Build a robot in Penestanan.
An open-source robot kit, assembled by a small group in Penestanan, then paired with self-hosted language models running on our own hardware. Documented in public.
- LocationPenestanan
- TeamSmall group
- Duration6–9 months
- OutputWorking robot + notes
A real project. Here’s what that means.
Before you sign up, understand what you’re committing to. We’re looking for genuine interest and follow-through, not headcount.
Ownership, commitment, exit.
This is a real project with real money and real time. Before you sign up, know what you’re agreeing to.
The Asimov V1 kit.
Open-source from Menlo Research. Ships as parts — actuators, frame, electronics, wiring. The rest we print and assemble ourselves.
1.2 meters, 35 kg, 25 actuated degrees of freedom plus two passive toe joints. Load-bearing parts are CNC-machined aluminum 7075; structural non-load pieces are Multi Jet Fusion prints — standard FDM isn’t enough. Kit to verified power-on is a 50–100 hour build. Walking is past the kit.
asimov.inc/diy-kit →Two phases. Body, then brain.
The kit gives us a functional chassis. The second phase is the research — self-hosting language models, testing inference, teaching the robot to do something useful.
Phase A — The body
Receive the kit. Outsource the MJF prints (FDM isn’t sufficient for the load path). Assemble the chassis, wire the actuators, calibrate joints, land a clean verified power-on. Walking is the job after the kit.
- KitAsimov V1 · $15k
- Assembly50–100 hours
- PrintsMJF (outsourced)
- SkillsMechanical, wiring
- VenueWorkshop in Penestanan
Phase B — The brain
Self-hosted language models on local hardware. Benchmark open-weight families. Wire the best fit into the control stack. Document the results.
- ComputeShared GPU rig
- ModelsLlama, Mistral, Qwen
- WorkResearch → inference
- OutputDialogue + skills
The numbers, honestly.
| Item | Detail | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Asimov V1 kit | Actuators, frame, electronics, wiring | $15,000 |
| Shipping | International freight and import handling | $800–1,500 |
| MJF prints | Structural non-load parts — outsourced service | $600–1,400 |
| Sensors | Cameras, IMUs, microphones, cabling | $600–1,200 |
| Workshop | Shared tools we don’t already have | $500–1,000 |
| Compute | Used GPU or shared cloud | Variable |
Shared across the group
Your individual contribution depends on how many of us there are. Sponsorship and in-kind support reduce it further. The numbers are real but flexible.
From kit to working robot.
Rough sequence, not rigid. The kit ships in months, not weeks — we use the wait productively.
Form the group
Interest list closes. Builders confirm. Contributions collected. Kit pre-ordered.
Prepare
Source MJF prints. Set up workshop. Study the manual. Build the GPU rig.
Assemble
Kit arrives. Build sessions. Wire servos. Calibrate. First motion. Document.
Intelligence
Local inference. Benchmark models. Wire speech and perception. Demo.
Builders. Not only coders.
Penestanan has craftspeople, entrepreneurs, artists, engineers. We need hands and judgment as much as keyboards.
Hands-on assembly
Soldering, wiring, fasteners.
Electronics
Willingness to read datasheets and use a multimeter.
MJF sourcing
Multi Jet Fusion print-farm connections (FDM won’t cut it).
Python / shell
Useful in the brain phase. Bonus, not required.
ML / LLM research
Inference, evaluation, fine-tuning. Or just reading stamina.
Business
Contracts, accounting, grants if we go there.
Documentation
Video, writing, photography.
Workshop space
Covered space in or near Penestanan.
Local network
Customs, shipping, electronics shops.
Back the project without building.
Sponsors, small grants, and in-kind contributions welcome. Named in documentation, invited to demos, and at the top tier, a voice in what the robot’s first skill is.
- Name in build documentation
- Monthly progress email
- Invited to final demo
- Logo on project site and demo
- Workshop visit during build
- Invited to benchmark day
- First look at research write-up
- Co-branded demo event
- Vote on robot’s first skill
- Full research and code access
- Priority on follow-up projects
The things people always ask.
Who owns the robot?
openflow.bot — a software company Chris and Mathias founded. Viktor Asimov V1 is the company’s first public project. Code and build notes are open, upstreamed to the Asimov / Menlo Research ecosystem. The physical robot is company property and stays with openflow.bot after the build. Contributors are named publicly on the project; no equity in the company unless separately agreed.
Is this a business or a hobby?
A real project under a real company. Viktor Asimov V1 is openflow.bot’s first public build, scoped as a commitment — not a vibe. If it produces something commercial, that conversation happens at openflow.bot; the build itself is documented openly either way.
What if I can’t afford the full contribution?
Talk to us on the form. We’re open to staged payments, sweat equity for specific skills (documentation, workshop space, 3D printing, local logistics), or finding sponsors who’d rather fund a builder than buy a logo.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. At least one builder will be code-fluent. Others can learn during Phase B or focus entirely on hardware. Non-coder roles are genuinely valuable — we need hands, judgment, and logistics.
Why the Asimov kit specifically?
Open-source (Menlo Research), priced near its bill of materials, built from off-the-shelf actuators, CNC’d aluminum 7075 load paths, and MJF-printed structural pieces. Backed by a team publishing openly. That matters when we’re in Bali and can’t easily return a broken proprietary part.
How long until the kit actually ships?
Months, not weeks. Pre-order means waiting. We use the time for prep — printing parts, setting up the workshop, building the GPU rig, studying the manual.
What happens to the robot afterwards?
Open question. Shared ownership, donation to a local school or maker space, or kept at the workshop for ongoing research. Conversation we have once the group is committed.
Why Penestanan?
Because that’s where we are, and because the community here — builders, technologists, craftspeople — rarely gets to touch projects like this. Geography is a feature.
Tell us you’re in, or curious.
Quick first — name, email, commitment. Once you’re on the list, a few more questions so we understand what you’d bring.
You’re all set.
Next: a short call with Chris or Mathias, then a refundable deposit once the group forms. You’ll hear from us within a few days.