CARA 2.0: A Maker Builds an Improved Open-Source Robot Dog

CARA 2.0 Overview

Engineer Aaed Musa has published CARA 2.0, the second iteration of his homemade quadruped robot dog. The project earned over 350 points on Hacker News, drawing significant attention from the robotics and maker communities.

Key Improvements

Compared to the original CARA, version 2.0 features improved joint kinematics, better torque distribution across legs, and redesigned software for more responsive real-time control. The build uses 3D-printed components and custom PCBs to keep costs accessible while improving mechanical performance.

Why It Matters

CARA 2.0 demonstrates that capable quadruped robotics no longer requires a corporate R&D budget. The entire design and codebase will be open-sourced, giving makers and researchers a foundation to build upon. As humanoid and quadruped robots move from research labs to consumer products, projects like CARA show the democratization of advanced robotics is well underway.