Getting Started with Beetlebot
First-time setup and initial inspection
Before You Begin
⏱️ Time Required
Unboxing & Inspection: 10 minutes
Initial Charging: 8 hours (first time only)
System Setup: 60-90 minutes (one-time configuration)
First Drive: 20 minutes
✅ What You'll Need
✅ Beetlebot robot (in transport case)
✅ Laptop or PC with Ubuntu 22.04/24.04
✅ WiFi network with internet access
✅ Power outlet for charging
✅ 2× AAA batteries (for controller)
⚠️ 8 hours for first charge! (Plan accordingly)
📚 Prerequisites
Basic Linux command line knowledge (helpful, not required)
Familiarity with SSH (helpful, not required)
No prior ROS2 experience needed!
Step 1: Unboxing & Inspection
📦 Unpack Carefully
Open transport case - Remove Beetlebot carefully
Check for damage - Inspect chassis, wheels, sensors
Verify contents - Ensure all items present (see checklist below)
✅ Contents Checklist
Verify you have everything:
Missing items? Contact [email protected] immediately with your order number.
Step 2: Initial Hardware Inspection
[PLACEHOLDER: Top-down photo with labeled callouts]
Physical Inspection Checklist
Walk around the robot and verify:
Front:
Top:
Back:
[PLACEHOLDER: Back panel photo with labels]
Sides:
Bottom:
⚠️ Issues Found?
If anything is damaged or missing:
Take clear photos
Email [email protected] immediately
Do NOT power on if damage is visible
Include your order number
If everything looks good: → Continue to Step 3
Step 3: Controller Setup
Install Batteries
The Cosmic Byte Nexus controller requires 2× AAA batteries:
Flip controller over - Find battery compartment on back
Slide cover open - Usually a tab to press and slide
Insert 2× AAA batteries - Match polarity (+/- markings)
Close cover - Slide back until it clicks
Verify Controller Power
Toggle power button - Bottom center of the dongle
LED should light up - Controller is powered
If LED doesn't light: Check battery polarity and contact
Locate RF Dongle
The USB RF dongle may be:
Option A: Already plugged into robot's side USB port
Option B: Inside the battery compartment of the controller
If dongle is not plugged: Keep it safe - you'll plug it in after first boot.
Step 4: First Charge (IMPORTANT!)
⚠️ Critical First Step
Your robot ships at ~50% charge (storage mode) and MUST be charged for 8 hours before first use.
Charging Procedure
Verify robot is OFF
Check power switch on back - should be in OFF position
Red LED ring should NOT be glowing
Connect charger
Plug charger into wall outlet (wait for LED on charger brick)
Insert 2.1mm jack into charging port on robot's back panel
Polarity: Center positive (standard) - can't reverse, don't force
Verify charging started
Charger LED should be RED (charging)
If LED is green immediately, try pressing power switch once (sometimes needed)
Wait 8 hours ⏰
Yes, really! First charge conditions the battery
Charger is smart - won't overcharge
LED will turn GREEN when complete (may take 6-8 hours)
Note: Sometimes charger stops at 12.4-12.5V (slightly before full) - this is normal
After 8 hours:
Charger LED should be green
If still red after 8 hours, that's okay - unplug anyway
Battery is now conditioned and ready for use
Charging Best Practices
For all future charges:
Normal charging: 4 hours
Charge when voltage <10.5V
Can charge while powered ON or OFF
Store at ~50% charge if not using for >2 weeks
Charge in well-ventilated area
Place on non-flammable surface
Step 5: First Power-On
🎉 Time to Boot Your Robot!
After charging is complete:
Disconnect charger - Unplug from robot and wall
Position robot safely
Place on flat, stable surface
Ensure 1 meter clear space around robot
Nothing blocking wheels
Power ON!
Locate power switch on back panel (flat button)
Press firmly once (you'll feel a faint click)
Red LED ring should illuminate immediately
This means power is flowing
Wait for boot (~60-90 seconds)
Raspberry Pi is booting Ubuntu + ROS2
You won't see much happening (headless system)
Controller LED indicators (if dongle plugged in):
Green LED: Power (should be on)
Red LED ON: Pi is still booting (wait...)
