The HuGo Humanoid Project: A Modular Social Robot

Today's social robots' acceptance is limited by high maintenance costs, limited adaptability, and environmental waste among other factors. We propose that a modular humanoid platform design, that enables easy customization, upgrades, and repairs will diminish the above impediments and thus contribute to more widespread adoption of these devices. Accordingly, we set out to design and build a platform called HuGo, which relies on high-powered smart servo motors, single-board computers, and reusable PLA components as essential and reusable building blocks. This robot can support diverse applications, for example in healthcare, education, customer service, and entertainment. The modules of HuGo, such as arms, head, and torso, are interchangeable for easy reconfiguration for particular tasks, allowing sustainability and accessibility. Continuous testing at hospitals, universities, and in research projects confirms that the design is valid and reliable. Plans involve expanding modularity for stand-alone head modules, increasing their versatility to broader use cases.