OpenBot
BGuides and BOM only — orobot firmware does not yet support this hardware.
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3,262 stars on GitHub · MIT · Intel Labs + TU Munich
OpenBot turns your smartphone into the brain of a low-cost robot — anyone with an Android or iOS device and ~$50 budget can build a capable AI-powered robot. Source: https://github.com/isl-org/OpenBot
The robot body is a 3D-printed differential-drive chassis holding two gear motors, a speed controller, and a custom PCB — all controlled by an Arduino Nano. The smartphone docks on top, providing the camera, CPU, and network stack. Your phone's neural engine runs person-following, autonomous navigation, and custom AI policies via the companion app.
4 body variants + phone mount — regular (two-part top/bottom), block (PCB stack), glue (no-screw assembly), slim (narrow). See Print Files for the full set.
The project also supports tank, MTV off-road, and RTR RC-chassis variants.
Install Notes
OpenBot's intelligence lives in the Android/iOS app — vision, navigation, data collection, and AI inference all run on the phone. The orobot device code only bridges the Arduino Nano motor controller layer (forward/backward/turn via serial JSON). Higher-level behaviors (person following, autopilot, data recording) require the OpenBot app connected to the Arduino via USB OTG cable. The orobot integration is useful for basic motor testing and manual drive, but does not replicate the full OpenBot feature set.
🖨 Print Files (4)
body_bottom.stl
body_top.stl
phone_mount_bottom.stl
phone_mount_top.stl
Required Hardware
Required
| Item | Qty | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arduino Nano | 1 | Microcontroller (~$8) | Amazon |
| TT gear motors with wheels | 4 | Yellow gearmotors w/ tires (~$3 ea) | Amazon |
| 18650 battery cell | 3 | Li-ion 3.7 V — buy quality cells | Amazon |
| 18650 battery holder (3-slot, series) | 1 | Makes the 11.1 V pack | Amazon |
| USB OTG cable | 1 | Phone-to-Arduino link — match your phone port (USB-C or micro-USB) | Amazon |
| L298N motor driver | 1 | DIY assembly option | Amazon |
| Dupont jumper cables (assorted) | 1 set | Wiring | Amazon |
| M3 screw & nut assortment | 1 kit | Needs 16× M3×25, 6× M3×5, 16× nuts | Amazon |
| Spring or rubber band | 1 | Phone holder — household item | — |
| Android smartphone | 1 | User-supplied; runs the OpenBot app | — |
Optional
| Item | Qty | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| LM393 speed sensor | 2 | Wheel encoders | Amazon |