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DIY robot concept

How to make a telepresence robot

A remote-drive video robot with stable base, tablet or phone mount, low-latency control, dock planning and privacy-first operation.

A telepresence robot is useful when it is stable, quiet and easy to join from a browser. The robot does not need advanced autonomy at first. It needs reliable video, clear audio, smooth low-speed driving and a way to recover when Wi-Fi drops.

Use an old phone or tablet as the video head and let the base focus on motion. Keep the center of gravity low, cap speed indoors and add a physical mute or privacy indicator so people know when the robot is active.

Core parts

Differential drive base

$80

Quiet indoor movement with low center of gravity

Tablet or phone mount

$20

Video head with adjustable height

WebRTC video stack

$0

Low-latency browser calling

ESP32 motor controller

$8

Joystick commands and failsafe stop

Wide-angle camera or phone

$0

Room view and face-level call

Charging dock contacts

$25

Manual or assisted docking

Design variants

Old-phone robot

Reuse a phone for camera, mic, speaker and compute.

Office telepresence base

Taller mast, larger wheels and quiet motors.

Family check-in rover

Simple controls, low speed and obvious privacy indicator.

Practical safety note

Treat the generated output as a prototype plan, not a certified product. Body-adjacent, high-voltage, optical-energy and mobility builds need qualified review before real-world use.

FAQ

Do I need a Raspberry Pi?

Not if you reuse a phone for video. A microcontroller can handle the base.

What if Wi-Fi drops?

The base should stop on command timeout and wait for reconnection.

How tall should it be?

Face-level is pleasant for calls, but keep heavy batteries low so it cannot tip easily.

Robot build paths

How to make a robot

Start here

Core path for choosing a robot project and avoiding common beginner mistakes.

Useful home robot builds

Practical robots where reliability, charging, sensors and safety matter.

Advanced robot builds

Harder mechanics, waterproofing, gait control, pickup or autonomy.

Related robot guides

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