18 DOF Hexapod Robot with MG996R Servo and controller DIY Unassembled Kit

Specifications:

• Frame Material: Aluminum Alloy (Black Oxidation Finish)
• Color: Black
• Degrees of Freedom (DOF): 18 total (3 DOF per leg)
• Servo Motors Included: 18 × MG996R High Torque Metal Gear Servos
• Operating Voltage (Servos): 4.8V – 7.2V DC
• Stall Torque: 180 Degree 
• Dimensions: 400mm (Height) × 230mm (Width)
• Compatible Controllers: Arduino, Raspberry Pi, ESP32, standard multi-channel servo controllers

Applications:

• This kit is great for DIY Learning, Academic Research, Hobby Projects and Robot Competitions

Features

• Humanoid Frame with Servo Motor
• High-Quality Aluminium Alloy Frame with Quality Finish
• 18 x High Torque Metal Gear Servo Motors - MG996R included for best performance

Unlock New Capabilities

• Past Projects (Prerequisites): If you've already experimented with basic servo movements, pan-tilt camera mounts, or built simple 2-wheel and 4-wheel robot cars, you understand the basics of motor control — which means you're perfectly ready to step up to multi-axis kinematics and legged robotics.
• Feature Upgrade (What This Unlocks): This 18 DOF Hexapod unlocks advanced legged locomotion, inverse kinematics programming, and biomimetic walking patterns. You will be able to build a robot that can climb over irregular obstacles, self-level on uneven terrain, and perform complex omnidirectional movements that are completely impossible with standard wheeled or tracked chassis.
• Effort Level & Minimum Hardware
• Effort Level: Advanced

Minimum hardware to get started:

• Main Logic Controller (Arduino Mega, ESP32, or Raspberry Pi):  to calculate complex inverse kinematics and send movement commands to the included servo controller board.
• High-Current Power Supply (e.g., 2S 7.4V LiPo Battery >30C): the 18 heavy-duty MG996R servos will draw massive current spikes (15+ Amps) under load; a standard wall adapter or AA battery pack will immediately fail or cause system brownouts.
• Voltage Step-Down Module (Buck Converter): to provide clean, isolated 5V power to your logic controller, preventing random resets when the servos draw heavy current.

Included in the Box:

• 1× Upper Shell & 1× Lower Shell (Aluminum)
• 6× Large Legs & 6× Small Legs
• 12× Multifunctional Brackets
• 18× MG996R High-Torque Metal Gear Servo Motors
• 18× 25T Metal Servo Horns
• 1× Servo Controller Board
• 6× Ball Bearings
• 1× Screw, nut, and spacer set

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is this hexapod kit compatible with an Arduino Mega?
  Yes, an Arduino Mega is an excellent choice as the primary logic controller to calculate the walking gaits and send commands to the included servo board.
• Can I use a Raspberry Pi to control this robot?
  Yes, a Raspberry Pi can be used to run advanced inverse kinematics or ROS (Robot Operating System) and send movement commands to the servo controller via I2C or UART.
• Will this frame fit standard SG90 micro servos instead of MG996R?
  No, the aluminum brackets in this kit are specifically machined to fit standard-size servos like the MG996R, MG995, or Futaba S3003; micro servos will not fit.
• Can I add a LIDAR sensor to this hexapod chassis?
  Yes, the flat upper aluminum shell provides ample mounting space for adding a LIDAR, camera, or ultrasonic sensors for autonomous navigation.
• What voltage battery is required to run the 18 MG996R servos?
  The servos operate best between 4.8V and 7.2V; a high-discharge 2S (7.4V) LiPo battery paired with a high-current step-down converter (set to 6.0V) is highly recommended.
• Can I power the servo controller board directly from my Arduino's 5V pin?
  Absolutely not; drawing power for 18 heavy-duty servos through an Arduino will instantly destroy the microcontroller's onboard voltage regulator.
• How much peak current will this hexapod draw when walking?
  Under heavy load or when standing up, 18 MG996R servos can easily draw cumulative current spikes exceeding 15 to 20 Amps.
• How do I connect the included servo controller to my main microcontroller?
  You typically connect the TX/RX (Serial) or SDA/SCL (I2C) pins of the servo controller to the corresponding pins on your Arduino or Raspberry Pi.
• Do the MG996R servos plug directly into the included controller board?
  Yes, the servo controller board features standard 3-pin headers (Signal, VCC, GND) that the servo cables plug directly into.
• Why is a common ground connection necessary between my logic board and motor controller?
  A shared ground reference is required for the logic board (Arduino) and the servo controller to communicate cleanly without signal corruption.
• Which Arduino library is best for controlling 18 servos simultaneously?
  If using an I2C PWM driver board, the Adafruit PWM Servo Driver library is standard; otherwise, you will communicate via standard Serial commands depending on the specific controller board included.
• Where can I find inverse kinematics walking code for an 18 DOF hexapod?
  There are many open-source Arduino and Python hexapod projects available on GitHub that provide the complex trig-based math for different walking gaits.
• Do I need to program each of the 18 servos individually?
  While you can command each servo independently, most hexapod code uses an inverse kinematics engine to calculate the joint angles for you based on a desired foot position.
• Why is my hexapod randomly collapsing or resetting during movement?
  This is almost always caused by a battery that cannot supply enough current, causing a voltage drop (brownout) that resets the servo controller or logic board.
• Why are the MG996R servos getting very hot when the robot is standing still?
  If the servos are fighting each other or holding a heavy load without mechanical relief, they draw stall current and heat up; adjust your standing code to relax non-critical joints.
• What should I do if my servo gears are stripping or skipping?
  Ensure the physical joints are not binding, verify that your code is not commanding the servos past their mechanical limits, and check that the metal servo horns are securely fastened.