Axon: Ambitious Open-Source Humanoid AI Robot Project Hits GitHub

TL;DR: Axon is a new open-source humanoid robot project built by two teenage developers and now available on GitHub. Featuring articulated arms, wheeled movement, RGB LED eyes, and AI voice control via a local LLM, Axon is an ambitious prototype still in progress. Built using 3D-printed parts and controlled by a Raspberry Pi and multiple ESP32s, the design is modular but complex. While not beginner-friendly, the project invites community contributions — a promising step for open-source robotics, especially from such young creators.

Axon Emerges: An Ambitious Open-Source Humanoid Robot Project Lands on GitHub

A new open-source humanoid robot project named Axon has been published on GitHub, offering a glimpse into an ambitious build undertaken by two young developers. The project, described as a "working prototype," showcases a robot capable of arm and head movement, wheeled locomotion, and AI-driven interaction, though its creators candidly acknowledge it requires further refinement.

Core Capabilities and AI Integration

Axon integrates several modern robotics elements. It features AI-powered speech recognition for voice control and utilizes a local large language model (LLM), suggesting compatibility with models like Llama 3.1 via Ollama, to handle conversational queries. This is supplemented by a user-configurable knowledge_base.json file, allowing specific questions to trigger predefined actions via UART commands sent to microcontroller units.

The robot's physical interactions include articulated arms, a moving head, and a base equipped with Nema 17 stepper motors for driving. Visual feedback is provided through controllable RGB LED "eyes" and a 10.1-inch touchscreen display. Control is multifaceted, accessible via voice commands, a web-based control panel running on a Raspberry Pi, or potentially direct scripting.

Hardware and Design: Open Source, Work-in-Progress

The developers, who state they began the project in May 2024 at ages 16 and 17 with no prior CAD experience, have made the design files available. CAD models are accessible on Onshape, with STL files on Printables. The project leans heavily on 3D printing, requiring a large format printer (420x420mm build plate suggested, like the Neptune 4 Max used by the creators) for some components, although they note splitting parts might be possible for smaller printers. A structural aluminum profile forms the robot's spine.

Interestingly, the design incorporates magnetic "armor" panels for easier customization and access. The hands utilize a modified version of an existing open-source robotic prosthetic hand design.

Control is distributed: a Raspberry Pi (RPi 4 or newer recommended) handles higher-level tasks, including running the web interface and communicating with the AI server (which needs to run on a separate PC or server capable of handling the LLM). The RPi sends commands to four ESP32 microcontrollers, each managing different subsystems: head/LEDs, driving motors, arm servos, and arm geared motors. The developers note that the arm motor control, using geared motors with encoders, is currently "experimental" due to reliability issues, relying instead on timers and limit switches. They suggest redesigning this aspect, possibly using servos, could improve replicability.

The parts list is extensive, including various motors (stepper, servo, geared), sensors (camera, ultrasonic), power components (Li-ion battery, BMS, multiple voltage converters), and structural elements.

Challenges and Community Involvement

Axon is explicitly labeled as "not beginner friendly," requiring knowledge of 3D printing, CAD (preferably Onshape), and electronics. The creators highlight that the current iteration needs improvements in assembly ease, reliability, and user-friendliness. Documentation is currently marked as "Coming Soon™".

Despite its prototype status and acknowledged challenges, the project invites community contribution. The developers welcome forks, pull requests for code improvements, and suggestions for refining the 3D models.

Axon represents a significant undertaking, particularly given the developers' starting point. While currently a complex project requiring substantial technical skill to replicate and refine, its open-source nature provides a foundation for potential community-driven development.

A Promising Start

While still early in its development, Axon is an impressive achievement — especially considering it was created by two teenagers with no prior CAD experience. Their willingness to share their work openly, invite collaboration, and iterate in public reflects the best of the maker and open-source spirit. With time, support, and community involvement, Axon could evolve into a standout example of grassroots innovation in humanoid robotics. Keep an eye on this one —it’s just getting started.

This is the projects repository on Github.