m5stack/StackChan

What it is

StackChan is an AI desktop robot built on M5Stack's CoreS3 kit. This repository collects the open-source resources around it: the robot firmware, the remote-controller firmware, the iOS and Android mobile app, and the server. The README notes that updates here can lag behind the released firmware and app source:1.

The hardware pairs a CoreS3 main unit — ESP32-S3, 16MB flash, 8MB PSRAM, 2.0-inch touch display, camera, proximity/light sensor, 9-axis IMU, microSD, speaker and dual microphones — with a body containing two servos, 12 RGB LEDs, infrared, a three-zone touch panel and NFC. The factory firmware includes an AI Agent, animations, ESP-NOW remote control, app downloads and OTA updates.

This is for people who own the robot and want to study or modify its firmware, app or server, or who want to program it with Arduino or UiFlow2 and the M5Stack expansion ecosystem.

Getting started

1. Read the product documentation for your language: English, Japanese or Chinese, and the CoreS3 documentation for the main controller.
2. The README does not give a build or flash procedure itself. For board-level support, use the separate StackChan-BSP repository.
3. Firmware can be developed through Arduino or UiFlow2, per the README; follow the product documentation for the exact setup and flashing steps.
4. The mobile app and server sources are in this repository, but their build prerequisites and run instructions are not described in the README excerpt, so check the relevant directories and documentation.

Constraints

• The repository is a resource collection, not a packaged release; it may trail the shipped firmware and app.
• No license is declared in the repository metadata, so reuse terms are unclear.
• Hardware caution from the README: do not force-rotate motor-connected parts by hand when you are unsure whether the motors are powered and controlled, as this can damage the hardware.
• Some parts of the robot require the corresponding hardware; the app and server depend on the device and app ecosystem.

HotRepo's take

On the Go daily list for 2026-11-02, StackChan recorded 4 stars gained and a best position of 13, with 1,476 stars and 413 forks overall. That is a single snapshot rather than a sustained trend. The fork-to-star ratio and the breadth of components (firmware, controller, app, server) suggest interest from people building on the robot rather than only reading about it, but the repository's own note that it may lag releases means readers should check the product documentation for current firmware behavior.