An open-source hardware and software company, Arduino is famous for making microcontroller project boards – tiny computers that live on a single integrated circuit. These come with an integrated development environment (IDE) for writing and flashing code to the hardware.
While there are many rival microcontroller boards available today, Arduino was the first to make big waves. Their boards were brought to market in 2005 by Italy’s Interaction Design Institute. Given their low cost and many uses, they were an immediate hit, becoming a staple for engineering students and hobbyists alike.
Since 2005, the microcontroller industry has exploded, yielding thousands of boards with thousands of performance profiles. Many of the projects highlighted in this piece rely on Arduino’s Mega 2560 (and clones), a workhorse board beloved for its all-purpose capabilities and whopping 54 digital pins, 16 analog inputs, and 4 serial ports.
But application-specific boards are also highly recommended. For instance, the tiny Teensy when size matters, or the MKR GSM 1400 when cellular connectivity is needed. Some hobbyists prefer non-open-source boards, such as those offered by Particle or Texas Instruments. These companies, not tying their hardware to the Arduino IDE, have much to offer those with more demanding project requirements.
The variety of boards has gone a long way toward facilitating an explosion of robotics projects. In this article, we highlight 15 such projects, all relying on Arduino microcontrollers. Note that we’re defining a robot as anything that relies on an Arduino, at least one actuator, and parts that move for the purpose of interacting or performing a task. Let’s get started!
Interactive
These first interactive robots are built primarily for the task of learning and tinkering. Whether you want to get familiar with coding, try out robotic sensors, or just embark on a new challenge, one of these robot projects will be a great place to start.
Otto Ninja
Otto Ninja is a great Arduino project for getting kids engaged in robotics! The build is simple with the easy to follow instructions and programming that can be done using Scratch. Unlike the other versions of the Otto bot, this Humanoid Ninja includes arms, wheels, and even a Ninja sword! Dance, fight, or simply explore with this spunky Ninja.
Usually, when you imagine building a robot, you may think of a lot of wires, parts, and late-night tinkering, but that’s not the case with this project. This open-source project has a massive community behind it, plus its own user-friendly software.
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Designer: OttoDIY
- Project page: Printables
- Key components: Arduino Nano, 3D printed parts, Nano I/O expansion shield, servos, ultrasonic sensor
SMARS
This is a popular robot project because of its simple design and accompanying educational content. No screws, glue, or soldering is needed to assemble this robotic pal! Its modular design makes it easy to experiment with the use of different sensors.
For assembly, try printing the track in TPU for extra grip and using a filament strand to join the pieces together. You also have the option to use lithium or AAA batteries. Clearly, this project can be simplified for the newest makers, but there are also several advanced mods posted by the creator to increase functionality. You can find free courses and further information on the project’s official page.
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Designer: tristomietioredeituit
- Project page: Thingiverse
- Key components: Arduino Uno, 3D printed parts, motors, motor shield, ultrasonic sensor, infrared sensor
Baby Wall-E
With this project, you can create your own miniature version of the world-saving Wall-E robot. Even though it’s very small, it has a lot of movable pieces that help to reproduce the characteristic expressions and sounds with great charm.
You will need some patience and many hours to print and assemble everything, but the effort will be worth it. Fun details like being able to open and close his compactor lid remotely make this quite a unique build. Check out the video of its construction by ProfessorBoots if you’re not convinced!
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Designer: ProfBoots
- Project page: Thingiverse, GitHub
- Key components: Arduino Nano, Bluetooth chip, servos, motors, speaker
Biped Robot
The most robotic robot imaginable, this biped walks and runs. It has remarkable capabilities given the comparatively short and low-cost bill of materials. You’ll need a 3D printer, servos, and a full day to build this biped, but the result should make it all worthwhile.
Plus, along the way, you’ll be learning biomechanics, kinematics, and mechatronics. The Technovation duo has kindly provided superb, step-by-step instructions. Future plans of the designer include fall detection, dynamic locomotion on uneven terrain, and a distance measurement sensor for obstacle avoidance, so keep an eye out for new releases!
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Designer: Technovation
- Project page: Instructables
- Key components: Arduino Uno, MG995 servos, perfboard, skateboard bearings
Micro Quadruped
This small, dog-like robot can walk, run, turn, lie, and more. The project is an excellent point of entry for those looking to improve their command of robot kinematics. The designer’s intention was to create a light, cheap, and agile robot compared to other projects out there. Additional mounting points have also been left on the upper body panel to accommodate future enhancements such as cameras or distance sensors.
Many makers have used it as a basis for modified or souped-up versions. Superb step-by-step instructions will be of use whether you’re building the original or a variation on it.
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Designer: Technovation
- Project page: Instructables
- Key components: Arduino Uno, Arduino sensor shield, servo motors
Hexapod Ant
Ants are a perfect representation of the old adage, “small but mighty”. This robotic tribute to the impressive creatures includes an abdomen, head, antennae, jaws, and even real working eyes. The designer also built his own control application for Android devices, so it’s easy to have fun with the various ant behaviors, including an attack option (closing the pinchers).
In addition to remote control movements, this ant can respond to movement detected with its ultrasonic sensors. Getting too close to the robot may make it unhappy, so retreat when noticed for an amicable escape, but if you continue to pose a threat, you will be bitten. It will take 22 servo motors and other parts to get this ant working, but at the end of the day, you will have a unique robot and a lot of fun.
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Designer: Dejan
- Project page: HowToMechatronics
- Key components: Arduino Mega, 3D printed parts, Bluetooth module
Snake Robot
Robots with facial expressions, arms, legs, wheels, or treads are everywhere, imitating humans and other animals. But what about animals that don’t have legs? This next robotic project takes inspiration from snakes, although it’s certainly not as intimidating as the real thing. Of course, you will need 12 servo motors and a lot of patience to put everything together.
