NASA JPL Open Source Rover

This lab involves the construction and operation of the NASA JPL Open Source Rover, a scaled-down robotic explorer modeled after the Curiosity and Perseverance Mars rovers. Students assemble a complex mechanical drivetrain featuring a six-wheel rocker-bogie suspension system designed for navigating rugged terrain. The project integrates mechanical engineering, electronics fabrication, and software development as students populate custom printed circuit boards, configure motor controllers, and write Python scripts for a Raspberry Pi. Participants learn about closed-loop motor control using encoders, multi-servo steering systems, power distribution with lithium polymer batteries, and serial communication protocols. Through this hands-on project, students gain practical experience in building and troubleshooting an integrated mechatronic system used in planetary exploration research.

Robotics Mechatronics NASA JPL Open Source Rover OSR Raspberry Pi RPi Python Rocker-Bogie Motor Control Servo Motors PCB Assembly Soldering Embedded Systems Power Management LiPo Battery Laser Cutting Serial Communication Encoders goBILDA Mechanical Engineering

Uploaded by demo on 2026-07-19 · ready · Electronics · Original source ↗

Files: parts_list_README.md · digikey_bom.csv · parts_list.csv · NSF_ATE_provenance.txt

Readiness checks

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Latest report — 2026-07-19 16:48

Readiness: NASA JPL Open Source Rover

Verdict: Ready with caveats · 2026-07-19 · est. parts cost $1,250–$1,480

The project is largely implementable using primary distributors. This is a cold check baseline. The principal caveat is the Molex Super-SABRE header (1726750613), which is out of stock at all major authorized distributors with a 36-week lead time. Secondary stock exists at specialized vendors, but this is a high-current bottleneck for the Motor Board. One 2-position female header is out of stock but has a verified drop-in substitute.

Action required

Part Problem Recommended action
1726750613 Out of stock at major distributors (36-week lead time). Source from specialized distributors like JAK Electronics ($2.37) or NextWarehouse ($7.67).
PPTC021LFBN-RC Out of stock at DigiKey (11-week lead time). Use Samtec SSW-102-01-T-S (verified substitute).

Parts

Electronics Bill of Materials

1. Integrated Circuits and Semiconductors

Part Spec/Package Status Stock Price Source
MIC2937A-3.3WT TO-220-3 Active 360 $3.02 DigiKey
2N3906TA TO-92-3 Active 4,779 $0.27 DigiKey
STPS10L25D TO-220AC Active 1,784 $2.51 DigiKey
1N4148 DO-35 (Axial) Active 997,222 $0.10 DigiKey

2. Discrete Passive Components (Commodity)

Part Spec/Package Status Stock Price Source
CF14JT series Axial 1/4W 5% Active >500k ~$0.10 DigiKey
CF18JT68R0 Axial 1/8W 5% Active 27,285 $0.10 DigiKey
C317C103K5R5TA7301 10nF Ceramic Active 43,449 $0.35 DigiKey
C322C104K5R5TA7317 0.1µF Ceramic Active 22,727 $0.94 DigiKey
ESK series (100µF) Radial Elect. Active High — DigiKey
ESK106M050AC3AA 10µF Elect. Active 31,769 $0.17 DigiKey

3. Connectors and Electromechanical

Part Spec/Package Status Stock Price Source
DC10CGKWA 10-Seg Bar Graph Active 863 $4.69 DigiKey
TSW-104-07-F-T 3x4 Header Active 227 $1.04 DigiKey
PEC08SAAN 8-pos Male Hdr Disc. 8,609 $0.82 DigiKey
PPTC102LFBN-RC 20-pos Fem Hdr Active 4,295 $1.32 DigiKey
SBH11-PBPC-D20-ST-BK 40-pos Shroud Active 34,036 $0.66 DigiKey
B6B-PH-K-S(LF)(SN) 6-pos JST 2mm Active 25,249 $0.27 DigiKey
0702462001 20-pos Shroud Active 6,971 $3.09 DigiKey
PPTC021LFBN-RC 2-pos Fem Hdr OOS 0 — DigiKey
OSTTA024163 2-pos Term Blk Active 37,548 $0.72 DigiKey
1726750613 Super-SABRE Hdr OOS 0 $2.37 JAK Electronics
EDSTL130/24 24-pos Term Hdr Active 12,821 $4.73 DigiKey
0395016006 6-pos Term Hdr Active 9,385 $2.46 DigiKey
0395005006 6-pos Term Plug Active 9,626 $3.07 DigiKey
206-124 SPDT 4-pos DIP Active 6,087 $2.34 DigiKey
C3920BAAAA Toggle Switch Active 818 $10.30 DigiKey
696108003002 Fuse Clip Active 28,283 $0.64 DigiKey
0233010.MXP 10A Glass Fuse Active 1,360 $1.56 DigiKey

