LabRat™: Miniature robot for students, researchers, and hobbyists

LabRat^™ is an autonomous, self-contained mobile robot kit with batteries, motors, two bumper whisker sensors, and three infrared proximity sensors that double as channels for “Rat-to-Rat” communication. The vehicle determines its position with an optical sensor that detects movement in both lateral directions. The LabRat^™ design is completely open source, including software examples and libraries. LabRat^™ is designed to fit inside the body of a computer mouse and has applications in the classroom, the lab and the home. The device has been successfully used in an undergraduate robotics class.