Developed by UCLA researchers, the open-source PhoneBot has been introduced as a low-cost example demonstrating that old smartphones can be repurposed for robotics projects. In the project, the phone acts as the robot's “brain” using its processor, camera, and sensors.
The core idea of the system is to center the robot around an existing smartphone instead of expensive, specialized computers. The phone perceives the environment with its camera, processes sensor data, and manages the robot's movements by sending commands to the motors via Wi-Fi.
It is stated that the hardware cost of the PhoneBot, excluding the phone, is approximately $400. The structure uses 13 easily obtainable servo motors. The total weight of the robot is around 1.8 kilograms.
A ROBOT THAT WALKS WITH AN OLD PHONE
PhoneBot can walk on two legs and detect and follow people through its camera. Its ability to right itself using its own mechanism when it falls face down is also among the system's standout features.
The 13 joints in the robot's body allow it to turn its upper section and the phone from side to side while its feet remain fixed on the ground. Thus, it does not need to rotate its entire body to scan its surroundings.
The researchers' goal is not to offer an advanced platform that competes with commercial humanoid robots, but rather to lower the barrier to entry in robotics research and education. It is reported that the project can work with entry-level Android models costing around $50, as well as phones dating back to 2017.
In this respect, PhoneBot shows that old phones waiting in drawers can be utilized not only as backup devices but also as control centers in experimental robotic systems.
News Source: 12punto
