Open Source RoboticsRobots, software & learning

TurtleBot2 (Kobuki era)

Robot / hardware build

A historical mobile research robot built around a purchased Kobuki base, depth camera and released TurtleBot structure drawings. [1] [2]

Build & first use →Official websiteSource codeBill of materials

For
Researchers maintaining a TurtleBot2; Builders studying historical mobile robot design [1]
Cost
No current cost yet. Upstream bill of materials [1]
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 mechanical design, documentation · Details by part

Requirements · Research details and dates

On this page

Overview

The TurtleBot on Yale's list is the Kobuki-era TurtleBot2, rather than TurtleBot3 or TurtleBot4. ROS describes a purchased Kobuki base, a ROS-compatible netbook, a depth camera and a structure of plates and poles. The pinned Kobuki resources archive contains DWG and PDF drawings and STEP/IGS models for those structural pieces. That makes this a useful historical design reference, even though it is not a verified complete robot manufacturing package. [1] [2] [4]

Start with the TurtleBot2 platform description to identify the intended camera and host, then inspect the pinned structure drawings and models. A Kobuki STEP model helps fit a plate; it does not establish that the base electronics or mechanics can be fabricated from this repository. The TurtleBot2e guide describes a later DragonBoard/Astra configuration and should not be silently combined with the netbook/Kinect-era design. [1] [2] [3]

ROS describes the TurtleBot project as open hardware and names a documentation license, but this review did not settle reuse rights for every drawing, purchased base component or software layer. It also did not verify current sourcing, a complete delivered cost, a compatible ROS installation or operation of an assembled robot. [1] [2]

Is this for you?

Known limitations
  • The Kobuki resource tree includes structure drawings and a base model, but a model is not proof of open base manufacturing source.
  • The TurtleBot2e DragonBoard/Astra revision is separate from the Kobuki/Kinect-era robot Yale describes.
  • Current kit sourcing, compatible ROS stack and full electronics rights have not been verified.

Configuration and source-layer limits from the inspected references.

[1] [2] [3] · Editorial assessment

What you need

Dependencies
  • Purchased Kobuki base
  • TurtleBot plate and pole structure
  • ROS-compatible netbook
  • Compatible depth camera and mount

[1] [2]

Hardware & parts

Upstream bill of materials [1]

Hardware configuration

Kobuki-based wheeled mobile robot

[1]

Sensors
  • Asus Xtion Pro Live or Kinect-era depth camera, depending on exact kit

ROS overview and historical kit descriptions vary; do not imply one universal camera.

[1] · Editorial assessment

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. Historical TurtleBot2 structure drawings are preserved, but the purchased base and assembly geometry are not reconciled for a preview.

Model sources

Historical TurtleBot2 structure drawings are preserved, but the purchased base and assembly geometry are not reconciled for a preview.

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
Aug 30, 2020 [2]
Latest release
Not established
Profile updated
Oct 24, 2026
Sources last checked
Oct 24, 2026
Next review
Nov 24, 2026
Reviewed revision
Kobuki resources 56ca24d70d697970a1144919c2a8c84fe26dce22 (commit snapshot); historical TurtleBot2 configuration described by ROS · repository

Source files and licenses

The published structural drawings support a historical design-reference profile, with the purchased Kobuki base and unreviewed software explicitly separated.

LayerAvailability / license
mechanical designavailable · License not fully assessed
Structure plate/pole drawings and model files are inspectable; base model is not manufacturing source for purchased Kobuki. [1] [2]
electronicsnot found · License not fully assessed
No complete Kobuki controller/electronics manufacturing package established in the inspected resources repository. [1] [2]
softwarenot found · License not fully assessed
ROS stack is named but not pinned and inspected in this hardware-design reference. [1]
documentationavailable · License not fully assessed
Hardware overview and drawing references are available; the platform page's documentation license does not automatically cover every repository artifact. [1] [2]

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