Open Source RoboticsRobots, software & learning

Kilobot (WCU revision)

Robot / hardware build

A documented Kilobot swarm-robot revision with PCB design, BOM and build guidance from Western Carolina University. [1] [2]

Build & first use →Official websiteBill of materials

For
Swarm robotics labs; Experienced electronics builders [1]
Cost
No current cost yet. Upstream bill of materials [1] [2]
Source rights
Some licenses are unresolved. Review licenses
Unknowns
host computer, tools, operating system not fully established. Review gaps

Source researched · Not tested by us
Sources checked · Research details

Licenses & related hardware
License
not fully assessed for electronics, firmware, documentation · Details by part

Requirements · Research details and dates

On this page

Overview

The Kilobot is a small swarm robot originally developed at Harvard. This entry selects Western Carolina University's 2017 revision because its public package contains a documented, inspectable build: a WCU V1.1 PCB layout, schematic, BOM, construction paper and calibration source. WCU says it revised the original design, so these files should not be presented as an unchanged Harvard release. [1] [2] [3]

WCU's resources page links a very large source archive. We inspected its ZIP directory by HTTP Range and preserved the Kilobots/BOM/WCU_Kilobot_V1_1 BOM.xlsx, PCB, schematic and Documentation/User Guides/How to Make a Kilobot.pdf with checksums. Its procedure begins with BOM review and procurement, PCB fabrication and jig printing, then component placement and reflow/soldering. It calls for advanced SMD soldering skills, reflow equipment, a 3D printer, a Windows PC, basic C programming and an overhead infrared controller to program multiple robots. WCU also offers a 2020 Altium board revision but explicitly says it was not built and verified; this profile does not use it. [1] [2] [3]

The original Harvard ZIP was outside the inspected source payload. The Kilobot Guide inside WCU's archive carries CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 text, but that alone does not settle rights for every mixed-source design or program in the archive. We did not fabricate a board, program a robot, calibrate distance sensing or test a swarm. Current component availability and total cost remain unknown. [1] [2] [4]

Is this for you?

Known limitations
  • This profile covers WCU's documented revision, not the inaccessible original Harvard ZIP or WCU's explicitly unverified 2020 Altium redesign.
  • The original Harvard design and WCU changes must not be assumed identical.
  • The 897 MB archive was inspected by HTTP Range and selected payloads extracted; the entire archive was not preserved locally.
  • Complete licensing across the mixed archive, current parts and a successful build are not established.

Source and acquisition limits.

[1] [2] [3] · Editorial assessment

What you need

Dependencies
  • WCU Kilobot PCB and BOM
  • SMD soldering and reflow tools
  • Overhead infrared controller for swarm programming
  • Firmware and calibration software

[1] [3]

Skills
  • Advanced SMD soldering/reflow
  • Basic C programming and microcontroller setup

[3]

Hardware & parts

Upstream bill of materials [1] [2]

Hardware configuration

Small mobile swarm robot

[1]

Actuators
  • Two vibration motors

[3]

Assembly & first use

Project documentation [1]

Cost

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

3D preview

Preview not available yet. WCU board design files are preserved, but this scoped revision has no verified mechanical preview or cross-file reuse permission.

Model sources

WCU board design files are preserved, but this scoped revision has no verified mechanical preview or cross-file reuse permission.

What we checked

Source research only; no fabrication, hardware commissioning, software installation or performance test performed.

Not yet established

  • Requirements: operating system, host computer, tools
  • A step-by-step setup summary

Updates

Upstream last updated
Not established
Latest release
Not established
Profile updated
Oct 24, 2026
Sources last checked
Oct 24, 2026
Next review
Nov 24, 2026
Reviewed revision
WCU 2017-03-06 archive; selected BOM, PCB, schematic and guide payloads SHA-256 pinned (897 MB archive scoped extraction)

Source files and licenses

A scoped, versioned WCU design and build guide are inspectable; original Harvard package, cross-file rights and physical build remain unresolved.

LayerAvailability / license
electronicsavailable · License not fully assessed
WCU PADS PCB, schematic and BOM selected from archive; mixed-source rights unresolved. [1] [2]
firmwareavailable · License not fully assessed
Distance-calibration source and other software are listed; exact firmware/board revision match not tested. [1] [2]
documentationavailable · License not fully assessed
WCU construction guide and original Kilobot guide are available; original guide states noncommercial ShareAlike terms, but other files need separate review. [1] [3] [4]

No independent artifact in the selected configuration established during this review.

References

Each source links to the exact revision we read. “Used for” shows where this page relies on it.

Correction guidance · Discussion is not enabled · Profile format 0.7.0-draft.5

Change history