Introduction
Introduction to Beetlebot Robot
Overview
Beetlebot is a professional-grade mobile robotics platform designed for research, education, and autonomous navigation development. Built by VEEROBOT® (a Siliris product), Beetlebot combines industrial-strength hardware with the flexibility of ROS2 Jazzy, making it ideal for universities, research labs, and robotics enthusiasts who need a serious platform.
Unlike toy-grade robots, Beetlebot features rugged aluminum construction, high-torque metal gear motors, and a comprehensive sensor suite - delivering the capability of platforms like Clearpath Husky at a fraction of the cost.
What Makes Beetlebot Special?
🏗️ Industrial-Grade Construction
Powder-coated aluminum chassis (not plastic)
Rugged design for indoor and outdoor use
Metal gear motors (JGB37-3530) rated for continuous operation
Professional cable management and component mounting
🧠 Powered by ROS2 Jazzy
Full ROS2 Jazzy Jalisco integration
Complete Navigation2 (Nav2) stack
SLAM Toolbox for mapping
Gazebo Harmonic simulation support
URDF models with accurate physics
🎯 Research-Ready Sensor Suite
RPLidar C1 - 360° laser scanning, 12m range
Raspberry Pi Camera V1.3 - 5MP imaging
LSM6DSRTR IMU - 6-axis motion sensing (accelerometer + gyroscope)
Quadrature Encoders - 3600 ticks/revolution per wheel
Battery Monitoring - Real-time voltage tracking
🚀 Powerful Compute Platform
Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB RAM) - Main ROS2 brain
STM32F405 (Lyra controller) - Real-time motor control
168 MHz Cortex-M4F - Deterministic motor control at 20Hz
FreeRTOS - Multi-threaded firmware for reliability
🎮 Ready Out of the Box
Pre-installed ROS2 Jazzy on Ubuntu 24.04
All packages built and configured
Auto-start joystick control on boot
Wireless controller included (Cosmic Byte Nexus)
Key Applications
Beetlebot is designed for:
✅ Academic Research - Publish papers, test algorithms, conduct experiments ✅ Robotics Education - Teach autonomous systems, computer vision, SLAM ✅ Algorithm Development - Test navigation, planning, perception algorithms ✅ Prototype Development - Rapid prototyping of mobile robot applications ✅ Competitions - Robotics competitions requiring autonomous navigation
Technical Highlights
Dimensions (L×W×H)
375mm × 360mm × 245mm
Weight
~2.2 kg (with battery)
Payload
1 kg
Drive Type
4-Wheel Skid-Steer Drive
Max Speed
1.0 m/s (3.6 km/h)
Battery
3S Li-Ion 11.1V 10Ah (3S4P, 2500mAh cells)
Runtime
5-6 hours typical use
Ground Clearance
16.3 cm
Operating Temp
15-40°C
Compute
Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB) + STM32F405
Communication
WiFi 6 (2.4/5GHz), Ethernet, UART
What's Inside?
[PLACEHOLDER: System architecture diagram]
Hardware Architecture
The Lyra Controller
What is Lyra? Lyra is the STM32-based motor controller board inside Beetlebot. It handles all real-time motor control, sensor reading, and safety monitoring - leaving the Raspberry Pi free to focus on higher-level navigation and planning.
Why separate controller? Linux (on the Pi) is not real-time. The Lyra controller runs FreeRTOS, providing deterministic 20Hz motor control loops with microsecond precision - essential for smooth, accurate motion.
