Nova — by United Robotics

Buy a Nova OR Build a Nova OR User Builds

Live setup support

Need help getting Nova running?

Book a one-to-one setup call for installation, servo setup, software configuration and troubleshooting.

Book Nova Setup Support £45 / 30 minutes

Designed for presence.

Nova feels “alive” through posture, expressive movement, human-like timing, mental reasoning and fully capable long-term memory.

Print — Run — Share

Personal robotics has been promised for decades, yet everyday options are still either cheap toys or £20,000 humanoids. Almost nothing exists in between: a robot for your desk that can see you, talk with you, and feel present in the room.

That gap stuck with me. I spent six months working long shifts to fund the parts, then nights building prototypes, printing components, and writing the software.

Early versions constantly fought back — broken tracking, disobedient AI, and speech systems that interrupted mid-sentence. Once the foundation worked, I left the job and committed everything to finishing it.

After months of iteration and failed prints, the idea became Nova: a desktop companion designed to bring personal robotics out of the future and onto your desk.

Nova Totem

Servos: The entire system runs on just three ST3215 12V servos — controlling neck pitch, neck yaw, and torso rotation — delivering expressive movement with a fraction of the hardware.

Camera: Uses the same camera system as Nova Desktop V3, enabling smooth face tracking and real-time interaction with the user.

Hardware: A single servo driver board manages all motion, simplifying the electronics and making the build much easier for new builders.

Design: With no arms and a minimal structure, Nova Totem focuses purely on presence, conversation, and tracking — delivering the core Nova experience in its simplest form.

Get files for Nova Totem → Buy Nova Totem →

Nova Desktop V3

Servos: New ST3215-7.4v servos — used in the arms, torso and neck. Lower voltage, same resolution, reduced cost while keeping the gentle, deliberate motion for “smooth as butter” expression.

Camera: Newline 4K webcam — 1080p @ 60fps with fast autofocus. Cleaner tracking and better audio.

AI Model: The latest stack — deeper, with more grounded responses. V3 includes long-term and short-term memory. 35+ more animations than previous iterations with a new gesture system while talking.

Body design: Refined proportions and improved internal layout — easier assembly, cleaner cable routing, and a more compact structure. Nova Desktop V3 is the current pinnacle of the Nova Desktop series.

Get files for Version 3 → Buy Nova Desktop 3 →

Nova Desktop V2

Servos: ST3020 servos for the arms, while keeping three ST3215-HS servos for neck pitch, neck yaw and torso yaw.

Camera: VSPRO high-speed camera — up to 120fps recording. Smoother tracking and more realistic body language.

AI Model: A more advanced model with built-in session memory — more engaging conversation and better recall.

Body design: Bulkier overall due to larger servos and wider shoulders. This allowed the servo driver boards to sit lower in the torso, making wiring easier during builds.

Get files for Version 2 →

Nova Desktop V1

Servos + Strength: ST3215-HS servos — smooth movement and very strong, ~30kg lifting capacity.

Camera: RealSense D455 depth camera. Version 1 only tracked faces, so the D455 was technically overkill but helped define Nova’s iconic look.

AI Model: A simpler model — faster responses but no session memory compared to later versions.

Body design: Slimmer arms and torso built around smaller servos — enabling faster prints and quicker iteration.

Get files for Version 1 →

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