An inexpensive, AI-assisted, wearable robotic arm? That’s not science fiction – it’s RedSnapper, an open-source prosthesis constructed by PAC Tech, a workforce of highschool college students from Istituto Maria Immacolata in Gorgonzola, Italy. Powered totally by Arduino boards, their challenge gained the nationwide “Robotic Arm Makers” title on the 2025 RomeCup – and we expect it’s an ideal instance of what younger minds can do with ardour, creativity, and expertise.
A sensible, inexpensive prosthetic – made with Arduino
RedSnapper is a 3D-printed, EMG-controlled robotic arm that mixes AI, embedded techniques, and real-time suggestions – all compacted into a light-weight, wearable kind. Its mind? An Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense.
The prosthetic is able to performing complicated and pure actions by combining voice management, TinyML fashions, muscle indicators, and movement detection from the Nano 33 BLE Sense’s onboard sensors. It additionally contains temperature and drive sensors on the palm to alert the consumer when issues get too scorching or too tight.
The very best half? All parts are open supply and budget-friendly. The entire value of the arm is simply round 400 euro, making it a doubtlessly life-changing resolution for individuals who may not in any other case have entry to a practical and handsome prosthesis. “We designed RedSnapper to be highly effective, however accessible. One thing that would truly make a distinction,” says Mattia Arnaldi, who led the software program and electronics design for the challenge.
Daniele Vallicelli, Francesco Colombo, and Mattia Arnaldi (L to R) are PAC Tech, the workforce behind RedSnapper.
Making AI run on Arduino
PAC Tech’s customized assistant, known as JARVIS (Simply A Moderately Very Clever System), permits the consumer to regulate RedSnapper with voice instructions like “increase arm” or “rotate wrist.” To get JARVIS engaged on the Nano 33 BLE Sense, Arnaldi educated the fashions utilizing Edge Impulse. “I collected round 120 samples per key phrase and ran efficiency calibration to decide on the most effective algorithm cluster. That helped us discover essentially the most correct and environment friendly mannequin for our use case,” he explains
With an replace charge of 200 ms, the ensuing actions are easy, responsive, and tailor-made to the consumer’s enter – whether or not that’s from voice, muscle contraction, or gestures.
Challenges? Loads. Options? Inventive.
As with all formidable prototype, the workforce bumped into real-world issues. Powering three high-torque servos, sensors, and microcontrollers with jumper wires wasn’t working: the system wanted a secure, high-current setup. Their repair was to exchange all jumpers with XT60 connectors for max reliability.
“We additionally had hassle stabilizing elbow motion,” Arnaldi provides. “We solved it by redesigning the joint and including a second help with a bearing. That small change made all the pieces extra environment friendly.”
Funding was one other hurdle. Between components and prototypes, prices reached 1,000 euro – fairly a problem for a bunch of excessive schoolers. Due to help from their faculty, a crowdfunding marketing campaign, and their very own financial savings, they made it occur.
Studying by doing (and rebuilding)
This was greater than a college challenge. For Arnaldi, Vallicelli, and Colombo it was a full studying expertise. From 3D modeling and circuit design to AI coaching and workforce collaboration, they gained hands-on expertise that may’t be taught by textbooks alone.
RedSnapper’s energy lies in its modularity and ambition: it’s a tool designed for actual use, but developed by youngsters. That’s one thing value celebrating.
Comply with their journey – and share yours too!
Need to know extra about PAC Tech and RedSnapper? Go to their web site at pactech.mystrikingly.com and comply with them on Instagram at @pac_tech_.
And if you happen to’re constructing one thing thrilling with Arduino – whether or not it’s a robotic arm or your very first challenge – we’d like to see it! Share your work with the neighborhood on Mission Hub and assist encourage the following wave of makers.
