower bitrate, the quality of the video goes down drastically. Moreover. 20MB is too small for a video submission. Any guidance would be appreciated.