Robots have always seemed to be a thing of the future, but with the days of affordable computing power upon us, building your own robot is more achievable than ever – and we’ve found one. The creation of BB1, a robot powered by a Raspberry Pi, designed by Reddit user TheRealFanger, has caught our eye and many others online.

BB1’s development is documented on the subreddit r/BB1_Robot, attracting robot enthusiasts of all experience levels. TheRealFanger has shared videos and updates on BB1’s progress, including the development of its arms and its impressive dancing abilities.

Successful field test for this Raspberry Pi robot

One recent update detailed the addition of new arms to BB1 as a successful “first field test with added weight”. The creator even added weight to the robot to simulate future attachments, such as grippers or manipulators. BB1 uses ultrasonic and ToF (Time of Flight) sensors to navigate its surroundings, which will be crucial for future tasks. TheRealFanger’s vision for BB1 extends beyond impressive dance moves. In the future, BB1 is expected to launch BBs (presumably for target practice or pest control) and even carry groceries, making it a potentially versatile household helper.

We’ve seen a number of Raspberry Pi projects as of late, such as an iPod turned into a Game Boy, but BB1 looks to be one of the most ambitious projects we’ve seen so far to feature the humble RasPi.

There’s a lot of work yet to be done for BB1

While the project seems promising, the current iteration of BB1 faces some challenges. The tread motors are currently underpowered, limiting the robot’s mobility. However, with continued development and the supportive community at r/BB1_Robot, we don’t think this will be the last we see of this Raspberry Pi-powered robot.

Raspberry Pi fans have plenty to be excited about with BB1. This robot is powered by a Raspberry Pi, showcasing the tiny computer’s potential for big and complex projects. The creator’s open approach on Reddit allows others to learn and be inspired too. For those interested, it utilizes a mixture of Python and C programming, with Python scripts on a Raspberry Pi proving useful for more complex behavior and high-level control.

About the Author

Tom Valentine

Tom is a tech writer with a detailed view on ensuring the best buying advice, most useful information, and latest news makes its way into PC Guide's articles.