ob-f/OpenBot

OpenBot leverages smartphones as brains for low-cost robots. We have designed a small electric vehicle that costs about $50 and serves as a robot body. Our software stack for Android smartphones supports advanced robotics workloads such as person following and real-time autonomous navigation.

What it solves

OpenBot transforms affordable smartphones into the central processing units (brains) for low-cost robots, removing the need for expensive specialized robotics hardware. It provides a complete software stack for Android devices to enable advanced robotics tasks.

How it works

The system consists of a hardware body (a small electric vehicle) and a software stack. An Android smartphone is mounted on the robot body and acts as the controller. The smartphone communicates with Arduino firmware flashed onto the robot's hardware to drive the motors and sensors. Users can drive the robot via a controller, program it in a a dedicated playground, or train custom driving policies.

Who it’s for

It is designed for robotics enthusiasts, students, and researchers who want to build a low-cost entry point into advanced robotics and autonomous navigation.

Highlights

  • Low-cost robot body (approximately $50).
  • Support for advanced workloads like person following and real-time autonomous navigation.
  • Integrated Android apps and Arduino firmware.
  • Ability to train custom driving policies.

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