Overview
The Maker’s Pet robot is an affordable, hackable, and educational ROS2-powered ESP32/Arduino robot with Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) based SLAM and autonomous navigation capabilities—suitable for beginning and advanced DIY makers and robotics enthusiasts.
Building and operating the Maker’s Pet robot provides a hands-on introduction to modern robotics, spanning physical fabrication and electronics through advanced robotics software. You’ll start by completing the partially assembled 3D-printed chassis and installing the motors, sensors, microcontroller, and lidar. Along the way, you’ll gain a practical understanding of the robot’s mechanical and electrical systems—including wiring and power distribution—without needing to solder.
On the software side, the Maker’s Pet robot is built around the Robot Operating System 2 (ROS 2), the industry-standard robotics middleware used extensively in both research and commercial applications. You’ll gain high-level practical experience with ROS 2 nodes, topics, services, and launch files, while using RViz to visualize the robot’s operation in real time. As the robot moves through its environment, you can watch its pose and state, mapping data, and live lidar scans update on screen.
A highlight of the workshop is learning to work with Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) and the navigation stack using data from the onboard lidar. You’ll see how robots build maps, plan collision-free paths, and adapt to changing environments. Maker’s Pet makes these advanced topics approachable and hands-on.
You’ll also receive a brief introduction to the Gazebo simulation environment—useful for testing a robot’s behavior before deploying it to real hardware.
Based on feedback from previous workshops, and to streamline the experience for participants, all required software will be preinstalled on make717-owned computers. Windows 10 machines are pre configured and tested, allowing attendees to begin working immediately with no installation delays. Additionally, each robot’s ESP32 will come pre-flashed with the required firmware, eliminating one of the common setup pain points and allowing more time for hands-on learning and experimentation.
All robots used during the workshop will be make717-owned and partially pre-assembled. This approach ensures consistent hardware, avoids issues caused by attendees’ personal computer configurations, and allows participants to focus on meaningful activities such as driving the robot, viewing real-time sensor data, and understanding ROS 2 operation.
The workshop format consists of two sessions, each session lasting three hours in the evening or on a weekend. This structure keeps the experience focused, manageable, and accessible while still covering all core robotics topics.
Attendees who wish to continue robotics development at home may optionally purchase their own robot kit directly from the seller. For those considering this option, assistance will be available to install and test (using a make717 robot) all software on their personal computer before they commit to buying. If you buy your own kit, possible future enhancements include upgrading to Li-ion batteries, migrating to a full Linux-based environment, and incorporating additional ROS-based software.
Workshops will be limited to three attendees (a parent and child on a single robot count as one attendee). The first workshop is on the date indicated and the second workshop will have some scheduling flexibility the following week on a date acceptable to all attendees.
A short video of the robot in action can be found here.
Additional Technical Details
Maker’s Pet is a DIY educational robot built around Arduino, ESP32, and ROS 2. All parts, software, firmware, and CAD files are open source under the Apache-2.0 license.
Hardware
- 120 mm circular chassis
- Dual N20 brushed DC motors
- BDC-30P driver board with ESP32 DevKit v1
- 360° lidar for mapping & obstacle detection
- Extensible platform for sensors and advanced software development
- Six AA batteries, with optional 18650 Li-ion upgrade
Software & Autonomous Features
- Full open-source stack: firmware, ROS 2 packages, PCB schematics, and 3D models
- Docker-based PC deployment with ROS2/Kaia.ai
- SLAM mapping, live sensor feeds, and autonomous navigation
Who Is It For?
- Makers, students, and hobbyists of all experience levels
- Suitable for adults and youth 12+
