Robot Study Companion (RSC) v4.1 open-source social robot chassis

Design · All designs
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 1 study (1 design), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description

The RSC is an affordable, compact, 3D-printed desktop social robot built around a Raspberry Pi with peripherals enabling multimodal interaction, including a touchscreen, servo-driven flippers, an LED ring, microphones, and speakers. The v4.1 chassis redesign applies DfA and DfD interventions: a twist-lock chassis replacing internal screws, snap-fit speaker base and front panel, one-way component fits with fiducial markers, print-in-place latches giving tool-free SD/USB access, a bespoke expansion PCB consolidating wiring breakouts, and a rewritten step-by-step guide with synchronised video and text. All open-source artefacts are released at the project site for community contribution.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

• Assembly relies on 3D-printed reinforced parts and off-the-shelf electronics; the rewritten documentation guide at the project site supports the build.

Constraints

• The v4.1 documentation was deliberately kept in an alpha state during evaluation, and the designations v4 and v4.1 refer specifically to the chassis mechanical design, not electronics or software tracks.

Target Learners

• university students facing isolation and motivational challenges
• first-time robot builders in Guyana and Estonia

Learning Goals

• constructionist hands-on learning through building a social robot
• technical agency and emotional support via a physical companion

Claims

• Dfa Dfd Redesign Raises Sus Developers [+M]
• Tool Free Serviceability Disassembly Ease [+M]

Related Designs

Examples

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Key Sources

• Farnaz Baksh, Matevž B. Zorec, Feiazie Baksh, and Karl Kruusamäe. (2026). Co-Creating Buildable and Open Social Robot Study Companions with University Students. https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.15239v1

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	design
id	rsc-v41-chassis-element
title	Robot Study Companion (RSC) v4.1 open-source social robot chassis
description	The RSC is an affordable, compact, 3D-printed desktop social robot built around a Raspberry Pi with peripherals enabling multimodal interaction, including a touchscreen, servo-driven flippers, an LED ring, microphones...
status	review
generated	by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-11
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources	1 — farnaz-baksh-2026

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