12 metal-gear servos
Articulated legs and head movement support walking, standing, sitting, turning, and expressive poses.
Robotics / Upcoming Build 01
Meet our next favorite four-legged friend.
MaelstromLabsDX is preparing a SunFounder PiDog V2 build—an approachable Raspberry Pi robotics platform for exploring motion, sensing, vision, interaction, and practical AI behaviors.
Project Overview
A capable robotics laboratory on four legs.
PiDog combines an aluminum-alloy frame with articulated legs, onboard sensing, visual input, expressive lighting, and audio. Our build will use that foundation to study coordinated movement, obstacle awareness, responsive behaviors, and increasingly autonomous interaction.
Platform Capabilities
Built to move, observe, and respond.
The V2 platform supports Raspberry Pi 3, 4, 5, and Zero 2 W. Its collection of actuators and sensors makes it suitable for both structured tutorials and original robotics experiments.
Camera input
The camera creates a foundation for color recognition, face detection, visual tracking, and future computer-vision work.
Distance and orientation
Ultrasonic ranging and a 6-axis IMU support obstacle detection, posture awareness, and more stable movement.
Touch and sound direction
Touch sensors and directional sound sensing provide inputs for responsive, pet-like behaviors.
Light and audio
An 11-channel light board and speaker allow the robot to communicate status, reactions, and personality.
Python-based experiments
The documented software path supports calibration, scripted actions, sensing projects, and AI-assisted interaction.
Planned Build Sequence
From parts to purposeful behavior.
We will treat the build as a measured development program: establish a dependable hardware baseline first, then add behaviors in small, testable steps.
Mechanical Build
Inventory the kit, assemble the frame and articulated legs, route wiring, and verify every connection.
Calibration
Zero and calibrate the servos before validating basic poses, gait stability, and safe movement limits.
Sensor Bring-Up
Test the camera, ultrasonic module, touch inputs, sound direction sensor, IMU, lights, and speaker individually.
Custom Behaviors
Combine movement and perception into obstacle response, tracking, interaction, and experimental AI routines.