A YouTuber has built a fully functional, remote-controlled robot based on a fan-favourite Disney character, powered by a PlayStation 4 controller.
It turns out we might not need to wait until 2805 to see WALL-E in action after all. Content creator Crostplay2 spent several days reworking LEGO Ideas 21303 WALL-E, combining the 676-piece model with 3D-printed components and self-taught engineering to bring the character to life.
To start, he installed an ESP32 microcontroller inside the build and connected it via Bluetooth to a PS4 controller, creating the ‘brain’ that coordinates all movement and inputs.
To handle mobility, he added custom motors beneath the tracked base, allowing WALL-E to drive forward using the controller triggers. By splitting inputs across the joysticks, he enabled tank-style steering, with each track responding independently for tighter turns.
He then expanded control into the upper body, mapping joystick inputs to the arms for added articulation. A modified front panel replaces the original stickered detail with a working display that shows a solar charge indicator inspired by the film.
Crostplay2 also integrated a speaker system that plays sound effects and iconic lines from WALL-E, including the character’s signature 'Waaaaall-eeeeee'. LED strips now light the front and rear of the build, and even if they are less film-accurate, they do add an extra layer of visual impact to the finished model.
Additional mechanisms allow the front compartment to open in a film-accurate way, while further controls move the head and trigger expressive eye animations. This includes the well-known ‘cute face’ that made everyone emotional the first time they saw the movie.
In a more unusual addition, Crostplay2 fitted a taser-like device to one of the arms, which he says he has experimented with during testing. Sadly, that feature probably wouldn’t make it through a Pixar or LEGO Group health and safety meeting.
The result shows how far LEGO-based builds can be pushed when combined with electronics, 3D printing, and creative engineering – turning a display model into a fully interactive robotic version of the beloved character.
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