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Which Robot for ROS?

asked 2012-01-30 23:40:40 -0600

Cav gravatar image

Hi,

which of the supported robots would you recommend for using with ROS (educational purposes)? Turtlebot seems to lead the way but are there any real alternatives? Anything that comes close to Turtlebot (and is in the same/similar price range)?

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answered 2012-01-31 00:44:04 -0600

DimitriProsser gravatar image

I would say that the Turtlebot is the most well-supported platform on these forums, just out of experience. That is not to say that other robots aren't well-supported, but there are lots of tutorials and help for Turtlebot users. I'm not sure of any other robots really in that price range.

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Additionally, I will add that the TurtleBot has a growing community with over 450 official TurtleBots sold and about 100 more homemade robots (even Bilibot is using the TurtleBot stacks as a basis). Many professors have already started creating curriculum around the TurtleBot that you could use.
mmwise gravatar image mmwise  ( 2012-01-31 17:12:33 -0600 )edit
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answered 2012-01-31 01:17:42 -0600

The Bilibot platform offers similar features to the Turtlebot and has an integrated "powerboard" that allows for a single charger. I believe the Turtlebot requires separate chargers for the computer and the iRobot Create, whereas the Bilibot has one plug to power/charge the create and the main computer supply. It also has Intel i3 processor that's a bit beefier than the dual-atom you get in the Turtlebot's netbook. Plus it ships with an arm (albeit very limited).

Unfortunately, other than basic setup instructions the documentation/tutorials for the Bilibot platform are severely lacking. As a contributing member of the project, I'm working with my local university to help find and fix some holes in that area over the upcoming semester (they purchased a number of them as general-purpose ROS machines).

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answered 2012-01-31 02:22:22 -0600

Murph gravatar image

I've just built my own basically-a-turtlebot with a netbook, an iRobot Create, and a kinect. It's not as 100% pretty, but it works well.

Basically this, but the latest one uses a turtlebot power board instead of the handmade one since it included a gyro that I needed.

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I too have gone the "build my own turtlebot workalike" route, as have many others. It works quite well.
Mac gravatar image Mac  ( 2012-01-31 02:58:03 -0600 )edit
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answered 2015-03-24 09:46:35 -0600

TX gravatar image

Hi Jeff,

I hope you are fine. Totally agree with you, I have been struggling with documentation. I have a 2012 bilibot. Do you know how to operate the biliarm (robotic arm)? What package will do this? Does it come pre installed or we need to download it separately and build it with rosmake?

Regards, Manuel

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Asked: 2012-01-30 23:40:40 -0600

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Last updated: Jan 31 '12