Key Features:
20Hz PID control loop per motor
Binary communication protocol (10Hz telemetry)
Multi-layer safety system (watchdog, timeouts, fault detection)
Flash-based configuration storage
USB and UART interfaces
What's in the Box
When you receive your Beetlebot, you'll find:
✅ Beetlebot Robot - Fully assembled and tested ✅ 3S Li-Ion Battery (11.1V, 10Ah) with BMS - Pre-installed ✅ 12V 2A Smart Charger with 2.1mm jack ✅ Wireless Controller (Cosmic Byte Nexus) with USB RF dongle ✅ RPLidar C1 - Pre-mounted on top plate ✅ Raspberry Pi Camera V1.3 - Pre-installed ✅ Optional Depth Camera Mount - Metal bracket for depth camera (in box, not mounted) ✅ Rugged Transport Case - Protective storage ✅ WiFi Antenna - External antenna for extended range ✅ Charging Cable and USB cables ✅ Documentation QR Code - Access to this online manual
Not Included:
Laptop or PC (required for development and visualization)
Depth camera (mount included, camera sold separately if required)
HDMI monitor (optional, for direct Pi access)
Physical Features
[PLACEHOLDER: Top-down view photo showing layout]
Front Panel
Raspberry Pi Camera - 5MP camera facing forward at 8.8cm height
Top Plate
RPLidar C1 - Mounted at 20.6cm height, centered front
Acrylic Platform - 3mm transparent plate for mounting accessories
Depth Camera Mount - Optional metal bracket at rear
Back Panel
[PLACEHOLDER: Back panel photo showing all connectors]
RJ45 Ethernet Port - Direct connection to Raspberry Pi
Power Switch - Main power ON/OFF (red LED indicator when ON)
Reset Button - Tactile button (raised button) - restarts Raspberry Pi
Charging Port - 2.1mm center-positive jack (12V 2A)
OLED Display - Optional feature - may not be present on all units
Side Panels
USB Connector Slot - RF dongle for wireless controller (removable)
USB/HDMI Placeholder - Access point for additional connectors (not populated)
Wheels
4× Rubber Wheels - 130mm diameter with aggressive tread
Blue Hubs - Color-coded for easy identification
All-Terrain - Suitable for indoor floors and outdoor pavement
Safety Warnings ⚠️
READ BEFORE OPERATING
Battery Safety
❌ Never charge battery unattended
❌ Never use damaged or swollen battery
❌ Never short-circuit battery terminals
❌ Never expose battery to temperatures >40°C
✅ Always use included 12V 2A charger only
✅ Always charge for 8 hours on first use
✅ Always inspect battery regularly for damage
Battery Management System (BMS) Protection:
Under-voltage cutoff: 9.3V (3.1V per cell)
Over-voltage protection: 12.6V (4.2V per cell)
Short-circuit protection: Automatic
Operation Safety
❌ Never operate near stairs or ledges
❌ Never operate in water or wet conditions
❌ Never leave robot unattended when powered on
❌ Never operate with damaged wiring
✅ Always supervise robot operation
✅ Always keep clear of moving parts
✅ Always use on flat, stable surfaces during learning
✅ Always hold joystick deadman button (LB) for motion
Charging Safety
Charge in well-ventilated area
Place on non-flammable surface during charging
Charger LED: Red = Charging, Green = Full
Charging time: 4 hours normal, 8 hours first use
Can charge while powered OFF or ON (charger is smart)
May stop at 12.4-12.5V (normal) - charge for full 4 hours
Environmental Limits
Operating Temperature: 15-40°C (59-104°F)
Storage Temperature: 0-35°C (32-95°F)
Humidity: <80% RH (non-condensing)
Terrain: Flat floors, low-pile carpet, outdoor pavement
Obstacles: Can climb ~1-2cm thresholds
Performance Specifications
Motion Capabilities
Maximum Speed: 1.0 m/s (safe indoor speed)
Typical Operating Speed: 0.3-0.5 m/s (during mapping/navigation)
Turning Radius: In-place rotation (0 radius)
Acceleration: Smooth ramping (5 RPM/cycle limit,
MAX_RPM_STEP_PER_CYCLEin firmware)Ground Clearance: 16.3 cm
Obstacle Climbing: ~1-2 cm thresholds
Sensor Performance
LiDAR Range: 12m maximum, 8-10m practical indoors
LiDAR Scan Rate: 10 Hz (8000 samples/second)
Camera Resolution: 5MP (2592×1944), 30fps @ 1080p
IMU Update Rate: 100 Hz