4. External Modules and Major Components

Part Spec/Package Status Stock Price Source
Raspberry Pi 5 Controller Plat. Active High $59.99 Micro Center
Roboclaw 2x7A Motor Controller Active High $75.00 Basic Micro
Pololu #2881 5V Regulator Active High $18.95 Pololu
Pololu #2855 12V Regulator Active High $29.95 Pololu
INA260 (#4226) Power Monitor Active High $9.95 Adafruit
PCA9685 (#815) Servo Driver Active High $14.95 Micro Center
DC Power Meter Generic LCD Active High $12.50 DROK

Mechanical and Ecosystem Dependencies

1. Drivetrain and Motors

Part Spec/Package Status Stock Price Source
5203-2402-0027 Drive Motor Active High $54.99 goBILDA
2000-0025-0002 Steering Servo Active High $36.99 ServoCity
3202-0001-2501 ServoBlock Active High $34.99 RobotShop
3616-0014-0144 Wheels Active High $24.99 goBILDA

2. Structural Ecosystem (goBILDA)

Part Spec/Package Status Stock Price Source
Hurricane Nuts Proprietary Active High — goBILDA
Hyper Hubs 8mm REX bore Active High — goBILDA
Pillow Blocks 32mm bore Active High — goBILDA

3. Power and Battery

Part Spec/Package Status Stock Price Source
4S LiPo Battery 14.8V 5000mAh Active High $53.99 Walmart
XT30 Connectors Male/Female Active High — Commodity

Substitutes

For part Substitute Differences Verified Judgment
PPTC021LFBN-RC SSW-102-01-T-S Drop-in replacement. Package + pitch + mounting Acceptable

Instructor: verify any substitute against its datasheet before ordering.

Other dependencies

  • PCB Fabrication: Requires Gerbers for "Brain Board" and "Motor Board" (v2.0.2); 1.6mm FR-4, 1oz copper. Status: not checked.
  • Chassis Plates: Requires laser cutting 3mm (1/8") Acrylic or MDF using provided .dxf files. Status: not checked.
  • Software Dependencies: Python libraries for PCA9685 and Roboclaw serial communication; Raspberry Pi OS. Status: available (pip).
  • Assembly Tools: M4 hex keys (2.5mm, 3mm), 7mm nut driver, crimpers for JST PH/Molex Super-SABRE. Status: checked (readily available).

Watch list

  • 1726750613 (Molex Super-SABRE): Global stockout at primary distributors; 36-week lead time makes Motor Board assembly difficult without secondary sourcing.
  • PEC08SAAN: Marked as discontinued at DigiKey; while male headers are common, specific stock levels for this MPN are dwindling.
  • goBILDA Proprietary Hardware: The hurricane nuts and hubs are ecosystem-specific; any stockouts at goBILDA will halt chassis assembly as they are not easily substituted with standard hardware.
Snapshot What the lab depended on when it was uploaded — the baseline the readiness checks research against.

This snapshot describes the hardware requirements for the NASA JPL Open Source Rover, a student-oriented robotics project based on a 6-wheel rocker-bogie suspension. The design relies on a specific mechanical ecosystem (goBILDA), a custom electronics stack (Brain and Motor boards), and various external breakout boards.

Electronics Bill of Materials

This list reconciles the DigiKey BOM and the "Extra Parts" section of the README. Footprints are derived from the manufacturer part numbers (MPNs) specified in the design files.

