UCLA Researchers Develop PhoneBot Humanoid Powered by Old Smartphones

Researchers at UCLA have created PhoneBot, a bipedal robot that utilizes the processing power of repurposed smartphones as its central brain.

A white humanoid robot in a studio setting showcasing advanced robotics and modern technology.
Photo: Pavel Danilyuk

UCLA researchers have developed PhoneBot, a small humanoid robot designed to function using a smartphone as its primary processing unit. The project aims to give old mobile devices a second life by transforming them into the brains of a walking companion.

By integrating the hardware of a smartphone, the bipedal bot avoids the need for separate, expensive onboard computers. This approach allows the robot to leverage the existing sensors and computing power of devices that would otherwise remain unused.