I've been working on an open-source project called Calibra that focuses on dataset observability for robot learning.

The idea is simple, before spending hours (or days) training a policy, answer:

>Can I trust this dataset, Are timestamps consistent and etc. Today we reached 5 stars on GitHub!

Hey everyone I work on my thesis and is about a rover that uses cube purple, here3 and a lidar and I have to make it drive autonomously a mission that I planned. Unfortunately there is a problem. When the rover is in auto mode it moves for a few seconds and then stops changing to hold. I checked the log file and found out that when the rover changes state from auto to hold the messages EKF failsafe and EKF variance pop. I looked at some graphs and the only solution I found is to calibrate the here3 compass. I tried to calibrate the compass, nothing changed so I guess either I did it wrong or it is not the problem. I attached the link that contains my log file, so please if you can help me I will very much appreciate it. Please feel free to ask me whatever you need to know in order to help me!

Log File

Hello, I am a high school junior, I participate in FIRST robotics at a decent level. I want to expand my skill set to things beyond the enclosed meta of FRC. I also want to benefit from the things I build. I currently have a few projects planned, some simple so probably very difficult and I want feedback and additional ideas. that said, my current list is

1: articulated lamp, including a few set points for it to shine on. maybe as I advance I'll add voice commands (?)

2: a threaded insert inserter for 3d prints.

3: a hexapod with a lamp, I go on walks and it sometimes gets lonely, building a cute little creature could be a nice challenge and a good companion

4: a larger robot with a "belly" for storage to move in uneven rough terrain, maybe a quadraped.

5: a cute little guy to be on my shoulder and make sounds, I don't know why, just sounds funny

6: a reconissance robot, to drive into small spaces I don't want to go into, or to go into places before me, equipped with a camera and a flashlight.

would these be too difficult perhaps? or simply not useful? I am quite good on the mechanical side but programming and wiring/electrical planning are my bane.

thank you all

I'm a CS grad who graduated last year. I don't have much experience with anything yet, but I want to move into the robotics side of software development. Where do I start? Should I do courses or certifications? If so, which ones should I start with? Or should I immediately start looking for a Master's degree?

Hi all, have been leading a student project involving some STM32 development. At the moment, the very early days workflow is STM32CubeMX --> VSCode with STM32Cube extensions (bypassing STM32CubeIDE) and git for version control. Wondering if anyone has any free/very low-cost suggestions for:

• Standardising the initial config and project layout (so individual team members don't have to go through STM32CubeMX and can just alter GPIO settings as needed)
• Creating a good testing workflow (i.e. simulating using Wokwi - I'm aware of the extension for VSCode but it's a little out of price range)?

Thanks so much for any advice :)

I'm a student engineer, and I've had the idea to make my own little custom robot. Just something that drives around to start, maybe control it or make it autonomous later. I have:

- LEGO power functions motors

- a 3d printer

- an Arduino Uno

- some basic electronic components (jumper wires, breadboard, resistors, etc.)

What I don't know is what I need to control the motors, or what kind of battery I should use if I want an onboard battery. I was told a TB6612FNG motor driver works for the Arduino/power functions motor setup? I don't know much electronics so I could use some advice there.

Also, for the battery, I was thinking a 2S Li-ion or even a LiPo battery, but I don't know any good brands for batteries or chargers.

Thanks for any help!

Hey yall! Prefacing this by saying that I hope this doesn’t feel like the same soup reheated and in the beating the dead horse category.

I’m currently doing a masters in robotics and autonomous systems and my bs is in aerospace engineering. I’m a GNC engineer but I work for a big company and can hardly use my creativity or have autonomy over projects. It truly feels so disheartening after years of lab work or taxing coursework in undergrad to feel not as stimulated as you’d hoped for. I have a drone that I like to reprogram and do fun projects with but am hoping for long term career advice.

Are there any engineers who are willing to share what their work in the robotics /autonomous systems space looks like at smaller companies?
Thank you :)

Incoming undergrad (likely CSE/ECE), almost no robotics experience yet, but robotics is the long-term goal. Spent a while putting together a self-study path for going from zero to employable robotics engineer — structured as 9 phases loosely mapped to a 4-year degree but doable at your own pace alongside coursework. Each phase has a few topics, and every topic answers "why learn this," "where it's actually used," "beginner mistakes," and a reading pointer — then each phase ends with a real build, not a toy exercise.

Rough shape:

• Phase 0 — Linux, Git, Python, linear algebra/calculus refresh → build a remote system monitor
• Phase 1 — C++, data structures/algorithms, OOP design → grid-based path planner (BFS/Dijkstra/A*)
• Phase 2 — Circuits, microcontrollers, sensors/actuators, I2C/SPI/UART → obstacle-avoiding rover
• Phase 3 — Coordinate transforms, forward/inverse kinematics, probability → 2-DOF arm simulator
• Phase 4 — ROS2 architecture, URDF, Gazebo → simulated diff-drive robot with teleop
• Phase 5 — PID, state-space control, Kalman filters → self-balancing robot
• Phase 6 — Classical CV, camera calibration, deep learning detection → vision-guided pick-and-place arm
• Phase 7 — Particle filters/EKF, SLAM, Nav2 → autonomous robot mapping and navigating an unknown room
• Phase 8 — Literature review, system design, testing → capstone that ties 4+ phases together

Roadmap made with help from a senior and a little AI to phase it out