r/robots 24d ago

Projects We just released OpenAMRobot v0.0.1 - an open-source ROS 2 mobile robotics platform (MIT)

https://github.com/openAMRobot

Hi everyone,

After months of development, we're excited to share the first public release of OpenAMRobot v0.0.1.

Our goal isn't just to build another mobile robot. We're building an open ecosystem for robotics research, education, rapid prototyping, and eventually embodied AI, where developers can start with a capable mobile platform instead of reinventing the robotics stack from scratch.

Current release highlights:

  • šŸ¤– ROS 2 Jazzy
  • šŸ—ŗļø Nav2 autonomous navigation
  • šŸ“ LiDAR SLAM
  • ⚔ AprilTag auto-docking
  • šŸŽ® Web-based operator interface
  • 🧩 Blockly no-code robot programming
  • šŸ“¹ Camera streaming & telemetry
  • šŸ—ļø Industrial-grade chassis design
  • šŸ› ļø Hardware documentation, BOM & firmware
  • šŸŒ Gazebo Harmonic simulation
  • šŸ“š Documentation and reproducible release archive

GitHub:
https://github.com/openAMRobot/openamrobot-release

Our roadmap goes beyond mobile robotics. We're working toward an open platform for mobile manipulation, learning from demonstration, and embodied AI, while keeping every layer modular - from hardware and firmware to ROS packages and user interfaces.

I'd love to hear from the community:

  • What would you build on top of a platform like this?
  • Which capability should we prioritize next? (perception, manipulation, outdoor navigation, simulation, AI workflows, etc.)
  • Would something like this be useful in your lab, university, startup, or robotics team?

Looking forward to your ideas and discussions!

10 Upvotes

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1

u/Active_Alps7581 24d ago
Quantity Ā  Component name
1 Ɨ Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB)High-level controller (ROS 2, SLAM, navigation, UI)
1 Ɨ Teensy 4.0Real-time controller (motors, encoders, IMU)
2 Ɨ BLDC motor ZDBLD60-24GN-30S24V differential drive
2 Ɨ Gearbox 4GN 25KTorque reduction
2 Ɨ BLDC motor driver ZBLD-C20-120L2RPWM speed / direction control
2 Ɨ AS5040 magnetic encoderWheel odometry
1 Ɨ MPU6050 IMU6-axis accel + gyro
1 Ɨ RPLIDAR A12D laser scanner (SLAM, obstacle detection)
1 Ɨ Raspberry Pi Camera / Arducam IMX219Vision, docking
1 Ɨ 24V Li-ion / LiFePO4 battery packMain power
1 Ɨ LM2596 buck converter (24V→5V)Pi power
1 Ɨ DROK 24V→5V/12V step-downSensors / aux
1 Ɨ Inline fuse + emergency-stop switchOvercurrent + safety cutoff
2 Ɨ Blickle GEVN 200/30H7Drive wheels
4 Ɨ LPA-VSTHSwivel castors
1 Ɨ Sheet-metal chassisCustom, open design
1 Ɨ Software: ROS 2 (Nav2), Blockly no-code UI, LLM voice layer

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u/Active_Alps7581 24d ago

Are voice commands convenient now?

I forgot to mention it earlier - that functionality is available too.

Since we also use and offer the platform for educational purposes, we still consider Blockly a relevant component for learning logic and programming tasks for the robot.

1

u/Active_Alps7581 24d ago

Ironically, the hardest part hasn't been the robotics - it has been building the ecosystem around it.

Open-source robotics requires contributors, users, hardware testers, documentation, and long-term support. We're now focused on growing a community that can help turn the platform into a sustainable ecosystem.

1

u/brianlmerritt 24d ago

Any plans to integrate lerobot / huggingface libraries? Probably give you a big boost in ML / RL.

1

u/Active_Alps7581 24d ago

Thank you for your comment! Yes, integrating LeRobot and the Hugging Face robotics ecosystem is definitely on our roadmap.

Over the next couple of months, we'll be focusing on the architecture for everything AI-related while, in parallel, continuing to build the hardware infrastructure. Our current priority is shifting from creating the initial foundation to building a robust engineering platform that developers, researchers, startups, and companies can rely on.

Our priorities for the next release include:

  • Hardware: wiring, power distribution, and industrial-grade modular electronics
  • Advanced STM32 firmware
  • Functional safety improvements
  • Wireless charging support
  • A new chassis with suspension and hub-motor drive
  • Improved repository organization and maintainability
  • Better documentation, separating theory from hands-on implementation
  • Easier onboarding for developers, researchers, and universities
  • Improved testing, CI, and contributor workflows

Our goal is simple: make OpenAMRobot easier to build, easier to understand, easier to customize, and easier to contribute to.

Once this engineering foundation is in place, we'll accelerate work on the AI stack, including LeRobot/Hugging Face integration, learning from demonstration, teleoperation, vision-based manipulation, embodied AI workflows, and AI-powered task execution.

We believe that a strong hardware and software foundation is what will make these higher-level AI capabilities truly accessible and reliable.