Robotkars

Robotkars are robotic go-karts designed as platforms for learning, experimentation, and lightweight autonomous driving research. They combine a go-kart chassis with an embedded computing system, drive motors, a steering mechanism, and a sensor suite to enable autonomous or semi-autonomous operation as well as remote control.

Common configurations use an electric drive, four wheels, and safety features such as a mechanical kill switch and emergency stop. Chassis may be adapted from hobbyist go-karts or built as purpose-built frames, and power typically comes from rechargeable batteries. The design emphasizes modularity to allow rapid swapping of sensors or control systems.

Onboard computing units range from single-board computers like Raspberry Pi to more capable boards such as NVIDIA Jetson, often paired with microcontrollers for low-level I/O. Software stacks commonly include localization, mapping, and path-planning algorithms, with feedback control loops to manage steering and speed. Sensor arrays can include cameras, ultrasonic or infrared range finders, and optionally lidar or wheel encoders. Many robotkars use open-source software and hardware platforms, facilitating experimentation and collaboration, with data logging and telemetry for analysis and benchmarking.

Applications include STEM education, robotics clubs, university research, and introductory autonomous-vehicle competitions. They serve as approachable testbeds for developing perception, planning, and control systems in a compact, affordable form. The genre varies widely in size, speed, and autonomy, but standardization of interfaces and safety practices remains a common goal to support reproducibility and safe operation.