Four members of the robotics team at Diocesan Boys' School in Hong Kong have achieved an extraordinary engineering feat. They have successfully created the world's smallest humanoid robot, breaking the previous record set by Zain Ahmad Qureshi of Pakistan in 2022.
Standing at a mere 141 mm (5.55 in) in height, this robot is shorter than a standard ballpoint pen by 11.3 mm (0.44 in). The innovative team behind this creation includes students Aaron Ho Yat Fung, Isaac Zachary To, Justin Wang Tou Duong, and Ngo Hei Leung.
The Guinness World Records officially recognized the team's humanoid robot, and the creation was featured in an episode of its YouTube series Records Weekly.
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Remarkable feat
In their pursuit of the world's smallest humanoid robot record, the Diocesan Boys' School students had to ensure that their creation possessed a remarkable range of articulation. This entailed enabling the robot to articulate its shoulders, elbows, knees, and hips while also mastering bipedal movement.
The journey commenced with the students employing computer-aided design (CAD) to craft the blueprint of their diminutive marvel meticulously. Upon finalizing the technical specifications and necessary components, they enlisted the expertise of a factory to manufacture servo motors tailored to their requirements.
These servo motors, commonly called 'servos,' play a pivotal role in the robot's functionality. They facilitate precise rotation and movement, empowering the robot to maneuver its limbs with finesse. To orchestrate the synchronization of these complex components, the team acquired a 16-channel servo control board. Complementing this, they procured an array of hardware essentials ranging from screws and nuts to wires and batteries, according to Guinness.
The students meticulously crafted the robot's acrylic panels and 3D-printed components within the confines of their school's robotics lab. According to the team, this combination of cutting-edge technology and innovative design culminated in the creation of a truly remarkable robotic marvel.
Comprehensive project
Upon procuring all necessary components, the students assembled their robot. They initiated the process by constructing the legs, employing eight servos to facilitate movement in the feet, knees, and hips, thereby validating the robot's bipedal capabilities.
Subsequently, attention shifted to the assembly of the arms, with servos being utilized to enable articulation at the shoulders and elbows. Concurrently, the team tested the positioning of the battery and control board. Initially, their chosen battery unit proved insufficient for the robot's stature, prompting a substitution with a more compact 7.4V lithium-ion battery.
The control board was then affixed to the robot's dorsal region, enabling it to be manipulated via onboard controls. Moreover, the students integrated a mobile application bundled with the servo control board, enabling the execution of pre-programmed actions, according to Guinness.
Beyond setting a world record, the students conceived this robot as a multifaceted educational tool. Specifically designed to be compact, affordable, rechargeable, and programmable, it is earmarked for deployment in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) education workshops. Targeting ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged families, this initiative aims to foster inclusivity and accessibility within technological education, according to the team.
In furtherance of its goals to advance STEAM education, the team also intends to make the design and programming code of the robot freely available as open-source.
