Open-source waterproof and dustproof structure for MEVIUS2

Develop a waterproof and dustproof mechanical structure for the MEVIUS2 quadruped robot that can be released as open source, addressing the need for reliable outdoor operation while preserving the platform’s open accessibility.

Background

MEVIUS2 is an open-source, metal-based quadruped robot designed to be built entirely from components ordered via e-commerce, with a focus on practicality, durability, and multimodal perception. While the robot successfully demonstrates robust locomotion and sensing, the current hardware does not include environmental sealing.

The authors explicitly state that creating a waterproof and dustproof structure suitable for open-source release is extremely challenging and remains unresolved. This limitation is critical for outdoor use and for broad adoption by the research community that relies on openly available, reproducible designs.

References

First, the current MEVIUS2 does not feature a waterproof or dustproof design, and therefore special care is required when operating it outdoors. While this is a critically important issue for future development, realizing a waterproof and dustproof structure in a form that can be released as open source is extremely challenging and remains an open problem.

— MEVIUS2: Practical Open-Source Quadruped Robot with Sheet Metal Welding and Multimodal Perception  (2603.22031 - Kawaharazuka et al., 23 Mar 2026) in Description of Supplementary Materials, Section D. Limitations