Maker Shashwat Batish has launched 3D print information and directions for constructing ALANA, a full-scale humanoid robotic — albeit one missing legs and a head — which ties right into a locally-run massive language mannequin (LLM) chatbot system for pure dialog, and prices as little as $70 in elements to place collectively.
“ALANA is a completely 3D-printed, general-purpose, life-size humanoid robotic. Your entire construct price me simply round $70,” Batish explains of the challenge. “That features every little thing: 3D printing supplies, electronics, and energy provide. Her arms aren’t only for present — they’re powered by customized servo motors able to lifting as much as 500 grams [around 1.1lbs] at full extension. Not dangerous for a robotic that prices lower than the common cellphone charger.”
The skeletal ALANA incorporates a pair of human-like arms able to object manipulation beneath autonomous management, aided by a digicam system that permits for each facial and object recognition. Every arm boasts a customized mechanical design with six levels of freedom — but every little thing’s beneath the management of a low-cost Espressif ESP8266 microcontroller, serving to to carry the construct prices down as little as potential.
An Espressif ESP8266 does not make for a lot of a conversationalist, although, so the heavy computational lifting is farmed out to an exterior pc over a Wi-Fi hyperlink. This, Batish explains, runs a neighborhood copy of the Qroq Llama 3-based massive language mannequin (LLM) for pure dialog, fed by way of a speech synthesis engine, plus one other mannequin for spatial consciousness.
The {hardware} for the challenge prices simply $70 — not together with a robust sufficient PC to run the backend. (📷: Shashwat Batish)
“ALANA makes use of 10rpm Johnson-geared motor[s] as it may well present a torque of 20kgcm and has a stall torque of 120kgcm whereas consuming 15W of energy,” Batish explains of the elements that go into the design, in addition to how the general price was stored down. “[There is also] use of low cost structural materials like PVC pipes.”
The challenge is documented in full, with 3D print information and microcontroller firmware supply code and Python scripts for working the backend system, on Instructables.
