Before you begin
Starting knowledge
- Basic programming and willingness to learn simple mechanics.
- Have appropriate supervision for tools, batteries and powered hardware.
Equipment & environment
Choose an existing documented kit or simulation before designing custom electronics. Keep the first task in a controlled indoor space.
No fixed completion time: use the evidence gates below to decide when to advance. Resource links open the botstest directory entry; check its publisher documentation for the exact version and configuration.
Beginner
Choose one achievable rover behavior
Define a small task and identify the subsystems it needs.
Learn in this order
- Chassis, drive, compute and sensing
- Open-loop movement versus feedback
- Parts, tools and documentation requirements
Put it into practice
- Compare a documented rover project with a simulated alternative.
- Write a first behavior such as stopping before a known obstacle.
A scoped project brief and verified bill of materials.
Ready for the next step when…
Resources for this stage
Study a printable rover design and its mechanical, electronics and assembly requirements.
Investigate smartphone-based mobile robotics and check current device and software support.
Explore a compact mobile learning platform with a documented development ecosystem.
Intermediate
Integrate sensing and a reliable behavior
Debug one subsystem at a time before adding autonomy.
Learn in this order
- Wheel motion, coordinate directions and basic odometry
- Sensor validity and mounting
- State transitions and bounded stopping behavior
Put it into practice
- Test drive and sensing separately, then combine them into the chosen behavior.
- Record a disconnected or invalid sensor condition and verify the planned response.
A working rover behavior and an integration/debug log.
Ready for the next step when…
Resources for this stage
Follow the official middleware learning path; use documentation matching your installed distribution.
Investigate depth and edge-perception hardware in a recorded sensing experiment.
Create a small simulated robot and inspect sensor/controller behavior without purchasing hardware.
Professional
Publish a maintainable maker project
Make the build reproducible and identify the next engineering limit.
Learn in this order
- Versioned parts, software and calibration
- Battery/consumable maintenance and replacement
- Performance claims based on repeatable trials
Put it into practice
- Repeat a declared indoor test and report both successful and failed trials.
- Write a build, setup, reset and maintenance guide for another maker.
A reproducible maker dossier and an evidence-based extension plan.
Ready for the next step when…
Resources for this stage
Inspect recorded robot signals and build views that expose timing and system failures.
Visualize spatial observations and compare them with model and trajectory outputs.
Compare a mobile research platform against payload, terrain, sensing and integration needs.
Common pitfalls
- Adding navigation before basic sensing and stopping work.
- Copying a parts list without checking hardware revision and power requirements.
Where to go next
Continue to navigation or sensor calibration when the basic rover behavior is repeatable.
Explore other home paths →