Hiwonder PuppyPi ROS AI Quadruped Robot Dog with Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Standard Kit

Specifications:

• Robot Type: Bionic ROS AI Quadruped Robot Dog
• Main Controller: Raspberry Pi 4B (4GB RAM Included)
• Actuators: 8× HPS-0618SG Coreless Metal Gear Servos
• Operating Voltage: 7.4V DC (2S LiPo Power System)
• Camera Module: Wide-Angle HD Vision Camera Module
• Kinematics Engine: Trot / Walk Gait Inverse Kinematics (IK)
• Body Material: Anodized Aluminum Alloy & Hardened Acrylic
• Communication: Dual-Band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Serial UART
• Sensor Suite: 6-Axis IMU Sensor (Accelerometer + Gyroscope)
• Primary Applications: OpenCV Target Tracking, Autonomous Line Following, Self-Balancing, SLAM
• Included Battery: 7.4V 2200mAh High-Rate LiPo Battery
• Included Charger: 2S LiPo Balance Charger
• Physical Dimensions: 226mm × 149mm × 190mm
• Product Weight: 720g
• Supported OS / Frameworks: Ubuntu Linux, ROS / ROS2, Python 3, OpenCV

Unlock New Capabilities

• Past Projects If you've already experimented with standard 4WD or mecanum wheel robot chassis, or built simple bipedal walking robots using basic servo sequencers, you understand the fundamentals of robotics which means you're ready to step into the complex world of bionic inverse kinematics.
• Feature Upgrade This PuppyPi standard kit unlocks true bionic quadruped movement. Instead of simply spinning wheels, you will be implementing dynamic trot, walk, and climb gaits using inverse kinematics algorithms. Combined with the included HD camera and Raspberry Pi 4B, this platform enables advanced OpenCV target tracking, autonomous line following, and AI-driven obstacle avoidance.
• Effort Level & Minimum Hardware Effort Level: Advanced

Included in the Box:

• 1× PuppyPi Assembled Aluminum Robot Frame
• 8× HPS-0618SG Coreless Metal Gear Servos (Pre-installed)
• 1× Raspberry Pi 4B (4GB RAM)
• 1× PuppyPi Expansion / Motor Driver Board
• 1× Wide-Angle HD Camera Module
• 1× 7.4V 2200mAh LiPo Battery
• 1× 2S LiPo Balance Charger
• 1× Hardware & Assembly Tool Kit

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is the PuppyPi compatible with ROS2?
  Yes, you can run ROS2 (Humble or Foxy) on the included Raspberry Pi 4B to control the quadruped.
• Can I upgrade the included Raspberry Pi to a newer model?
  Yes, the expansion board connects via the standard 40-pin GPIO header, making it compatible with the Raspberry Pi 5.
• Does the standard kit support Lidar mapping?
  While this standard kit does not include a Lidar, the expansion board and ROS packages fully support adding a Lidar like the RPLIDAR A1 later.
• Can I use an NVIDIA Jetson instead of a Raspberry Pi?
  The mechanical chassis can hold a Jetson Nano, but you would need to adapt the Hiwonder software packages and wiring to match the Jetson's architecture.
• What voltage does the PuppyPi operate on?
  The robot's servos and expansion board are designed for a 7.4V input from a 2S LiPo battery.
• How long does the battery last during walking?
  A fully charged 2200mAh 2S LiPo typically provides 20 to 30 minutes of continuous walking, depending on the terrain and payload.
• Can I charge the battery while it is plugged into the robot?
  No, you must disconnect the 7.4V LiPo and plug it into the included 2S balance charger for safe charging.
• How are the 8 leg servos connected to the Raspberry Pi?
  The servos plug into the PuppyPi Expansion Board, which communicates with the Raspberry Pi via I2C over the GPIO header.
• Do I need to calibrate the servos before assembly?
  Yes, the servos must be driven to their neutral (home) position using the calibration tool before attaching the leg linkages.
• Where does the HD camera connect?
  The camera module connects directly to one of the USB 2.0 or 3.0 ports on the Raspberry Pi 4B.
• What programming languages are supported?
  The PuppyPi can be programmed in Python 3 for high-level tasks and C++ within the ROS environment.
• Is the inverse kinematics engine open-source?
  Yes, Hiwonder provides the inverse kinematics Python scripts, allowing you to study and modify the gait planning.
• Are the OpenCV vision algorithms included?
  Yes, the provided OS image includes pre-configured Python nodes for color tracking, face detection, and line following.
• Why is one of the robot's legs twitching uncontrollably?
  This usually indicates a low battery voltage; recharge the 2S LiPo immediately to prevent brownouts.
• Why does the robot fall over when trying to walk?
  If the robot falls, it is likely that the servo horns were not aligned to the exact angles specified in the manual during assembly.
• Why can't I access the camera feed in OpenCV?
  Ensure that the USB camera is securely plugged in and that you have granted video permissions to your Linux user.
• Why is the Raspberry Pi not connecting to Wi-Fi?
  Check that you have configured the wpa_supplicant.conf file correctly or use an Ethernet cable for the initial headless setup.