Auxy — Your smart auxiliary device

What is Auxy?

Auxy is a minimalist, portable auxiliary device that passively captures movement, audio, and visual context throughout your day. The data flows to your iPhone, where AI processes it into actionable insights.

The goal is simple: let a small device pay attention so you can focus on living. Review what matters later.

Hardware

Brain

ESP32-CAM

Audio

INMP441 I2S Mic

Power

3.7V 500mAh LiPo

Charging

TP4056 USB-C

Connectivity

Wi-Fi + Bluetooth

Cost

~$58 total

Roadmap

Week 1

Breadboarding — connect components, verify iPhone can see the device over Bluetooth/Wi-Fi.

Week 2

Firmware — flashed custom camera web server, first photo + video capture over Wi-Fi on battery power.

Week 3

Hardware upgrade — evaluate Raspberry Pi Zero 2W for 1080p video, better camera quality, add microphone for audio capture.

Week 4

Integration — send captured files to iPhone/Cloud for AI processing.

Week 5

Enclosure — design a compact, portable case. Clip-on, pocket-friendly.

Week 6

Battery upgrade — higher capacity cell + visible battery bar (LED strip or small OLED).

Future

Micro mobility — explore legs, wheels, or arms so Auxy can reposition itself, follow you, or interact with objects.

Robotics Research

Auxy's long-term vision includes mobility — the ability to move, follow, and interact. Here's what we've learned studying existing humanoid robots and mapping a realistic DIY path.

Unitree G1 — The Benchmark

The G1 is one of the most affordable full humanoid robots at ~$16K. It walks, runs, climbs stairs, recovers from falls, and has dexterous hands — powered by NVIDIA Jetson with 3D LiDAR and depth cameras.

Height

~1.3m

Weight

~35kg

Battery

~2 hours

Joints

23+ DOF

Compute

NVIDIA Jetson

Price

~$16,000

DIY Path — Build Your Own

A humanoid is complex but achievable in phases. Start small, learn the fundamentals, then scale.

Phase 1

Start with a servo-based biped walking kit (~$200–500). Learn locomotion, balance, inverse kinematics, and gait patterns using ESP32 or Arduino.

Phase 2

Upgrade the brain to Raspberry Pi 5 or NVIDIA Jetson. Add IMU (balance), LiDAR (spatial awareness), and cameras (vision). Implement object detection and navigation.

Phase 3

Scale up to a full humanoid. Custom 3D-printed or aluminum frame. 12–20 brushless servos ($100–500 each). Custom PCB for motor control. Total: $2K–$13K.

Cost Breakdown — DIY Humanoid

Servo motors (12–20)

$1,200 – $10,000

Frame / structure

$200 – $1,000

Compute

$50 – $500

Sensors

$100 – $500

Battery packs

$100 – $300

Motor controllers

$200 – $500

Estimated total: $2,000 – $13,000

Tip: start with a quadruped (4 legs) — easier to balance than a biped. Build up to humanoid form once locomotion fundamentals are solid.

Build Log

2026-04-04 — Week 2

First successful camera capture over Wi-Fi — the prototype is alive!

Soldered battery to TP4056 charging module — first time soldering
Flashed custom firmware to ESP32-CAM via USB-to-serial adapter using PlatformIO
ESP32-CAM connects to Wi-Fi and serves a live camera page with photo capture button
Achieved battery-powered operation: LiPo → TP4056 → ESP32-CAM (3.3V pin)
Learned that 5V pin doesn't work well with LiPo voltage; 3.3V pin works directly
ESP32-CAM is laggy for video (~5fps, drops WiFi under load). Evaluating Raspberry Pi Zero 2W for Phase 2 — proper 1080p video at 30fps, on-device processing, better camera modules
Full wiring guide → — complete diagram and step-by-step for battery, camera, and microphone connections

Auxy prototype — ESP32-CAM with battery and charger

Auxy prototype — top view showing components

Peace sign — captured wirelessly by the ESP32-CAM

2026-03-29 — Week 1

Wasn't able to get the whole thing working yet, but several key takeaways:

Got the battery plugged in with blue and red indicator lights for charged/charging states
Wiring was difficult — connections kept coming loose. Need soldering and alligator wires for stable power supply
The entire work requires a good setup, dedicated time, proper tools, and good focus
Visited Micro Center with Shamil — great experience, but couldn't find many parts. Will order from Amazon
Shopping list for next week: multimeter, breadboard, solder kit, alligator wires

2026-03-26

Components arrived: ESP32-CAM, INMP441 microphone, LiPo battery, TP4056 charger, jumper wires. Total: $57.62. Next up: wiring diagram and first assembly.