1. Integrated Circuits and Semiconductors

  • Voltage Regulator (A38): MIC2937A-3.3WT (Microchip). Quantity: 2. Package: TO-220-3. Constraints: 3.3V LDO, 750mA. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: MIC2937A-3.3WT.
  • Small Signal Transistor (A21): 2N3906TA (onsemi). Quantity: 10. Package: TO-92-3. Constraints: PNP, 40V, 200mA. Substitution: Any PNP small-signal transistor in TO-92 (e.g., BC557) works. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: 2N3906TA.
  • Schottky Diode (A5): STPS10L25D (STMicroelectronics). Quantity: 2. Package: TO-220AC. Constraints: 25V, 10A. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: STPS10L25D.
  • Switching Diode (A6): 1N4148. Quantity: 10. Package: DO-35 (Axial). Constraints: 75V, 300mA. Substitution: Standard 1N4148 or 1N914. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: 1N4148.

2. Discrete Passive Components (Commodity)

  • Resistors (Axial 1/4W 5%): Values needed: 100 Ω (A22, Qty 10), 10k Ω (A23, Qty 10), 4.7k Ω (A24, Qty 25), 0 Ω Jumper (A25, Qty 10), 82 Ω (A27, Qty 10), 1k Ω (A28, Qty 10), 680 Ω (A29, Qty 10), 220 Ω (A30, Qty 10). Sourcing plan: distributor lookup (representative example): CF14JT series.
  • Resistors (Axial 1/8W 5%): Value needed: 68 Ω (A26, Qty 10). Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: CF18JT68R0.
  • Ceramic Capacitors (Radial): Values: 10nF/10000pF (A1, Qty 20), 0.1µF (A3, Qty 10). Constraints: ≥ 50V, X7R dielectric, 2.54mm or 5.08mm lead spacing. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: C317C103K5R5TA7301 and C322C104K5R5TA7317.
  • Electrolytic Capacitors (Radial): Values: 100µF (A2, Qty 10), 10µF (A4, Qty 10). Constraints: ≥ 50V, 20% tolerance. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: ESK series.

3. Connectors and Electromechanical

  • LED Bar Graph (A37): DC10CGKWA (Kingbright). Quantity: 2. Package: 10-Segment Bar Graph, Green. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: DC10CGKWA.
  • Triple-Row Header (A10): TSW-104-07-F-T (Samtec). Quantity: 4. Package: 3x4 (12 position) 2.54mm pitch. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: TSW-104-07-F-T.
  • Single-Row Header (A11): PEC08SAAN (Sullins). Quantity: 4. Package: 8 position 2.54mm pitch. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: PEC08SAAN.
  • Female Header (A12): PPTC102LFBN-RC (Sullins). Quantity: 1. Package: 20 position 2.54mm pitch. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: PPTC102LFBN-RC.
  • Boxed Header (A13): SBH11-PBPC-D20-ST-BK (Sullins). Quantity: 2. Package: 40 position 2.54mm pitch shrouded. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: SBH11-PBPC-D20-ST-BK.
  • JST Header (A14): B6B-PH-K-S(LF)(SN) (JST). Quantity: 2. Package: 6 position 2mm pitch vertical. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: B6B-PH-K-S(LF)(SN).
  • Molex Header (A16): 0702462001. Quantity: 1. Package: 20 position 2.54mm pitch vertical. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: 0702462001.
  • Female Header (A17): PPTC021LFBN-RC (Sullins). Quantity: 5. Package: 2 position 2.54mm pitch. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: PPTC021LFBN-RC.
  • Terminal Block 5.08mm (A19): OSTTA024163 (On-Shore). Quantity: 2. Package: 2 position side entry. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: OSTTA024163.
  • High Current Header (A20): 1726750613 (Molex Super-SABRE). Quantity: 6. Package: 6 position 4.2mm pitch. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: 1726750613.
  • Terminal Header 5mm (B11): EDSTL130/24 (On-Shore). Quantity: 1. Package: 24 position vertical. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: EDSTL130/24.
  • Terminal Header 3.5mm (A9): 0395016006 (Molex). Quantity: 3. Package: 6 position vertical. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: 0395016006.
  • Terminal Plug 3.5mm (B2): 0395005006 (Molex). Quantity: 3. Package: 6 position mating plug for A9. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: 0395005006.
  • DIP Switch (A32): 206-124 (CTS). Quantity: 1. Package: SPDT 4-position slide. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: 206-124.
  • Toggle Switch (B9): C3920BAAAA (Arcolectric). Quantity: 1. Package: Panel Mount, On-Off-On. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: C3920BAAAA.
  • Fuse Clip (A7): 696108003002 (Wurth). Quantity: 1. Package: PCB Mount for 5x20mm fuse. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: 696108003002.
  • Fuse (B1): 0233010.MXP (Littelfuse). Quantity: 2. Spec: 10A, 125VAC, Glass 5x20mm. Sourcing plan: distributor lookup: 0233010.MXP.

