For a beginner, learning about robotics can be difficult and costly. BoosterBot, a robotics BoosterPack for the TI LaunchPads, aims to provide a cheap and easy-to-use platform for beginners to get started with robotics.
The BoosterBot is a two-wheel differential drive robot with two micro metal gear motors in the back and a ball caster in the front. It also features five reflectance sensors for line tracking/maze solving and an IR distance sensor for object following/collision avoidance. It can hold three AAA batteries to power the LaunchPad and all of the peripherals.
Simply plug in your favorite 40-pin LaunchPad on top of the BoosterBot to turn your LaunchPad into a robot. The 20-pin FRAM MSP430FR5969 LaunchPad will also work by connecting a few pins. The FRAM's low power profile (100uA/MHz active) can help extend the battery life of the robot.
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To enable rapid prototyping with the BoosterBot, software libraries for motor control and the sensor suite are provided in Energia. Beginners can also use Firmata to control and monitor the robot. All of the software and Gerber files are open source and available for download on GitHub.
BoosterBot was originally a project submission to DIY with TI: Intern Edition 2014. It received the "Second Place for Technical Design" award. Sheng Zhao and Edward Shin, the creators behind BoosterBot, are planning to turn BoosterBot into a product.