MechDog AI Robot Dog features ESP32-S3 controller, supports Scratch, Python, and Arduino programming

Hiwonder’s MechDog is a compact AI robot dog powered by an ESP32-S3 controller that drives eight high-speed coreless servos. It features built-in inverse kinematics for precise and agile movements and has ports for various I2C sensors such as ultrasonic and IMU sensors. The robot is equipped with a durable aluminum alloy frame and a removable 7.4V 1,500mAh lithium battery for power.

MechDog integrates with the ESP32-S3 AI vision module, supporting dual-mode network communication either AP Hotspot Direct Connection Mode or STA LAN Mode so that users can access a designated URL webpage via an app or PC for real-time monitoring using a high-definition camera. Also, this robot dog supports various sensor modules, including a touch sensor, light sensor, dot matrix display, and programmable MP3 module, allowing for secondary development and expansion, offering extensive creative possibilities.

Previously, we wrote about the Waveshare UGV AI Rover, which features a 2mm thick aluminum body, six 80mm shock-absorbing tires, and a four-wheel drive system controlled by an ESP32 sub-controller. It uses Raspberry Pi 4B or Raspberry Pi 5 as a primary controller. We also reviewed SunFounder PiCar-X 2.0, an AI-powered self-driving robot car using the Raspberry Pi 3/4 as the main processing board. Other AI-enhanced robot dogs include Petoi Bittle, CM4 XGO Lite, XGO 2, and others. Feel free to check them out if you are interested in these products.

MechDog Hiwonder AI robot dog specification

Controller – ESP32 High-Performance robot controller board
- SoC – ESP32-S3 dual-mode SoC chip
- Build in IMU sensors (3-axis accelerometer/3-axis gyroscope) for real-time posture tracking
- Interface
  - 1x GPIO Interfaces
  - 4-channel I2C Interfaces
  - 10-channel PWM servo Interfaces
- Buzzer and customizable button
- Power ON/OFF switch
Degree of Freedom – 8DOF Structure
Servo – Hiwonder HPS-0618SG Coreless Digital Servo
- Rotation speed – ≤0.06sec / 60° 8.4V
- Stalled rotor torque – 8KG.cm 8.4V
- PWM pulse width range – 500~2500us, corresponding to 0~180°
- Rotation range – 0~180°
- Communication method – PWM pulse width control
- Gear type – stainless steel gear
- Line length – 180mm
- Working voltage – 6V-8.4V
Sensor – Glowy Ultrasonic I2C (0x77) sensor with a 2 to 400cm range
Expansion
- ESP32-S3 AI Vision Module
  - ESP32-S3 chip with Internal 512KB RAM and External 16MB PSRAM
  - Flash memory – 16MB SPI Flash
  - Camera – 2-megapixel (320×240) camera with 123° field of view
  - Connectivity – 802.11 b/g/n Wifi 4 and Bluetooth 5, Bluetooth Mesh
  - Port – UART, I2C
  - Power supply – 4.75V – 5.25V
- MP3 Module (I2C) for MP3, WAV, WMA format audio
- 8×16 Dot Matrix Module with 8 levels of brightness
- Touch sensor to light up the LED when touch is detected
- Light sensor – includes QT523C photodiode and LM358 chip voltage comparator
Battery – Removable 7.4V 1500mAh 5C lithium battery
Power – 8.4V / 2A charger
Dimension – 214 x 138 x 126mm (when it is powered on) and 214 x 96 x 126mm (when it is power off)
Weight – About 560 grams

Hardware and expansions Gears — Hardware and expansions

MechDog open-source robot dog supports Arduino, Scratch, and Python programming, allowing versatile project development. You can attach various sensors to enhance its perception and AI capabilities. The visual PC action editing software lets you set end coordinates for each leg, while the app offers 16 preset actions for easy control. Arduino, Scratch, and Python programming provide flexible and accessible development options.

The company provides essential tutorial videos on getting-started guides, app control, and programming. You can also find all specifications, schematics, PC software, mobile apps, demo programs, firmware flashing tools, and firmware on the Hiwonder download page that points to a Google Drive share…

The MechDog Hiwonder AI Robot Dog kit is available in two packages in all stores. The standard kit is priced at $299.99 on Amazon and $428.66 on AliExpress with shipping charges, and you’ll also find the advanced kit adding optional sensor modules on the same pages for respectively $399.99 on Amazon and $556.17 on AliExpress.

Sayantan Nandy

Sayantan Nandy, an electronics engineer with over four years of hands-on experience in PCB design, circuit development and power electronics, is proficient in EAGLE CAD, Ki-Cad, and Altium. He has a proven track record of delivering efficient and effective systems. His expertise extends from R&D, and prototyping to production support, making him a valuable asset to any engineering team.