SpotMicro (also called SpotMicroAI) is a 3D-printed, open-source quadruped robot inspired by Boston Dynamics’ Spot Mini robot. It combines 12–18 servo motors, a lightweight mechanical structure, and AI-capable microcontrollers to achieve realistic dog-like walking, trotting, and turning.

It is one of the most advanced hobby-level quadruped robots that can be built affordably using 3D-printed parts and off-the-shelf components.

Key Features

1. 3D-Printed Quadruped with 12–18 DOF

Typical configuration:

1. 3 DOF per leg (hip roll, hip pitch, knee) → 12 DOF
2. Optional head/tail servos → up to 18 DOF

Gives:

1. Stable walking
2. Trotting
3. Side stepping
4. Turning in place
5. Smooth coordinated motion

2. High-Torque Servo System

Uses:

1. LewanSoul LX-16A smart servos (most popular)
2. OR DS3218 / MG996R hobby servos (budget build)

Servos allow:

1. Accurate angle positioning
2. High torque for leg lift
3. Smooth gait cycle control

3. Powerful Control Electronics

The SpotMicro dog robot typically includes:

1. Raspberry Pi → high level control + AI
2. Arduino / STM32 → low-level servo control
3. PCA9685 servo driver (for hobby servos)
4. IMU (MPU6050 / BNO055) → balance data
5. Optional:
6. ESP32 for Wi-Fi streaming
7. Raspberry Pi camera
8. LiDAR / depth camera

4. Gait Engine & Inverse Kinematics

This is the heart of SpotMicro.

Includes:

1. Inverse Kinematics (IK) model → calculates leg joint angles
2. Gait sequencing engine → walk, trot, crawl, rotate
3. Pose controller → adjusts stance
4. IMU feedback loop → improves stability
5. Step interpolation → smooth foot trajectory

These systems allow the robot to behave like a real robotic dog.

5. Onboard Computer Vision (Optional)

Using Raspberry Pi + AI:

1. Dog can follow a human
2. Detect obstacles
3. Avoid collisions
4. Perform object tracking
5. Stream FPV camera video

6. Applications

SpotMicro is used for:

1. Robotics research
2. Gait analysis
3. AI + machine vision projects
4. ROS (Robot Operating System) training
5. University projects
6. DIY robotics enthusiasts
7. Boston Dynamics-style quadruped study