# Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi review

Budget Raspberry Pi robot dog kit with camera and Python code

- Our score: not scored yet
- Price: $130 (checked Nov 12, 2026)
- Status: on sale
- Best for: budget Raspberry Pi tinkering
- Skip if: it is your first robot kit
- HTML version: https://robotsforthat.com/robot/freenove-robot-dog-kit-raspberry-pi/

## Verdict

The Freenove kit is the cheapest way into a camera equipped Raspberry Pi robot dog, a fit for patient hobbyists who enjoy troubleshooting. Skip it if this is your first robot or you want reliable tricks out of the box, since testers hit calibration, servo and software problems.

## Pros

- Low $129.99 kit price
- Camera, ultrasonic, motion sensor and LEDs
- Complete Python source code and tutorials
- Responsive support sent replacement parts (RaspberryTips)

## Cons

- Pi, 18650 batteries and charger not included
- Build took 5 to 6 hours (RaspberryTips)
- Calibration needs redoing; servos and camera failed in one test
- Advertised ball and face tracking failed in another test
- Falls over more than SunFounder PiDog (RaspberryTips)

## Specs

- type: Build it yourself robot dog kit (FNK0050); Raspberry Pi, batteries and charger not included
- interaction: Freenove app for Android 5.0+ and iOS 10+, or a client on Windows, macOS or Raspberry Pi OS
- ai features: Face recognition and ball tracing through the camera (Freenove); one reviewer could not get ball following or face recognition working out of the box (Engineered.at)
- camera: Yes, Raspberry Pi camera module; resolution not published
- mobility: Four legs on 12 leg servos plus 1 head servo (Freenove docs); walking and self balancing with an MPU6050 motion sensor
- battery runtime: Uses 2 x 3.7V 18650 cells, sold separately; runtime not published. RaspberryTips found the motors needed rest after about 3 minutes of continuous use
- charge time: Not published; RaspberryTips found in robot USB C charging unreliable and used an external charger
- size weight: Not published
- subscription: None
- age range: Not stated by Freenove
- compatible boards: Raspberry Pi 5, 4B, 3B+, 3B and 3A+ recommended; Zero and older boards need extra parts (Freenove)
- coding: Python, with complete source code and online tutorials (Freenove)
- sensors: Ultrasonic distance module, MPU6050 motion sensor, LED module, buzzer (Freenove docs)

## Safety

- recalls: Not checked
- fcc: Not checked
- company status: Active
- warranty: Not published on the store page; Freenove lists free technical support

## Questions buyers ask

### What else do I need to buy?

A Raspberry Pi (5, 4B, 3B+, 3B or 3A+ recommended), two 3.7V 18650 rechargeable batteries and a charger. Freenove says none are included.

### How hard is it to build?

RaspberryTips took about 5 to 6 hours as a first time builder and calls it probably too complex for a first robot kit.

### How does it compare with SunFounder PiDog?

Freenove costs $129.99 versus $179.99 for PiDog, but RaspberryTips found the Freenove dog fell over more often and PiDog walked with better balance.

## Sources

1. [Freenove store: Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi (FNK0050)](https://store.freenove.com/products/fnk0050)
2. [Freenove docs: FNK0050 assemble robot](https://docs.freenove.com/projects/fnk0050/en/latest/fnk0050/codes/tutorial/2_Assemble_Robot.html)
3. [RaspberryTips: Freenove robot dog review](https://raspberrytips.com/?p=8573)
4. [Engineered.at: Initial review of the Freenove robot dog kit](https://engineered.at/articles/initial-review-of-the-freenove-robot-dog-kit)
5. [RaspberryTips: SunFounder PiDog review (comparison with Freenove)](https://raspberrytips.com/?p=23999)