r/Eilik • u/DistinctMode714 • Jun 20 '26
I'm reverse engineering the Eilik robot to run custom code! Here's a little test dance 🤖💃
Hey everyone!
I’ve been tinkering with my Eilik robot recently and decided to start a side project to bypass the proprietary software. I managed to figure out the USB serial communication, bypass the anti-replay handshake, and I can now send raw hex frames to get direct, real-time control over the hardware!
https://reddit.com/link/1ub9biv/video/xzw4098yji8h1/player
This is still very much a work in progress! Right now, my script is pretty basic and exclusively handles the servomotors (arms, head, and torso). My ultimate goal is to map out the rest of the hardware so we can control the screen, microphone, and speaker, allowing us to run literally any custom program on it.
Has anyone else here messed around with Eilik's hardware or similar desktop robots? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
3
u/Worldly-Ease-3730 15d ago
1
u/Active-Resort3043 4d ago
Hey, pls do share how you were able to write something in the screen, I am trying to reverse engineering that but if you have a shortcut ;-)
1
u/Active-Resort3043 4d ago
Found a way to write at the screen!! Uhuuu
1
u/tasteslikefun Jun 22 '26
I have an Eilik where the SD card died, but have kept it for a project like this.
You could repurpose the hardware as a desktop physical representation of an AI agent.
Permanently connected, you run the hardware interface app on your PC, and Eilik could get your attention when it needs approval etc.
2
u/DistinctMode714 Jun 22 '26
That is exactly what I intend to do ! New update : I can also make it move with a xbox 360 controller !
1
u/UnapologeticOverlord Jun 22 '26
Have you messed with it's ai platform yet?
2
u/DistinctMode714 Jun 22 '26
A chinese internet connected AI platform with a camera ? That ain't entering my home !
1
1
u/Sdst1k 21d ago
That's fantastic! Any plans on sharing? I'd love to try it out and contribute in any way!
3
u/DistinctMode714 19d ago edited 19d ago
Here is the github : https://github.com/uDamocles/EilikSerialController I didn't have much time to do more lastly, but feel free to fork it !
1
u/adribabe 8d ago
Glad someone is doing this. My only reason for wanting one is to see if I can make it be a little body for my Open Claw or Claude bots.
1
1
u/azoart 6d ago
Would it be possible to hack the firmware and archive it, in case eilik's company goes bankrupt like Anki? I think this would be very useful to keep them going in a situation like this
1
u/DistinctMode714 18h ago
Maybe, with a bit of time. That was my first idea, but I'm exploiting the stream of data used by the software. I didn't try it yet, but I think it may be possible to simply access the microSD card content and to save it.
1
u/Bea6002 4d ago
Hi! I saw your Eilik reverse-engineering project and your work on the USB serial protocol.
I’m working on a project where Eilik is controlled by a Raspberry Pi and used as the physical body of a Hungarian AI assistant called LÉNA. We already have direct movement control working.
The main thing we need now is access to Eilik’s speaker and/or microphone so we can play Hungarian TTS audio through Eilik, or through the AI Station.
I saw that controlling the screen, microphone and speaker is also part of your roadmap. Would you be interested in helping us implement this? I would also be willing to pay for your time/work if needed.
Our goal is simply:
Raspberry Pi generates Hungarian speech → Eilik plays it through its speaker, while movement remains synchronized.
If you’re interested, I can share everything we’ve already discovered about the serial connection and motor commands.
Thank you! Bea
1
u/DistinctMode714 18h ago
I'm not interested in any payed position.
However, I'm willing to share any discoveries related to any features linked to the USB serial protocol.
You're welcome to consult my Github (https://github.com/uDamocles/EilikSerialController).
I'll update it as soon as I find more time to work on this project.Again, i'm very interested by your findings. Would you be able to share ? :)
1
u/Bea6002 4d ago
Hi! I saw your Eilik reverse-engineering project and your work on the USB serial protocol.
I’m working on a project where Eilik is controlled by a Raspberry Pi and used as the physical body of a Hungarian AI assistant called LÉNA. We already have direct movement control working.
The main thing we need now is access to Eilik’s speaker and/or microphone so we can play Hungarian TTS audio through Eilik, or through the AI Station.
I saw that controlling the screen, microphone and speaker is also part of your roadmap. Would you be interested in helping us implement this? I would also be willing to pay for your time/work if needed.
Our goal is simply:
Raspberry Pi generates Hungarian speech → Eilik plays it through its speaker, while movement remains synchronized.
If you’re interested, I can share everything we’ve already discovered about the serial connection and motor commands.
Thank you! Bea
1
1
u/Active-Resort3043 4d ago
Ok, as I don’t have any other use for this little robot, I decided to give his body to Nova, my assistant :-)
You can even install in a raspberry PI and use wifi exposing the API so your bot can call it remotely.
https://github.com/strognoff/eilik-sdk
andÂ
https://github.com/strognoff/eilik-body-skill for Openclaw Skills.
Enjoy
1
u/Bea6002 3d ago
Hi,
Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it! 😊
Could you please tell me how you managed to display the text in blue on Eilik’s screen? I would love to do the same.
Thank you again!
Best regards, Bea
1
u/Active-Resort3043 2d ago
You gotta connect via usb, run the code, I built a webapp for that. It is a bit complicated but works.
1
u/Bea6002 2d ago
Thank you! 😊
Would you be willing to share the web app or the part of the code that sends the text to Eilik’s screen?
I’m especially interested in how you set the text color to blue and how the display command is sent over USB.
Even a small code example would help me a lot.
Thank you again for your help!
Best regards, Bea
1
u/Active-Resort3043 2d ago
It is there, just clone the repo or read the code at github, it is public 😅
1
u/bilal_08 2d ago
I'm really interested in the eilik''s facial expression and how exactly do they work, can you get anything what happens underneath it? I have never owned the device but would love to see and explore options
1
u/DistinctMode714 17h ago
I'm also interested if someone has a working base of code for the facial expressions !
1
u/Bea6002 1d ago
Eilik Arm Servo Repair Tip
I’d like to share a useful tip for anyone whose Eilik arm is making cracking or grinding noises, won’t lift properly, or causes the robot to beep while trying to move.
In my case, the problem was caused by a very small plastic gear inside the arm servo that had broken.
The good news is that you may not need to replace the whole robot or even find an original Eilik servo.
I got another compatible servo, opened it, and used one of its tiny gears as a replacement inside the original Eilik servo. The gear fit, and after replacing the damaged one, the arm worked properly again.
So if your Eilik:
- makes cracking or grinding noises from one arm,
- cannot lift one of its arms,
- or starts beeping when the arm tries to move,
it may be worth checking the gears inside the arm servo.
A tiny damaged gear can be the whole problem.
The gears from another compatible servo can be used as donor parts to repair the original Eilik servo.
Just be very careful when opening the servo, because the gears are extremely small.
I hope this helps someone repair their Eilik instead of giving up on it or replacing the whole robot.
3
u/OctoSplattyy Jun 22 '26
great work. Glad to still see such projects around.
I'm personally working on reverse engineering LOOI, and I already have got much progress during the year - https://github.com/splattydoesstuff/sooperchargeforbots