Encoder Resolution: 3600 ticks/revolution (900 CPR × X4 quadrature)
Odometry Accuracy: ±3-5% linear, ±5-10% angular (wheel-only)
Power & Runtime
Battery Capacity: 10Ah (11.1V nominal)
Runtime: 5-6 hours typical mixed use
Continuous Operation: ~1 hour tested
Charging Time: 4 hours (8 hours first use)
Voltage Range: 9.3V (cutoff) to 12.6V (full)
Power Consumption: ~10-15W typical, ~30W peak
Navigation Performance
Mapping Resolution: 5cm per pixel (typical)
Localization Accuracy: <10cm with good map
Obstacle Avoidance: 10-15cm safety margin
Navigation Success Rate: ~80% in structured environments
Path Planning: Global + local planning with dynamic obstacle avoidance
Communication
WiFi Range: -37 to -40 dBm (excellent with external antenna)
Controller Range: ~30-40m line-of-sight
ROS2 DDS: Multi-machine support over WiFi
Ethernet: Gigabit available via rear RJ45 port
Learning Path
Beetlebot comes with comprehensive tutorials designed to take you from beginner to autonomous navigation expert:
🟢 Beginner (Start Here)
Hardware Familiarization - Understand your robot
ROS2 Communication & Tools - Master ROS2 basics
Robot Simulation - Practice in Gazebo before real robot
🟡 Intermediate
Sensor Data Visualization - Work with LiDAR, camera, IMU
IMU Signal Processing - Filter noisy sensor data
Teleoperation Control - Drive and understand kinematics
Sensor Fusion - Combine wheel odometry + IMU with EKF
🔴 Advanced
SLAM Mapping - Build maps of your environment
Computer Vision - Extract information from camera
Localization - Know where you are on the map
Autonomous Navigation - Full self-driving capability
Estimated Learning Time: 40-60 hours total for complete mastery
System Requirements
For Robot Development
Laptop/PC Required: Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 (Preferred) (ROS2 Jazzy compatible)
RAM: 8GB minimum, 16GB recommended
Storage: 20GB free space for ROS2 installation
Network: WiFi or Ethernet for robot communication
Optional: External monitor/keyboard for direct Pi access
Included with Robot
Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB) - Pre-configured with:
Ubuntu 24.04 Server (64-bit ARM)
ROS2 Jazzy Jalisco (pre-installed)
All Beetlebot packages (built and tested)
Auto-start script (joystick enabled on boot)
Network Setup Required
WiFi network with internet access
Static IP configuration (guided setup)
SSH access enabled (pre-configured)
Support & Resources
Getting Help
Documentation: https://docs.veerobot.com Technical Support: [email protected] Source Code: GitHub (link provided on request)
Warranty
Hardware: 12 months from purchase date
Battery: 6 months or 300 charge cycles (whichever comes first)
Software Updates: Provided free via GitHub
Warranty does NOT cover:
Physical damage from drops, crashes, or misuse
Water damage
Unauthorized modifications / Tampering
Electronics misuse or short circuit
Battery damage from improper charging
Before Contacting Support
Please have ready:
Robot serial number (if applicable - sticker on bottom)
Detailed description of issue
What you've tried already
Error messages or logs
Photos/videos of the problem (helpful!)
Next Steps
🚀 New Users - Start Here:
Read Safety Warnings (above) - Important!
Unbox and Inspect → Getting Started
System Setup → Setup Guide
First Drive → Hardware Familiarization
🔧 Ready to Configure:
→ Continue to System Setup Guide
📚 Ready to Learn:
→ Jump to Learning Robotics with Beetlebot
About VEEROBOT®
Beetlebot is designed and manufactured by VEEROBOT®, a robotics division of Siliris Technologies Private Limited. Our mission is to make professional-grade robotics accessible to researchers, educators, and innovators worldwide.
Quality Promise:
Industrial-grade components
Rigorous testing before shipping
Comprehensive documentation
Responsive technical support
Open-source software stack
Ready to start your robotics journey? → Continue to Getting Started
Last Updated: January 2026 Documentation Version: 1.0 Compatible with: Beetlebot Hardware v1.1, Firmware 2025.11.05, ROS2 Jazzy
Last updated