Red LED OFF: Pi has booted! ✅ (system is ready)
First boot checklist:
What's Happening Inside?
During boot, the robot is:
Booting Ubuntu 24.04 on Raspberry Pi 5 (~30 seconds)
Starting ROS2 Jazzy services (~15 seconds)
Launching Lyra bridge (STM32 communication) (~10 seconds)
Starting joystick control node (~5 seconds)
Running system health checks (~10 seconds)
Ready for operation! (~90 seconds total)
⚠️ After boot (Red LED turns off), wait for 10-15 seconds for controller to stabilize
Step 6: Verify Controller Connection
Test Controller Pairing
The controller should auto-pair with the RF dongle:
Ensure RF dongle is in robot (or plug it in now)
Turn on controller (press power button)
Controller LED should be solid (not blinking)
Solid = Connected ✅
Blinking = Not connected ❌
If Controller Won't Pair:
Try this sequence:
Power off robot (press power switch)
Remove RF dongle from robot
Wait 10 seconds
Plug dongle back into robot
Power on robot
Wait for boot (90 seconds)
Turn on controller
Should connect within 5-10 seconds
Still not pairing?
Try different USB port on robot (if accessible)
Check controller batteries are fresh
Controller may need re-pairing (see troubleshooting section)
Step 7: First Movement Test
⚠️ Safety First!
Before moving the robot:
✅ Robot on flat, clear surface
✅ 1+ meter clearance all around
✅ You are ready to press power switch if needed (emergency stop)
✅ Nothing valuable nearby (just in case!)
The Deadman Switch
Critical concept: Beetlebot has a "deadman switch" for safety.
Left Bumper (LB) = ARM/ENABLE button
Robot will ONLY move when LB is pressed and held
Release LB → robot stops immediately and disarms
Think of it like a "dead man's switch" on industrial equipment - release the button, everything stops.
First Drive Attempt
Hold Left Bumper (LB) - Press and HOLD with left index finger
Robot is now ARMED
Gently push left stick forward - Just a tiny bit
Robot should move slowly forward
Keep LB pressed the whole time!
Release left stick - Robot should slowly stop (but stay armed)
Release LB button - Robot disarms (extra safety)
✅ Success Indicators:
If you see/experience:
✅ Robot moved forward when stick pushed
✅ Robot stopped when stick released
✅ Robot stopped when LB released
✅ Smooth, controlled motion (not jerky)
✅ All 4 wheels turning in same direction
Congratulations! Your robot is working correctly!
❌ Troubleshooting First Drive:
Robot doesn't move at all:
Is LB button actually pressed? (try pressing harder)
Is controller connected? (check LED is solid, not blinking)
Is battery charged? (should be after 8-hour charge)
Try power-cycling robot (off/on)
Robot moves backward instead of forward:
This is a configuration issue (rare) - contact support
Do NOT attempt to fix yourself
Robot spins in circles:
One side may have reversed wiring - contact support
Robot moves but jerky/stuttering:
Check battery voltage (may need charging despite initial charge)
Check all 4 wheels spin freely
Only some wheels move:
Motor connection issue - contact support
Do NOT attempt to disassemble
Robot moves opposite to joystick movement on strict angular movement
This is by design so that back left and back right aligns with ROS
Step 8: Controller Button Familiarization
[PLACEHOLDER: Controller diagram with labeled buttons]
Now that robot responds, learn the controls:
Essential Buttons:
Left Bumper (LB) - Top left shoulder button
Function: ARM/DISARM (deadman switch)
Usage: Must hold for any movement
Safety: Release to stop immediately
Left Stick - Left analog joystick
Y-Axis (up/down): Forward/Backward speed
Function: Controls linear velocity
Range: Push gently for slow, full push for max speed
Right Stick - Right analog joystick
X-Axis (left/right): Turn left/right
Function: Controls rotation (angular velocity)
Range: Gentle = slow turn, full = sharp turn
Right Bumper (RB) - Top right shoulder button
Function: TURBO mode (optional, hold with LB)
Effect: Doubles max speed (use carefully!)
