Custom Autonomous MiP Robot Upgrade

I want to turn my stock WowWee MiP into a fully-independent companion with far more capability than the original phone-controlled toy. The big push is to give it functional robotic arms—servo-driven, proportional, and strong enough to perform simple pick-and-place demos—while keeping the self-balancing chassis intact.

To drive everything, I need an internal “brain” (Raspberry Pi, ESP32, or another MCU you’re comfortable with) that can:
• run onboard code without any phone connection
• store multiple programs in flash so I can swap behaviors on the fly
• process a forward-facing camera for navigation and object tracking
• handle voice-command triggers and speak back in character using a small speaker

For interaction I’m leaning on two modes: spoken commands and a library of pre-programmed behaviors the robot can cycle through on its own. If you have clever tricks for gesture sensing or other inputs, I’m open, but they’re not essential for this first build.

Mechanical integration is critical. We’ll need custom mounts or 3-D-printed brackets for the arm servos, a neat cable path that doesn’t affect balance, and clean access to the MiP’s power rails or a new battery pack if required. I can supply CAD files of the shell if that helps.

Let’s outline milestones together—hardware selection, PCB/loom design, arm prototype, firmware, voice/sound personality scripts, and final integration—so I can see measurable progress. I’m happy to jump on calls, share photos, and overnight parts as needed. Just let me know your preferred stack, expected lead time, and any prior projects that prove you can make small robots both autonomous and expressive.