This “Lake Erie Mamba” snake crawls with various types of coordinated movements just like other snakes in nature – slithering like a worm, by lateral movements, and even rolling. You can control the movement with a key fob transmitter or leave it in autonomous mode.
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Designer: joesinstructables
- Project page: Instructables
- Key components: Arduino Mega, IR distance sensor, key fob transmitter, servos, brackets
Self-Balancing Robot
Leave the tricky math and time-consuming trial and error to the creator. This robot not only self-balances but moves, turns, and avoids obstacles. An MPU6050 gyroscope module is used to balance and an ultrasonic sensor helps avoid obstacles.
Building this project will allow you to achieve the holy grail of many a tinkerer but without months of heartache. Be forewarned, though: Substantial troubleshooting is still required to achieve reliable performance.
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Designer: midhun_s
- Project page: Instructables
- Key components: Arduino Pro Mini, GY-521 module, DRV8833 Pololu motor driver
Mind-Controlled Drone
This code-heavy project allows you to make a drone take off and land using your mind alone. While there’s not enough functionality to navigate the drone mentally once it’s taken off, the feat of mind-controlled liftoff and landing is enough to make this a remarkable accomplishment.
It is important to point out that due to some instability, you run the risk of crashing your drone, so keep that in mind while selecting your test vehicle.
As the whole project is an adaptation, you can use other Arduino boards instead of the MKR1000, but the designer warns from experience that this could end up burning the controller circuit without due care.
Task-Performing
The robots in this category are built to serve. Give one of these projects a try if you need an extra hand or just some extra coffee.
Print-in-Place Gripper
A string actuates this starfish-like gripper robot. It features a print-in-place design, enabling quick construction with a minimum of parts. While its motion is limited to a binary resting/extended and actuated/contracted state, it’s an accomplishment in itself to get mechanical behavior from a single piece of 3D printed plastic.
While the project page doesn’t specify an Arduino model, any Arduino that can power a servo should suffice. A flexible filament should be used to print the model to minimize resistance.
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Designer: XYZAiden
- Project page: Instructables
- Key components: Arduino Uno, 3D printed parts, high-torque servo
Sequino Clock
The designer of this next bot wanted a watch capable of continuously writing and rewriting the time for extended periods of time and was inspired by his daughter’s T-shirt. This robot’s arm traces the time on sequined fabric, which turns a different color when stroked.
The project is well-designed and stands apart for its high build quality. The robotic arm kinematics are hard to tune, but the result is well worth the added effort. It’s important to look for a fabric that can offer a good resolution. The one used in this project has 5 mm circles sewn 3 mm apart.
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Designer: ekaggrat singh kalsi
- Project page: Hackaday
- Key components: Arduino Nano, Nano CNC shield, Hall sensor, servos
Drawing Robot
This industrial-style robot allows you to plot an image with a writing implement of your choice. The hardware functions precisely, tracing high-resolution images at 80 steps/mm. On top of that, the plotter is fast and scaleable. The designer has iteratively improved the design and also released a detailed set of instructions.
You won’t need to spend a lot of money to assemble one of these. A wooden board can be used as a base, simple aluminum profiles for the structure, and a common servo to drive the pencil. The size of this model allows drawing on an A2-sized sheet.
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Designer: lingib
- Project page: Instructables
- Key components: Arduino Uno, GT2 belt power transmission, servos, stepper motor driver board
Pet-Monitoring Robot
Brought to you by the same team as the Biped Robot, this device can move about your house, allowing you to track your pet via smartphone and even offer treats.
Thanks to an internet-connected board, you can connect to the robot via an app from anywhere in the world. The robot is responsive enough to maneuver in accordance with your commands in real-time. Unlike other pet monitoring solutions, you don’t need one unit for every room in the house.
The designer made some parts with laser cutting and others with 3D printing using 20% infill for strength.
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Designer: Technovation
- Project page: Instructables
- Key components: Arduino Uno, 3D printed parts, stepper motor driver, ultrasonic distance sensor
Rori
This may be the most complex project on this list, but also the most fun and useful. Not only can this robot interact with you, but it can also make you a delicious cappuccino. Inspired by the robot in the Indonesian series, Joe & Robot Kopi, this robot build will make for a fun challenge. The designer is open to answering questions and feedback on the Instructables page.
The initial design and construction of this friendly robot took approximately two weeks and included remote-controlled movement and an interactive display screen for you to select your coffee order. Even though he’s small in height at just 60 cm, he’s a great friend who can warm your heart with a fresh cup of coffee.
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Designer: eric dirgahayu
- Project page: Instructables
- Key components: Arduino, 3D printed parts, Ez-Board, servos, tablet, water pump
Interactive Assistant
Personal assistants are a great tool to streamline daily life. It’s quite convenient to be able to simply speak any question on your mind rather than typing out every line with a keyboard. However, their small form factor and simple design does not make for a memorable interaction.
This designer showcases some impressive creativity by repurposing outdated electronics to bring Alexa to life. You also may have an old CRT television collecting dust in your garage (or your grandparent’s garage) that is looking for a new life. Besides that, the other components used to complete this build are common parts, but that doesn’t mean this will be a simple build, so factor in a fair amount of tinkering time to get this one up and running.
To maintain eye contact with the user, a special Person sensor that possesses algorithms to detect nearby faces was used. Generally, robots don’t sleep, but this one will definitely take a nap when you’re not around.
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Designer: Thomas Burns
- Project page: Hackster
- Key components: Arduino Uno, Amazon Echo Dot, CRT monitor, 3D printed parts, micro servos, servo driver board
License: The text of "The 15 Best Arduino Robot Projects of 2023" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.