Hsiwu
A bat-inspired flapping-wing robot with three independently driven wing segments and pure analog control.
Project documentation
Before you build
Five answers, each linked to its source
What does it cost?
Not documented
No cost in the reviewed sources.
Can I sell what I build?
YesCommercial use OK
Hardware MIT License · Software not documented. Licensing source
What’s open?
4 of 6CAD: AvailableBOM: AvailablePCB: AvailableCode: Off-the-shelf partSim: Not documentedGuide: Available
Sim not documented · code off-the-shelf. All six files
What does it run on?
Not documented
Simulation: Not documented. Software
Is it maintained?
Not documented
No activity snapshot yet. Activity
01 / Under the shell
The specifications.
Hardware, build and software on one sheet. Every fact links to where we found it.
Hsiwu is a biomimetic bat flapping-wing robot with three independently driven segments on each wing. A crank-rocker four-bar linkage converts motor rotation into wing motion, while discrete circuits provide pure analog control without a microcontroller or embedded software. The repository includes SolidWorks mechanical files, STEP and STL outputs, PCB design files, and an assembly guide.
Hardware
- Actuators
- 3 · DC hollow-cup geared motors README
- Build
- Mixed · FDM 3D-printed frame · laser-cut rods Documentation
- Power supply
- 3.7V LiPo single-cell README
Software & simulation
- Runs on
- Not documented
02 / The files behind the robot
What’s open.
Six parts of the build, each checked separately. Gaps stay visible.
| Part | Status | What’s there | License | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAD | Available | SolidWorks source files and STEP and STL outputs. | Not documented | mechanical/ |
| Bill of materials | Available | Component spreadsheet. | Not documented | BOM/ |
| Electronics | Available | PCB design files, Gerbers, BOM, pick-and-place files, and a schematic PDF. | Not documented | electronics/ |
| Code | Off-the-shelf part | The maker describes pure analog control with no embedded software. | — | README |
| Simulation model | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | No source found |
| Assembly guide | Available | English assembly guide. | Not documented | assembly_guide.md |
03 / Know before you build
Can you sell it?
YesCommercial use OK
The hardware design is MIT License. You can build, modify and sell robots based on it, as long as you keep the license notices.
- Hardware
- MIT License
- Software
- Not documented
04 / The upstream project
Is it maintained?
Not documentedRepository activity is not documented
Active: activity within 90 days of the snapshot. Quiet: within a year. Dormant: longer.
05 / Parts & kits
A head start.
Maker-listed sellers only. No affiliate links or paid placement.
MAKER’S COST
Not documented
No cost in the reviewed sources.
Kit availability is not documented in our reviewed sources.
06 / Side by side
Compare with other other robots.
Other other robots in the directory, most recently active first. Same sources, same rules.
| Robot | Cost | Open files | Can I sell it? | Runs on | Maintained | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HsiwuThis robotRobusr | Not documented | 4 of 6 | YesHW MIT License · SW not documented | Not documented | Not documented | — |
| openBrushographDominik Mahnic | Not documented | 1 of 6 | Yes, with creditHW CERN-OHL-S-2.0 · SW not documented | ESP32Arduino | ActiveOct 15, 2026 | 28 |
| Aria Art Plottergustavomayoral | Not documented | 4 of 6 | Yes, with creditHW CERN-OHL-S-2.0 · SW GPL-3.0 | ArduinoPython | Not documented | — |
| Snapbot V2.0uiuckimlab | Not documented | 4 of 6 | Check firstHW not documented · SW not documented | Not documented | Not documented | — |
| This robotHsiwu | openBrushograph | Aria Art Plotter |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Not documented | Not documented | Not documented |
| Can I sell it? | ||
| Yes | Yes, with credit | Yes, with credit |
| Open files | ||
| 4 of 6 | 1 of 6 | 4 of 6 |
| Runs on | ||
| Not documented | ESP32, Arduino | Arduino, Python |
| Maintained | ||
| Not documented | ActiveOct 15, 2026 | Not documented |
Upkeep is measured against each robot’s own snapshot. Costs keep the maker’s scope, so check what each figure covers.
See them in the table07 / Follow the evidence
Open books.
Repository files are pinned to commit 1d61645. Websites and papers are listed with their review dates.
- 01README.md at 1d61645Reviewed Oct 31, 2026
- 02LICENSE.md at 1d61645Reviewed Oct 31, 2026
- 03docs/en/assembly_guide.md at 1d61645Reviewed Oct 31, 2026