Open-Source AI Desktop Robot

January 19, 2026

Stack-chan is an open-source AI desktop robot currently funding on Kickstarter, developed by M5Stack in collaboration with the maker community. The project is designed as a fully customizable, 'kawaii' (cute) companion robot that features an animated face and can interact with its environment. Unlike many closed consumer robots, Stack-chan is built on an open platform where the hardware designs, firmware, and 3D models are all available to the public, encouraging users to modify and hack the device to suit their own needs.

The M5Stack CoreS3 development kit is powered by an ESP32-S3 SoC featuring a dual-core 240MHz processor, 16MB of flash storage, and 8MB of PSRAM. The face of the robot is displayed on a 2.0-inch capacitive touch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 320x240 pixels. For sensing and interaction, the unit is equipped with a 0.3-megapixel camera, dual microphones, a 1-watt speaker, and a 9-axis IMU that includes an accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer. It also features a proximity sensor, an infrared transmitter and receiver, and a full-featured NFC module for touch-based interactions.

The robot's physical movement is driven by two feedback servos that allow for 360-degree continuous rotation on the horizontal axis and a 90-degree tilt on the vertical axis. This setup enables Stack-chan to look around, nod, and track faces or objects. Power and data connectivity are provided via a USB-C port, and the device includes a built-in 700mAh lithium-polymer battery for portable operation. The robot also features a microSD card slot and extra Grove ports for connecting additional sensors or actuators, making it highly expandable for various IoT projects.

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