StackChan is an open-source AI desktop robot based on the M5Stack CoreS3 ESP32-S3 IoT controller that works as an AI Voice Assistant and can notably be used for Smart Home & IoT control.
It features a 2-inch touchscreen display, a VGA camera, a dual microphone array and a 1W speaker for voice interaction, a few sensors, an infrared receiver, an infrared transmitter/blaster, two servos for horizontal and vertical movement, and a few buttons and LEDs.
StackChan specifications:
- Core module – M5Stack CoreS3 IoT controller
- Wireless MCU – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3FN16R8
- CPU – Dual-core 32-bit Xtensa LX7 microcontroller with AI vector instructions up to 240MHz, RISC-V ULP co-processor
- Memory – 512KB SRAM, 8MB PSRAM
- Storage – 16MB flash,
- Wirleess – 2.4GHz WiFi 4 (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 5.0 BLE + Mesh
- Antenna – Internal 3D antenna
- Storage – MicroSD card slot
- Display – 2-inch IPS display with 320×240 resolution, 65,536 colors via ILI9342C driver, capacitive multi-touch
- Camera – 0.3MP VGA (640×480) camera using GC0308 CMOS sensor
- Audio
- 1W speaker connected to AW88298 I2S power amplifier chip
- Dual microphones connected to an ES7210 audio decoding chip
- USB – 1x USB Type-C port for power and programming
- Sensors
- LTR-553ALS-WA proximity sensor
- BMI270 6-axis gyroscope and accelerometer
- BMM150 magnetometer
- Misc
- Power and Reboot buttons
- Power switch
- BM8563 RTC
- Wireless MCU – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3FN16R8
- Wireless
- Via ESP32-S3 – 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4 IEEE 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 5.0 LE
- Infrared Tx/Rx
- Full-function NFC ST25R3916 chip
- Motors
- 360° horizontal servo with feedback
- 90° vertical servo with feedback
- Expansion – 3x Grove connectors with GPIO, UART, I2C
- Misc
- 2×6 RGB LED array
- Power & Reset Buttons
- 3-area touchpad
- Power Indicator
- LEGO compatible holes
- Power
- 5V via USB-C port
- 700 mAh Battery
- Dimensions – 70 x 62 x 54 mm
- Weight – 156 grams
The StackChan can be used as a smart speaker, an indoor WiFi security camera with pan and tilt, and more. The LEGO-compatible holes make it suitable as the brain of robotics projects as well. The company says the robot is 100% open-source with access to all code, models, and firmware. The default firmware is written in JavaScript/TypeScript, but the robot also supports Arduino and MicroPython. You’ll find repositories for the default firmware, KiCad hardware design files, an Arduino library, and more on the stack-chan account on GitHub.
The robot can be controlled by the “Stack-chan CONNECT” / “StackChan World” mobile app available for Android and iOS, and the code can also be found on GitHub in the stack-chan/web folder.
It’s not common to get resources from an open-source project before a crowdfunding campaign is live, and you’ll notice some commits are rather old. That’s because the project is community-driven and has been a few years in the making:
StackChan began as Shinya Ishikawa’s open-source project, created to stay alive through community support. Makers joined in—Takao popularized the DIY kits, and Robo8080 added AI—turning it into a global community. Now, M5Stack launches the first, ready-to-play, endlessly hackable StackChan—kept alive by the community.
M5Stack has just launched the StackChan AI desktop robot on Kickstarter with a $10,001 funding goal. Rewards start at $59 for early backers, shipping adds about $10 to $49 depending on the destination country, and deliveries are scheduled to start in April 2026.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
Support CNX Software! Donate via cryptocurrencies, become a Patron on Patreon, or purchase goods on Amazon or Aliexpress. We also use affiliate links in articles to earn commissions if you make a purchase after clicking on those links.
