F1TENTH / RoboRacer

Based on published sources · Not tested by us · Sources checked 2026-10-01

Overview

Ackermann-steered racing research platform; the preserved Xavier NX/Slash guide differs from its newer Orin Nano Super/Fiesta parts list and requires configuration-specific calibration. [S001]

The preserved documentation uses the RoboRacer name for this F1TENTH-linked RC racing platform. Its build page selects a Traxxas Slash 4x4 chassis and Jetson Xavier NX, while the linked workbook now includes a newer Fiesta ST Rally VXL and Orin Nano Super configuration. These are different build generations. This entry records the pinned guide and the newer workbook without claiming that their instructions form one validated configuration. [S001] [S005] [S009]

Official website · Source code

Specifications

Detail	Description
Type	RC-based Ackermann-steered racing platform; pinned guide selects Traxxas Slash4x4 and Jetson XavierNX. Reported by source [S005] · Checked 2026-10-01
Intended users	Robotics labs comfortable with RC hardware, Jetson setup and ROS configuration Editorial assessment [S001] · Checked 2026-10-01
Assembly	Purchased RC chassis, laser-cut platform deck, compute, lidar, power board and VESC; deck/power-board revisions must match. Reported by source [S005] [S009] [S010] [S011] · Checked 2026-10-01
Calibration	Tune steering offset/gain and motor ERPM-to-speed conversion for actual wheelbase and drivetrain after manual control works. Reported by source [S008] · Checked 2026-10-01
Operating system	Pinned native guide: Ubuntu20.04/ROS2Foxy on Xavier-or-newer hardware with JetPack5-era setup Guide scope; not validation of current Orin hardware or current supported OS. Reported by source [S006] · Checked 2026-10-01
Computer needed	Onboard Jetson plus pit/host computer or monitor, keyboard and mouse for setup. Reported by source [S006] · Checked 2026-10-01

3D preview

Preview not available yet. A model has not yet been prepared and approved for display on this page. This does not mean the project lacks CAD files; see Source files and licenses for the reviewed source availability.

Assembly and use

Choose a complete hardware generation before ordering

The workbook section dated May 15, 2026 lists Orin Nano Super, Hokuyo 10LX, a power board and VESC 6 MkVI, with an estimated total of 3022.29. Optional equipment and separate tools/peripheral sections complicate that total; this review did not verify a current delivered quote. Older workbook sections retain Xavier NX and TX2-era choices. Do not copy a price from one section and assembly assumptions from another. [S009]

The linked deck folder contains V3 files and a V3.1 folder labeled for a new power board. Files inside the latter still use V3 names, with different sizes from the older files. A filename alone therefore does not establish the deck revision. The listings were preserved, but the geometry, fit and linked-file licenses were not verified. [S010] [S011]

The pinned driver guide is a Foxy-era setup

The native driver instructions describe ROS 2 Foxy on Ubuntu 20.04 with Xavier-or-newer Jetson hardware and JetPack 5-era setup. They direct older configurations to a separate Docker route. This is the scope of the saved guide, not evidence that the same image and commands reproduce the newer Orin configuration. [S006]

The separately preserved f1tenth_system stack provides launch files and parameters and depends on VESC, Ackermann command multiplexing and teleoperation packages. Its README and submodule file name different VESC branches; exact dependency commits were preserved to avoid relying on those moving branch names. No stack compilation or device connection was performed. [S012] [S014] [S015]

Calibrate the actual car before autonomy experiments

VESC setup varies with controller hardware and tool generation. The guide distinguishes servo-output configuration methods, including older non-default firmware. A firmware recipe for an older controller is not established as compatible with every newer VESC in the workbook. [S007] [S009]

After manual control works, upstream calibrates motor direction, steering center and gain, and the conversion between motor electrical RPM and vehicle speed. Initial checks use a supported car with its wheels free; later distance and turning measurements depend on the actual wheelbase and drivetrain. Record those measurements and configuration values before using odometry for mapping or localization. The guide’s example turn diameter is not a universal target for every chassis. [S008]

The driver README also distinguishes the Logitech F710 deadman controls for manual driving and navigation. Confirm the selected joystick mapping rather than assuming those buttons apply unchanged to the newer workbook’s controller. [S009] [S012]

The documentation carries CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0 terms; the separately inspected driver-stack root uses MIT. Neither establishes blanket rights for linked CAD, purchased components or all dependencies. This is a source-based platform profile with explicit version gaps, not a tested racing build or performance result. [S003] [S013]

Cost

No current, complete configuration-specific build cost has been established for this profile.

