ERA-BASE Mobile Robot Platform

Kurt Konolige, the inventor of the highly successful Pioneer line of robots, has designed a next-generation robot platform for educational and research robotics.

The ERRATIC platform (from the Latin errare: to wander) is compact, powerful, and capable of carrying a full load of robotics equipment, including an integrated PC, laser rangefinder, pan tilt unit, and stereo camera.

We have designed the ERRATIC robot platform to be both simple, reasonably priced, and highly expandable.  The ERRATIC platform was created with the experience of many years of teaching an advanced robotics course at Stanford University, as well as participation in DARPA mobile robot projects such as Centibots and LAGR (Learning And Ground Robots).

Check out this map made with the ERA-MOBI robot platform using the Hokuyo URG sensor!

ERA-BASE Features

What distinguishes the ERA-BASE from other mobile robots in this class?  Our design philosophy has focused on the following components:

• Industrial-strength motors and aluminum alloy base, 500 step motion encoders
• Large, flat top plate for mounting computer, sensors and peripherals
• Integrated controller + motor driver for precise control of the drive system
• Designed to accept standard computer and peripherals, such as cameras and speakers
• Custom open-source Player/Stage drivers
• High capacity battery

Because of efficiencies in design and advances in use of off-the-shelf components, we are able to offer these robot platforms at very attractive prices, in keeping with our vision for robot platforms: compact, inexpensive, powerful.  The ERA-BASE costs less than other platforms in its class for the same or better features.

ERA-BASE Kit Contents

• Robot base
• 12.8v battery
• Battery charger
• Cable (USB)
• Player/Stage drivers
• Hardware and Software Manuals (download)

Additional accessories are availabe separately.

ERA-BASE Requirements

None

Technical Specifications

Download ERA-BASE Data Sheet (PDF)

ERA-BASE Models

ERA-BASE Accessories

Videre Design offers a selection of sensors and cameras to meet your application needs.

ERA-BASE Software

• Player/Stage v2.0.3 Source with Erratic Rev E patches
• Erratic Simulator Configuration files, Rev E
• Erratic Standalone Test Program, Rev E
• Erratic Controller Firmware, Rev E.1

Manual

• ERA-BASE User's Manual

Data Sheet

• ERA-BASE Data Sheet (PDF)

Guides

• Accessory Mounting Instructions
• Lead-Acid Batteries Installation and Removal Check List
• Erratic Shipping Procedures

Overviews

• Onboard PC vs Net-centric Robot Computing

ERA-BASE Case Studies

These ERA-MOBI applications illustrate how the ERA-BASE with a computer added could be used.

	All in the Labs: ERA-MOBI Robot Application Stanford Course CS 225B: Robot Programming Lab Stanford University’s “Robot Programming Lab” course, taught each Fall quarter by Kurt Konolige, challenges the students to take material from the lectures and translate it into practice on ERA-MOBI mobile robots.... more
	To See What No Robot Has Seen Before: ERA-MOBI Robot & STH-MDCS-VAR Camera Application Texas Tech Course CS5391: Introduction to AI Robotics Texas Tech offers the course CS5391, "Introduction to AI Robotics", which teaches graduate and undergraduate students the basics of robotics. Through lectures, reading assignments and a substantial final project... more
	Research with Blood, Sweat, and Tears: ERA-MOBI Robot Application Washington University in St Louis Course CSE 553: Advanced Mobile Robotics The Erratic robots, named Blood, Sweat, and Tears, are in constant use in an advanced mobile robotics course at Washington University in St Louis. Students learn the joys and challenges of robotics research... more
	Robotics Class for All: ERA-MOBI Robot Application OpenCourseWare: MIT’s Free Bachelor Level Class on the Design of Robotics Systems Via MIT’s OpenCourseWare, anyone can take “Introduction to Robotics." In addition to the standard course material, students are challenged with a final project, such as developing a de-mining or a search-and-rescue robot... more
	Calm in the Face of Fire: ERA-MOBI Robot Application Mobile Robots Assist Smoke-Blinded Firefighters in Search and Rescue Operations Using Videre Design’s ERA-MOBI mobile robot platform, the GUARDIANS robots work with firefighters to help guide them, indicating possible obstacles and maintaining communications links...more
	Clickable World: ERA-MOBI Robot Application Mobile Robotic Behavior Selection Determined by Laser Pointing and Context Georgia Tech used an ERA-MOBI robotic platform to create a robot that interacts with humans and the human world in specific ways via a behavior selection system in addition to El-E's laser-pointer location abilities...more
	Fetch!: ERA-MOBI Robot Application An Assistive Robot Aims to Improve Quality of Life for Individuals with Motor Impairments The Healthcare Robotics Lab at Georgia Tech created EI-E, a mobile robot that locates and fetches items from flat surfaces, such as tables or the floor, for people with visual and mobility challenges...more
	Tagged: ERA-MOBI Robot Application Robot Mobility and Scanning Systems for Tag Pose Estimation Seeking to go beyond the capabilities of laser range finding devices, researchers at Georgia Tech University created a multiple-antenna radio frequency identification (RFID) reader on Videre Design's mobile robot...more
	School's In for the Summer: ERA-MOBI Robot Application Autonomous Mobile Robot Navigation Methods Each summer the University of California, Santa Barbara, hosts the EPSEM/SIMS summer programs for incoming students in science and engineering to learn first-hand how research is conducted... more