Pocket-sized robots are having a real moment. As ESP32 boards keep shrinking and getting cheaper, makers are cramming full motion-control platforms into shells barely bigger than a matchbox. Carl Bugeja’s new ProtoBot is one of the most charming examples of that trend yet, and it lands right where hobby robotics is heading: small, open, and genuinely hackable. It looks like something straight out of the Micro Machines lineup, only this one is remote-controlled and built to be torn apart and rebuilt.
A robotics lab the size of a Micro Machine
ProtoBot measures just 6.3 x 7.5 cm and tips the scales at 92 grams, yet it hides a surprisingly serious kit. An ESP32-C6 controller drives four N20 gear motors, while RGB lighting, proximity sensors, and a 9-axis motion sensor handle balance and orientation. You steer it from the MicroLink app on Android or iOS, which layers on joystick control, path recording and playback, obstacle-avoidance routines, and block-based programming for younger builders. For its size, that is a remarkable amount of capability to carry around in a jacket pocket.
Open source, all the way down
What lifts ProtoBot above toy status is how open it is. The shell, accessories, and software libraries are all open source, and a built-in breadboard mount lets you bolt on extra sensors. Drop in the optional Arduino library and you can script custom movement sequences, make it draw shapes, or invent entirely new behaviors. The compass and motion sensors even let it pull basic tricks like steering in patterns and briefly balancing itself. Expect roughly 35 minutes of runtime per charge and about 40 meters of range.
Pick your difficulty level
It ships in three flavors. The Beginner Edition arrives fully assembled and ready to roll, the Pro Edition asks you to solder the electronics yourself, and the DIY Pro Edition hands you the whole project to 3D-print the shell and build from scratch. Pre-orders are open from around $86, with units expected to ship by the end of June 2026. If you’ve been meaning to graduate from blinking LEDs to something that actually moves, grab an ESP32-C6 board and start prototyping. A platform this small and this open is the perfect excuse to try your next robotics idea.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s packed inside the ProtoBot?
Inside its 6.3 x 7.5 cm shell sits an ESP32-C6 controller board driving four N20 gear motors, plus RGB lighting, proximity sensors, and a 9-axis motion sensor for balance and orientation. A breadboard mount lets you add your own sensors and accessories.
Which ProtoBot edition should I choose?
There are three. The Beginner Edition comes fully assembled and ready to drive, the Pro Edition has you solder the electronics yourself, and the DIY Pro Edition has you 3D-print the shell and build nearly everything from scratch. Pre-orders start around $86 and ship by the end of June 2026.
What will I learn if I build this?
Building a ProtoBot teaches a stack of real skills: soldering and embedded electronics, programming an ESP32-C6, integrating proximity and motion sensors, and writing automation logic with the open-source Arduino library. It’s a fun on-ramp from basic circuits to a moving, sensor-aware robot.
