What is Stringman?
Stringman is an open-source, OSHWA-certified room-scale gripper robot created by Neufangled Robotics that hangs its effector from lines anchored in the ceiling corners. By utilizing four motors, it reaches floors and spaces that are typically too cluttered for standard wheeled or legged mobile robots.
Because the lifting force is shared evenly across all motors, the payload capacity scales with their combined torque rather than a single actuator. This design achieves an unmatched work area volume per dollar, reaching up to 2.2 kg near the floor and an average of 1.9 kg.
Who is affected and what are the technical specs?
Stringman is ideally suited for home labs, educators, and robotics enthusiasts looking to experiment with inverse kinematics, imitation learning, and cross-embodiment. It integrates seamlessly with frameworks like LeRobot, supporting models such as Pi.05, JEPA, and Multitask DiT.
The system requires an external computer as a controller, running on a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W for the gripper and a Pi 3A+ for the anchors, communicating via 5 GHz Wi-Fi. It eliminates charging downtime by drawing power directly from a wall connection through a support cable.
How do I install and configure Stringman?
Installing Stringman requires a room with dimensions between 3m and 10m diagonally and heights between 2.3m and 4m, where anchors can be securely fastened to wall studs or columns. You can evaluate modern security practices or historical computing milestones while setting up your workspace infrastructure.
Follow these steps to install and calibrate your unit:
- Secure the cleats to wall studs near the ceiling using wood screws, or attach them to structural columns with ratchet straps.
- Hang the anchors and connect the lines to the 638g gripper unit.
- Power on the controller computer and connect via the local 5 GHz Wi-Fi network using QR codes.
- Run the automated calibration process from the UI, which takes about five minutes to adapt the robot to your room dimensions.