The robotics platform is open source and user-friendly

Having a 3D printer or CNC machine available for projects is almost magical. Designing parts in software and having them appear on the shop floor is definitely a luxury. But for many of us, these tools aren't readily available, and projects that use them may be out of reach. That's why one of the main design goals for this robotic platform was to use as many off-the-shelf components as possible.

The robot is called OpenScout and, as the name suggests, is intended to be a fully open-source robotics platform for a wide range of use cases. It uses a readily available aluminum extrusion as the frame, which bolts together without any other specialized tools like welders. The robot's body is articulated, which helps it navigate rough terrain outdoors. The spec also calls for the use of an Arduino to drive the robot, although there is plenty of space in the robot's body to house any robotic platform you have on hand.

This is a great project for anyone looking to dive into the useful work of what bots can do, rather than spending time building a rig from scratch. It is simple and easy to build without many specialized tools. The unique articulated body design should make it effective in many environments. If you have a 3D printer, however, this opens up many options for robotic platforms.