9 votes

JPL's Open Source Build-it-Yourself Rover

8 comments

  1. eve
    Link
    I think it's super awesome when NASA does really cool open source avtivities like this. I hope it helps garner more interest and even then it's a fun thing to check out and runs well on mobile...

    I think it's super awesome when NASA does really cool open source avtivities like this. I hope it helps garner more interest and even then it's a fun thing to check out and runs well on mobile (for me at least). I wonder if they designed it that way purposefully?

    4 votes
  2. [2]
    Celeo
    Link
    Aside from the DIY project, the site is incredible.

    Aside from the DIY project, the site is incredible.

    3 votes
    1. StellarV
      Link Parent
      I had too much fun driving the rover around.

      I had too much fun driving the rover around.

      1 vote
  3. [5]
    super_james
    Link
    This is pretty awesome although the price point is kinda high (Do you really need to buy batteries from a frickin diving supplier?)

    This is pretty awesome although the price point is kinda high (Do you really need to buy batteries from a frickin diving supplier?)

    1 vote
    1. [2]
      laxative-agent
      Link Parent
      Someone made a ~$500 alternative. See https://github.com/Roger-random/Sawppy_Rover and https://hackaday.io/project/158208-sawppy-the-rover
      3 votes
      1. super_james
        Link Parent
        Thank you so much for this! Very interesting. Their video has it driving backwards compared with the NASA one, wonder if it makes any difference. Clearly better to contribute to this than start my...

        Thank you so much for this! Very interesting. Their video has it driving backwards compared with the NASA one, wonder if it makes any difference.

        Clearly better to contribute to this than start my own project. :)

        1 vote
    2. [2]
      Celeo
      Link Parent
      Yeah the price puts it (I imagine) outside the range of anyone who's not already into robotics and doesn't have a university or work connection to get into it.

      Yeah the price puts it (I imagine) outside the range of anyone who's not already into robotics and doesn't have a university or work connection to get into it.

      2 votes
      1. super_james
        Link Parent
        I could imagine a well off high school / 6th form clubbing together several classes to build it collaboratively. Would take a long time if you didn't parallelize. I'm tempted to build it with...

        I could imagine a well off high school / 6th form clubbing together several classes to build it collaboratively. Would take a long time if you didn't parallelize.

        I'm tempted to build it with cheaper components and document the process. The problem with this is that suppliers are much more likely to vanish when the next person tries to follow you.

        2 votes