Robotics

Mini Pupper 2 makes a bid to be your new hackable robo-dog pal

Mini Pupper 2 makes a bid to be your new hackable robo-dog pal
The Mini Pupper 2 features upgraded brains, is compatible with the ROS2 operating platform, and comes with smarter servos
The Mini Pupper 2 features upgraded brains, is compatible with the ROS2 operating platform, and comes with smarter servos
View 5 Images
The Mini Pupper 2 features upgraded brains, is compatible with the ROS2 operating platform, and comes with smarter servos
1/5
The Mini Pupper 2 features upgraded brains, is compatible with the ROS2 operating platform, and comes with smarter servos
The Mini Pupper 2 boasts 12 degrees of freedom agility
2/5
The Mini Pupper 2 boasts 12 degrees of freedom agility
Payload capacity has increased to 200 g
3/5
Payload capacity has increased to 200 g
The Mini Pupper 2 gains control via a companion mobile app running on a smartphone
4/5
The Mini Pupper 2 gains control via a companion mobile app running on a smartphone
Each of the Mini Pupper 2's legs features a MCU controlling three servos, which means four microcontrollers to enable position, velocity and torque feedback
5/5
Each of the Mini Pupper 2's legs features a MCU controlling three servos, which means four microcontrollers to enable position, velocity and torque feedback
View gallery - 5 images

Last year, Hong Kong's MangDang gave programmers the chance to own a small hackable four-legged robot named the Mini Pupper, a kind of baby Spot. Now the team has returned to Kickstarter with a much-improved second generation robo-dog.

As before, the tinkerer-friendly robot pooch features a flat upper surface for mounting such optional add-ons such as LiDAR and 3D camera modules, but benefits from an increased the payload capacity from 150 g (5 oz) to 200 g (7 oz).

Where the first generation was powered by Raspberry Pi 4B processing brains, the Mini Pupper 2 gains compatibility with the Pi Compute Module 4 along with Arduino microcontrollers. By shipping time, the developers plan to extend operating system support to the new ROS2, in addition to Ubuntu and ROS1.

The new robo-dog also benefits from closed-loop control for smarter operation, and now works with a mobile app. The LCD display in front remains, for animated expressions, but a touch sensor, a microphone and a speaker are new to this build.

The Mini Pupper 2 gains control via a companion mobile app running on a smartphone
The Mini Pupper 2 gains control via a companion mobile app running on a smartphone

It retains 12-degrees-of-freedom agility, but each leg now features its own microcontroller overseeing three upgraded servos, with the Pro version boasting position, velocity and torque feedback from each servo, while the regular robo-dog flavor gets position feedback only.

The hackable bot is powered by a 1,000-mAh battery but can now be used with an adapter for external power as well, useful for development and debugging operations.

The Mini Pupper 2 is currently raising production funds on Kickstarter, where backers can opt for a fully assembled standard version for US$549, assemble-it-yourself kits for either $429 or $499, or a $299 basic upgrade kit for those who already have a first-gen robo-dog. A fully assembled Pro model comes in at $649, with kits also available at $529 and $599. If all goes to plan, shipping is estimated to start in February 2023.

Source: MangDang

View gallery - 5 images
1 comment
1 comment
Jinpa
No fleas, no dog hair every where, no dog food to buy, no dog poop to pick up, no stealing food off the table, no chasing cars, no rabid robots, no vet bills. Oops, maybe robot mechanic bills, but hopefully not at the $300/hr or more that vets charge.