Usage: Hold both LB + RB for faster movement
Control Practice Exercise:
Try these maneuvers (remember to hold LB!):
Forward/Backward:
Hold LB
Push left stick up → forward
Push left stick down → backward
Release stick → stop
Turning in place:
Hold LB
Push right stick left → spin counterclockwise
Push right stick right → spin clockwise
Release stick → stop spinning
Drive in curves:
Hold LB
Push left stick forward (moving forward)
Push right stick left while moving → curved left turn
Push right stick right while moving → curved right turn
Turbo mode (advanced):
Hold LB + RB together
Push left stick forward → faster than normal
Use with caution! More speed = less control
Practice for 5-10 minutes until comfortable!
Step 9: Safe Shutdown
When done practicing:
Proper Shutdown Sequence:
Stop the robot
Release all controls (LB, sticks)
Robot should be stationary
Power off robot
Press power switch on back panel
Red LED will turn off
Wait 10 seconds for Pi to fully shutdown
Turn off controller
Press power button to turn off
Saves battery life
Charging (if needed)
Check battery voltage if possible
If <11V, charge before next use
Normal charge: 4 hours
Do NOT:
❌ Pull battery connector while powered on
❌ Press reset button unless system is frozen
❌ Leave robot powered on unattended
What's Next?
✅ If Everything Worked:
Congratulations! You've successfully:
✅ Unboxed and inspected your robot
✅ Charged the battery properly
✅ Powered on for the first time
✅ Connected the controller
✅ Driven the robot successfully
✅ Learned basic controls
🚀 Ready for Next Steps:
Choose your path:
Option A: Quick Start (Impatient Users) → Skip ahead to Hardware Familiarization tutorial → Start driving and learning by doing → Come back to setup later when needed
Option B: Proper Setup (Recommended) → Continue to System Setup Guide → Configure WiFi, SSH, development environment → Then proceed to tutorials in order
Option C: Just Want to Drive → You can already drive with the joystick! → Robot auto-starts joystick control on every boot → No additional setup needed for basic teleoperation → Setup required only for: mapping, navigation, development
📚 Recommended Path for Learning:
Quick Reference Card
Print or screenshot this for easy access:
Troubleshooting
Power Issues
Robot won't turn on (red LED doesn't light):
Battery completely dead? (charge for 4 hours)
Battery connector loose? (check connection, don't force)
Power switch faulty? (contact support)
Robot turns on but Controller LEDs don't light:
Dongle not fully inserted? (remove and reinsert)
Dongle in wrong port? (try different USB port if accessible)
Dongle faulty? (contact support)
Controller Issues
Controller won't connect (LED keeps blinking):
Remove and reinsert RF dongle
Power cycle robot (off, wait 10s, on)
Replace controller batteries
Controller connected but robot doesn't respond:
Are you holding LB button? (must be pressed!)
Controller batteries low? (replace)
ROS2 not started yet? (wait full 90 seconds after boot)
Restart robot as sometimes Start up services might not not have started
Movement Issues
Robot moves but very slow:
Battery voltage low? (charge battery)
Not in turbo mode? (normal - 0.5 m/s is default)
Wheels obstructed? (check for debris)
Robot stops after a few seconds:
This is normal safety behavior (500ms timeout)
Keep sending commands (hold sticks)
Prevents runaway if controller disconnects
Charging Issues
Charger LED stays green (won't charge):
Battery already full (check voltage)
Charger polarity reversed? (should only fit one way)
Try power-cycling robot once (sometimes needed)
Charger LED never turns green:
Battery may be deeply discharged (charge overnight)
May stop at 12.4-12.5V (acceptable, use anyway)
Charger may be faulty (contact support)
Getting Help
Need assistance?
Check this troubleshooting section first
Search documentation at https://docs.veerobot.com
Email support at [email protected] with:
Clear description of problem
What you've tried
Photos/videos if possible
When you purchased robot
Expected response time: Within 24 hours (business days)
Successfully completed Getting Started? → Continue to System Setup Guide
Want to start learning immediately? → Jump to Hardware Familiarization
Last Updated: January 2026 Page 2 of Beetlebot Documentation
Last updated