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World Congress 2026 Europe • Jul 9, 2026 • Session details

How I built my own intelligent Robot Arm from Scratch

Iulia Feroli

Building an intelligent robot arm from scratch no longer requires a robotics PhD. Ditch text-based hype and merge affordable microcontrollers with open-source AI for real-world physical automation.

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#1 about 3 min

Moving from AI software buzzwords to building actual robots

Transitioning from purely software-based language models to accessible physics projects provides a refreshing approach to artificial intelligence.

#2 about 3 min

Defining physical AI and multimodal robotics generation capabilities

Deploying multimodal AI models on physical bodies replaces complex inverse kinematics for simpler movement generation.

#3 about 3 min

Breaking down the core components of a robot arm

Identifying the necessary entry-level microcontroller brains and servo motors helps lower the barrier to robotics.

#4 about 3 min

Constructing the robot body from cardboard to 3D printing

Progressing from cheap household materials to 3D-printed joints creates a stable foundation for the robotic actuator.

#5 about 3 min

Writing microcontroller code and demoing the basic robot arm

Writing basic Python sequences on hardware-specific IDEs translates digital commands into physical object manipulation.

#6 about 3 min

Exploring the open-source Hugging Face LeRobot teleoperation project

Adopting a dual-controller setup with open-source parts enables leader-follower teleoperation for sophisticated remote tasks.

#7 about 2 min

Training robots autonomously through imitation learning data sets

Recording manual teleoperation movements to build visual datasets trains intelligent models for completely autonomous robotic manipulation.

#8 about 3 min

Navigating hardware failure and evolving physical AI model trends

Addressing the risks of circuit failure and shifting model paradigms emphasizes the chaotic but educational nature of hardware learning.

#9 about 3 min

Overcoming software challenges and future computer vision project integrations

Planning integrations with local language models and computer vision helps bypass frustrating software dependencies in traditional operating systems.

#10 about 2 min

Audience questions on teleoperation scaling and hardware building timeframes

Leveraging available robotics SDKs permits controlling larger industrial hardware and accelerates the entry ramp for eager developers.

Matching moments

2:22 min

Introduction to physical AI and the physical world

Moe Sani Moe Sani · WWC Europe 2026

2:44 min

Embodying artificial intelligence within physical robotic hardware platforms

Zaid Zaim Zaid Zaim +1 · WWC Europe 2026

1:20 min

Shifting focus from large language models to physical AI

Sergio Perez Sergio Perez · WWC Europe 2026

3:46 min

Transitioning from rigid machines to autonomous AI robots

Teresa Conceicao · WWC 2022

1:37 min

Transitioning from digital AI agents to physical AI

Alexander Schwarz Alexander Schwarz · WWC 2025

2:08 min

Progressing from standard robotics to cognitive learning systems

Clemens Schwaiger · LIVE

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