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What This Project Is
This project builds a robotic arm that you control with hand gestures. An Arduino Nano reads data from an MPU-6050 IMU and a flex sensor mounted on a glove. Tilt your hand to move the arm’s X and Y axes, and bend a finger to open or close the gripper. The arm itself is a 3D-printed EEZYbotARM design, driven by four micro servos.
The original project page provides the core idea and code, but the parts list is generic. This guide provides verified buy links for all components and consolidates crucial build tips from the comments and related tutorials, ensuring you get the right parts and avoid common pitfalls.
What You’ll Need to Buy
| # | Component | Spec | Qty | Buy Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arduino Nano | ATmega328P microcontroller, 5V logic | 1 | Arduino Official Store — Arduino Nano | Prefer the classic ATmega328P Nano for 5V logic. If you use a Nano Every, its 3.3V I/O may need level shifting for 5V peripherals. |
| 2 | MPU-6050 IMU | 3-axis accelerometer + 3-axis gyroscope, I2C, 3.3V/5V compatible breakout | 1 | Adafruit — MPU-6050 Breakout | Generic GY-521 modules are common and work well. Confirm the breakout board includes 5V-tolerant I2C pins. |
| 3 | SG90 Micro Servo Motor | 9g micro servo, 4.8–6V, 180-degree rotation | 4 | Adafruit — SG92R Micro Servo | Any 9g micro servo (SG90, SG92R, MG90S) works. You will need a separate power supply for these. |
| 4 | Flex Sensor 4.5” | Resistive flex sensor, ~10kΩ flat, ~35kΩ bent | 1 | SparkFun — Flex Sensor 4.5” | This is the standard 4.5-inch flex sensor. |
| 5 | 10kΩ Resistor | 10kΩ, 1/4W, ±5% tolerance | 1 | Adafruit — 10kΩ Resistor | Any 10kΩ 1/4W resistor is fine. |
| 6 | Half-Size Solderless Breadboard | 400 tie-point, 0.1” pitch | 1 | Adafruit — Half-Size Breadboard | For prototyping the sensor glove. |
| 7 | Jumper Wire Bundle | Assorted solid-core or stranded wires | 1 pack | Adafruit — Jumper Wires | Essential for breadboarding. |
| 8 | Work Glove | Standard cotton or fabric work glove | 1 | Masterpak — Cotton Gloves | Any thin cotton work glove from a hardware store works. This is for mounting the sensors. |
| 9 | 5V 2A DC Power Supply | 5V regulated DC output, min 2A | 1 | Adafruit — 5V 2A Power Supply | Crucial for powering the servos. A 5V/2A USB phone charger also works. |
Estimated total for components: $50-80
You will also need access to a 3D printer (FDM, PLA or PETG filament) to print the robot arm parts.
Where to Get the Files
- 3D Print Files (STL): EEZYbotARM on Thingiverse
Build Notes
- Flex Sensor Wiring: Connect one pin of the flex sensor (P1) to Arduino Nano analog pin A0. Connect the other pin (P2) to GND. You’ll need a 10kΩ pull-up resistor between A0 and 5V to form a voltage divider. The flex sensor has no polarity.
- Flex Sensor Function: The flex sensor’s resistance changes as it bends. This resistance change is what the Arduino reads via the voltage divider to determine the gripper’s position.
- Servo Power: Power all four servo motors from a dedicated external 5V 2A power supply. Do not power them directly from the Arduino Nano’s 5V pin, as the Nano cannot supply enough current for all four servos under load. Connect the servo power supply’s positive to the servo red wires and its negative to the servo brown/black wires, ensuring the power supply’s GND is also connected to the Arduino’s GND.
- Sensor Mounting: Mount both the MPU-6050 and the flex sensor directly onto the work glove. Use a hot glue gun to secure them. You’ll run wires from the glove to the Arduino on the robot arm.
About This Page
Some Assembly Mandatory builds supply guides for popular maker projects. We research and verify every component link so you can focus on building, not shopping. This guide was researched and compiled with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. Found a dead link or a better component? Let us know.