Source files and licenses

Available project sources support research coverage; complete build and commercial qualification remain separate.

Layer	Availability / license
mechanical design	available · License not fully assessed CAD filenames and revisions listed; raw geometry, complete chassis source and explicit linked-file license not verified. [S010] [S011]
electronics	available · License not fully assessed Build integration instructions and parts evidence; matched complete board manufacturing source and rights not established. [S005] [S009]
firmware	not found · License not fully assessed Guide describes VESC firmware choices, but complete matched firmware source for the selected hardware build not established here; ROS driver source is separate. [S007] [S015]
software	available · MIT Driver-stack root license; dependencies preserved separately and retain their own terms. [S012] [S013] [S015]
documentation	available · CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0 Noncommercial documentation license; not blanket licensing for linked CAD, software or purchased hardware. [S001] [S003]

Selected physical and driver-stack profile does not select a learned model or dataset.

References

Links identify the documentation and revisions used in this profile. Access dates record when each source was retrieved.

S001 · f1tenth / project contributors
Upstream project overview
Accessed 2026-10-01 · README.md
Source notes
Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.
S002 · f1tenth / project contributors
Repository revision and release metadata
Accessed 2026-10-01 · 94efb99a2df0fdf29954501f02c8de6c50ae20f9
Source notes
Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.
S003 · f1tenth / project contributors
Repository license
Accessed 2026-10-01 · LICENSE.txt
Source notes
Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.
S004 · f1tenth / project contributors
Pinned repository artifact inventory
Accessed 2026-10-01 · 94efb99a2df0fdf29954501f02c8de6c50ae20f9 archive file inventory
Source notes
Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.
S005 · f1tenth / project contributors
Preserved RoboRacer guide: getting_started/build_car/bom.rst
Accessed 2026-10-01 · 94efb99a2df0fdf29954501f02c8de6c50ae20f9 / getting_started/build_car/bom.rst
Source notes
Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.
S006 · f1tenth / project contributors
Preserved RoboRacer guide: getting_started/firmware/drive_workspace.rst
Accessed 2026-10-01 · 94efb99a2df0fdf29954501f02c8de6c50ae20f9 / getting_started/firmware/drive_workspace.rst
Source notes
Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.
S007 · f1tenth / project contributors
Preserved RoboRacer guide: getting_started/firmware/firmware_vesc.rst
Accessed 2026-10-01 · 94efb99a2df0fdf29954501f02c8de6c50ae20f9 / getting_started/firmware/firmware_vesc.rst
Source notes
Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.
S008 · f1tenth / project contributors
Preserved RoboRacer guide: getting_started/driving/drive_calib_odom.rst
Accessed 2026-10-01 · 94efb99a2df0fdf29954501f02c8de6c50ae20f9 / getting_started/driving/drive_calib_odom.rst
Source notes
Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.
S009 · f1tenth / project contributors
Linked multi-version parts workbook
Accessed 2026-10-01 · Retrieved workbook text; newest section dated2026-05-15, not pinned to documentation commit
Source notes
Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.
S010 · f1tenth / project contributors
Linked platform deck inventory
Accessed 2026-10-01 · Drive listing only; geometry and reuse terms not verified
Source notes
Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.
S011 · f1tenth / project contributors
Linked platform deck inventory
Accessed 2026-10-01 · Drive listing only; geometry and reuse terms not verified
Source notes
Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.
S012 · f1tenth / project contributors
Separate driver stack: README.md
Accessed 2026-10-01 · ae64e05fbaf6eda592ef56c13ce89c896d489a55
Source notes
Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.
S013 · f1tenth / project contributors
Separate driver stack: LICENSE
Accessed 2026-10-01 · ae64e05fbaf6eda592ef56c13ce89c896d489a55
Source notes
Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.
S014 · f1tenth / project contributors
Separate driver stack: gitmodules.txt
Accessed 2026-10-01 · ae64e05fbaf6eda592ef56c13ce89c896d489a55
Source notes
Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.
S015 · f1tenth / project contributors
Driver stack and dependency acquisition
Accessed 2026-10-01 · Exact gitlink snapshots preserved; no runtime validation
Source notes
Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.

Research and review details

Source research only; no installation, physical build or performance test performed. No affiliate links added.

Profile edited 2026-10-01 · Sources checked 2026-10-01 · Next review target 2026-10-31

Revision: 94efb99a2df0fdf29954501f02c8de6c50ae20f9 (release foxy). Combined hardware and software repository activity recorded 2026-01-09 [S002]

Correction guidance · Discussion is not enabled · Profile format 0.6.0-draft.1

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