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The JPL Open Source Rover is an open source, build it yourself, scaled down version of the 6 wheel rover design that JPL uses to explore the surface of Mars. The Open Source Rover is designed almost entirely out of consumer off the shelf (COTS) parts. This project is intended to be a teaching and learning experience for those who want to get involved in mechanical engineering, software, electronics, or robotics. JPL is always looking to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and roboticists to help us explore and learn about our solar system (and beyond!). We release the plans for this rover as a way to try and give budding enthusiasts a fun robotics project that will help teach them and get them involved in robotics sooner and at a lower cost. The specific attributes of the robot you build will depend slightly on the type of electronics and motors you buy for the system.
Features
- This rover is designed to function similarly to the 6 wheel rover designs on Mars
- Employs a few of the major driving mechanics that the mars rovers use to traverse rocky surfaces
- The Rocker-Bogie suspension system allows all 6 wheels to continually be in contact with the ground while climbing over obstacles
- Allows weight to be mechanically offloaded from one side of the rover to the other while climbing
- Driving and steering/turning mechanism that governs where the wheels point and how fast each of them will move
- We chose a Raspberry Pi to be the "brain" of this rover for its versatility, accessibility, simplicity, and ability to add and upgrade your own modifications
Project Samples
