This simple, open-source bipedal robot is a DIY makers' dream
Engineers at the University of Tokyo's JSK Robotics Laboratory have developed a new open-source two-legged robot designed to make advanced robotics easier and more accessible. This project aims to solve a dilemma in the DIY robotics community — choosing fragile 3D-printed parts or durable metal kits that are too complex to assemble.
To solve this, the team used sheet metal welding techniques to combine complex shapes into single, integrated pieces. This helped reduce the number of components used for the robot. Excluding the mirrored parts, the robot only has 18 unique metal components.
The design of this robot is centered around simplicity and accessibility. The researchers designed Mevita so that all of its components — from its servo motors to its custom-made structural links — can be sourced entirely from e-commerce platforms and easily modified. The team specifically utilized Misumi and its manufacturing platform — meviy — for procurement of the parts used for the robot.
Even though the robot sports a simple design, it is quite capable. Using an AI control system trained through reinforcement learning in a simulation, it can walk across uneven ground and grassy fields. It is also equipped with LiDAR and an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit).
The project is completely open-source, an absolute dream for DIY enthusiasts. All the software, training environments, and CAD models are available on GitHub.
