MangDang in Hong Kong announced the Mini Pupper 2 robotic dog. This second-generation machine, addressed to developers, is equipped with a platform that allows for additional lidar or 3D cameras to be installed. It also has a carrying capacity of 150 to 200 grams.
The Mini Pupper 2 robot dog runs on the Raspberry Pi 4B or Pi Compute Module 4. It supports Ubuntu and ROS1 systems and has been promised ROS2 compatibility. The robot’s LCD display has been installed in front of it. This LCD display, unlike the previous version, is touch-sensitive. A microphone and speaker are also available. You can control the robot using a mobile app.
Robots are able to maneuver with relative ease thanks to limbs that have 12 degrees freedom. Each leg has a microcontroller which controls three servos. The Mini Pupper 2 Pro edition offers speed, torque and position feedback. In the basic version, only position is available. The battery is 1000 mAh and there is an option to connect an external power source.
Mini Pupper 2 has launched a Kickstarter campaign. The Kickstarter campaign offers a $299 upgrade kit to the first generation robot. An entirely new machine will cost between $429 and $649 depending on the package. The robots will be delivered in February 2023.