4. External Modules and Major Components

  • Controller Platform: Raspberry Pi 3, 4, or 5. Spec: Raspberry Pi 5 is explicitly recommended to enable concurrent motor control (serial) and Bluetooth. Sourcing plan: retail shopping search: Raspberry Pi 5.
  • Motor Controllers: Roboclaw 2x7A (Basic Micro). Quantity: 3. Spec: Dual motor controller, 7A continuous. Substitution: Critical part; software expects Roboclaw serial protocol. Sourcing plan: general web research: Roboclaw 2x7A Motor Controller.
  • 5V Regulator: Pololu #2881. Quantity: 1. Spec: D24V50F5 step-down. Sourcing plan: retail shopping search: Pololu 2881.
  • 12V Regulator: Pololu #2855. Quantity: 1. Spec: D24V50F12 step-down. Sourcing plan: retail shopping search: Pololu 2855.
  • Current/Power Monitor: INA260 (Adafruit #4226). Quantity: 1. Sourcing plan: retail shopping search: Adafruit INA260.
  • Servo Driver: PCA9685 (Adafruit #815). Quantity: 1. Sourcing plan: retail shopping search: Adafruit PCA9685.
  • DC Power Meter: Generic LCD display for voltage/current. Sourcing plan: retail shopping search: DC power meter LCD 100V 100A.

Mechanical and Ecosystem Dependencies

1. Drivetrain and Motors

  • Drive Motors: goBILDA 5203 Series Yellow Jacket. Quantity: 6. Spec: 26.9:1 ratio, 223 RPM, 8mm REX shaft. Integrated 3.3V-5V encoder. Sourcing plan: retail shopping search: goBILDA 5203-2402-0027.
  • Steering Servos: goBILDA 2000 Series Dual Mode. Quantity: 4. Spec: 25-2 Torque. Sourcing plan: retail shopping search: goBILDA 2000-0025-0002.
  • ServoBlocks: goBILDA 3202 Series. Quantity: 4. Spec: Standard size, 25 tooth spline. Sourcing plan: retail shopping search: goBILDA 3202-0001-2501.
  • Wheels: Wasteland Wheels (144mm diameter). Quantity: 6. Sourcing plan: retail shopping search: goBILDA 3616-0014-0144.

2. Structural Ecosystem (goBILDA)

The chassis is entirely built on the goBILDA 1109, 1118, 1120, and 1121 series aluminum channels and rails.

  • Specific Proprietary Hardware: Hurricane Nuts for goRAIL (2805-0004-0108), 1310 Series Hyper Hubs (8mm REX bore), and 1604 Series Pillow Blocks (32mm bore). These use a specific 16mm pattern and are difficult to substitute with other structural systems (like 80/20 or Actobotics) without redesigning the chassis.

3. Power and Battery

  • Battery: 4S LiPo, ≥ 14V, ≥ 4000mAh. Constraint: Must be > 14V to satisfy the 12V regulator dropout voltage. Sourcing plan: retail shopping search: 4S 14.8V LiPo battery XT60 or XT30.
  • Connectors: XT30 Male/Female pairs for PCB power.

Fabrication and Software

  • PCB Fabrication: Requires Gerbers for "Brain Board" and "Motor Board" (v2.0.2). Fabrication parameters: 1.6mm thickness, FR-4, 1oz copper. Dimensions not provided but requires a standard low-cost fab (e.g., JLCPCB).
  • Chassis Plates: Requires laser cutting 3mm (1/8") thick material (Acrylic, MDF, or Hardwood) using provided .dxf files.
  • Software Dependencies: Python-based control system. Requires specific libraries for PCA9685 and Roboclaw serial communication. Raspberry Pi OS compatibility is required.
  • Assembly Tools: M4 hex keys (2.5mm, 3mm), 7mm nut driver, and specialized crimpers for JST PH, Molex Super-SABRE, and DuPont connectors.