Status: Building
Build guide
Build day 1 is done. The parts are unboxed, the Pi 5 is mounted on the chassis plate, and we have started the camera and pan-tilt bracket.
Right now
Building
- Pi 5 on a PiCar-X for driving, the camera, and audio
- Hard thinking goes to a Mac mini at home
- SunFounder's tools first, then OpenClaw
- A teal puppy head for the pan-tilt, printed on my brother's Bambu printer
Ideas on the pile
Not a schedule. Sticky notes we may reorder or throw out.
Desk puppy
MaybeThe Pi on the chassis says hello before we worry about a finished body.
Eyes and ears
MaybeCamera and microphone. We decide where it is allowed to look.
House brain
MaybeA plugged-in computer for questions that are too big for a battery Pi.
A body
MaybeWheels first, then personality — tail, ears, a name.
House jobs
MaybeTiny chores, plus a list of things it should never do.
Parts list
On the table
Total so far: about $230.
SunFounder PiCar-X kit
HaveDriving, camera, and audio
Chassis, wheels, camera, and the pan-tilt bracket.
Raspberry Pi 5 (4GB)
HaveOnboard computer
Mounted on the chassis plate on build day 1.
Official 27W power supply
HavePower for the Pi
The official supply for a Raspberry Pi 5.
Grown-ups handle power, batteries, and soldering. Kids help design, photograph, test, and write the journal.