Open Source RoboticsRobots, software & field notes

NanoSaur

Based on published sources · Not tested by us ·

Overview

Small tracked Jetson robot; this profile covers the preserved 1.5.1 source, whose container recipe targets ROS 2 Foxy and whose STL files carry noncommercial terms. [S001] [S002] [S005] [S006]

nanosaur is a small tracked robot for NVIDIA Jetson. This profile selects the preserved 1.5.1 source archive, including its robot description, control launch files and container recipes. The robot description references a Jetson Nano 4 GB mesh, but that reference alone is not a complete specification for a reproducible build. [S001] [S002] [S009]

Specifications

DetailDescription
TypeSmall tracked robot with left and right tracks and printed structural parts.
Reported by source [S001] [S009] · Checked 2026-10-01
Intended usersBuilders evaluating a legacy Jetson configuration and its missing reproduction details
Editorial assessment [S001] · Checked 2026-10-01
AssemblyPrintable STL files are preserved; the website links to separate parts, printing, assembly and hardware setup instructions.
Linked build instructions and a matched complete BOM were not preserved in this review.
Reported by source [S004] [S011] · Checked 2026-10-01
CalibrationNot known
Operating systemNot known
Computer neededJetson target for the preserved Foxy/L4T container recipe; full hardware/software pairing remains to be reconciled.
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

What the archive contains

The repository includes STL parts for the tracks, body and other assemblies, a URDF/Xacro robot description and ROS 2 packages. It also contains meshes representing purchased boards and other components. Those component meshes are not fabrication-ready source for the electronics they represent. A complete native mechanical design, matched electronics source and configuration-specific bill of materials were not established by this review. [S004] [S009]

The project's quick-start page separates the physical build from simulation and points readers to parts, printing, assembly, hardware setup and installation guides. This review preserved that landing page, not all of its linked build artifacts. A prospective builder still needs to reconcile those instructions with the selected repository release before sourcing parts. No current complete build cost is claimed. [S011]

The preserved recipe uses Foxy and JetPack 4.6-era components

The Dockerfile identifies JetPack 4.6 and starts from a ROS 2 Foxy container tagged for L4T r32.6.1. Its build imports this repository from a Foxy branch and obtains separate robot and system-management packages. Several import entries either name moving branches or omit a revision. A saved copy of the main repository therefore does not freeze all of the code used by that build recipe. [S006] [S007]

The Compose file adds a second source of drift: the core image defaults to a latest tag, the web interface uses a main tag, and a Watchtower service checks for updates daily. For a repeatable experiment, record the actual image digests and dependency revisions used, together with the Jetson board and system image. That is an editorial preservation recommendation; no container was built, pulled or run here. [S008]

Check the launch configuration before treating it as a ready setup

The teleoperation launch file uses joy and teleop_twist_joy. In the preserved file, config_filepath is declared twice while joy_config is referenced without a corresponding declaration in that file. That source-level inconsistency needs review when assembling a working launch route. It does not establish the behavior of every external caller or container image. This review did not execute the launch file. [S010]

Code and printed parts have different terms

The root license and overview state MIT for code, while inspected Docker and launch files contain BSD three-clause notices. Preserve those individual notices rather than assuming the root label replaces them. External Jetson software, imported repositories and container images retain their own terms. [S001] [S003] [S006] [S008] [S010]

The STL directory has an explicit CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. Its noncommercial restriction means these printable files are not presented here as unrestricted open hardware. Availability of a printable part also does not establish dimensional accuracy or assembly success. The profile remains partial: no printing, wiring, installation, driving or autonomous behavior was tested. [S005]

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.

LayerAvailability / license
mechanical designavailable · CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0
STL files under explicit noncommercial terms; not unrestricted open hardware. Complete native editable design source not established. [S001] [S004] [S005]
electronicsnot found · License not fully assessed
Board meshes are present, but complete fabrication-ready electronics designs and a matched wiring set were not established in this primary archive. [S004] [S009]
firmwarenot found · License not fully assessed
External Jetson environment and robot repositories referenced; complete matching firmware sources and payloads not preserved here. [S004] [S006] [S007]
softwareavailable · MIT
Root and README state MIT; inspected Docker and launch files carry BSD-3-Clause notices. Preserve per-file terms; external dependencies are separate. [S001] [S003] [S006] [S008] [S010]
documentationavailable · MIT
Repository documentation under root terms; external website and wiki terms not established here. [S001] [S003]

This profile selects the robot description and basic control/container source, not a learned perception or navigation model.

References

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

  1. S001 · rnanosaur / 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.

  2. S002 · rnanosaur / project contributors
    Repository revision and release metadata
    Accessed 2026-10-01 · 2d953e37a33a9d413ae11138879589ad7002bd93
    Source notes

    Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.

  3. S003 · rnanosaur / project contributors
    Repository license
    Accessed 2026-10-01 · LICENSE
    Source notes

    Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.

  4. S004 · rnanosaur / project contributors
    Pinned repository artifact inventory
    Accessed 2026-10-01 · 2d953e37a33a9d413ae11138879589ad7002bd93 archive file inventory
    Source notes

    Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.

  5. S005 · rnanosaur / project contributors
    nanosaur 1.5.1: nanosaur_description/meshes/LICENSE
    Accessed 2026-10-01 · 2d953e37a33a9d413ae11138879589ad7002bd93 / nanosaur_description/meshes/LICENSE
    Source notes

    Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.

  6. S006 · rnanosaur / project contributors
    nanosaur 1.5.1: Dockerfile
    Accessed 2026-10-01 · 2d953e37a33a9d413ae11138879589ad7002bd93 / Dockerfile
    Source notes

    Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.

  7. S007 · rnanosaur / project contributors
    nanosaur 1.5.1: nanosaur/rosinstall/robot.rosinstall
    Accessed 2026-10-01 · 2d953e37a33a9d413ae11138879589ad7002bd93 / nanosaur/rosinstall/robot.rosinstall
    Source notes

    Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.

  8. S008 · rnanosaur / project contributors
    nanosaur 1.5.1: docker-compose.yml
    Accessed 2026-10-01 · 2d953e37a33a9d413ae11138879589ad7002bd93 / docker-compose.yml
    Source notes

    Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.

  9. S009 · rnanosaur / project contributors
    nanosaur 1.5.1: nanosaur_description/urdf/nanosaur.urdf.xml
    Accessed 2026-10-01 · 2d953e37a33a9d413ae11138879589ad7002bd93 / nanosaur_description/urdf/nanosaur.urdf.xml
    Source notes

    Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.

  10. S010 · rnanosaur / project contributors
    nanosaur 1.5.1: nanosaur_control/launch/teleop.launch.py
    Accessed 2026-10-01 · 2d953e37a33a9d413ae11138879589ad7002bd93 / nanosaur_control/launch/teleop.launch.py
    Source notes

    Source text inspected for the cited scoped claims; see profile claim notes.

  11. S011 · rnanosaur / project contributors
    nanosaur quick-start guide
    Accessed 2026-10-01 · Landing page preserved 2026-09-30T11:57:02.592601+00:00; linked files not included
    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: 2d953e37a33a9d413ae11138879589ad7002bd93 (release 1.5.1). Combined hardware and software repository activity recorded 2021-10-30 [S002]

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

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