In a week full of high-end gadgets, it’s refreshing to see a piece of tech that’s strictly homebrew. This little hexapodal robot is made of cardboard, servos, and controllers, and can be built for around $85 — possibly less if you’re able to salvage. The pieces for the robot are cut and connected to the servos, then hooked up to a power supply and controlling laptop. The result is a light but strong machine capable of some basic motion, although based on the video below, it seems to have a predilection for turning in circles.
DIY cardboard robot costs less than $100
Mike Estee is experimenting with a cardboard robot that can be built for under $100. The cheap material allows Estee to experiment with designs without worrying about sunk costs.
Mike Estee is experimenting with a cardboard robot that can be built for under $100. The cheap material allows Estee to experiment with designs without worrying about sunk costs.
is a senior tech and policy editor focused on online platforms and free expression. Adi has covered virtual and augmented reality, the history of computing, and more for The Verge since 2011.
The creator, Mike Estee, is working with cardboard because the cheap material allows him to try many different iterations of a design at minimal cost. He’s made the pattern available under a Creative Commons license, and is chronicling the process of building his paper ‘bots in a series of blog posts, the latest of which is available at the source link below.
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