A delivery robot is easy to prototype and hard to make street-legal.
A delivery robot is easy to prototype and hard to make street-legal. The realistic DIY version operates on private property: campus paths, warehouses, farms or a driveway. Keep speed low, use teleop fallback, and do not assume public sidewalk operation is allowed.
Mechanically it is a rugged rover with a lockable box.
Mechanically it is a rugged rover with a lockable box. Two wheelchair-style geared motors give enough torque, pneumatic tires handle rough paths, and the cargo box sits low between the wheels. A front bumper is mandatory because GPS and ultrasonic sensors miss real obstacles.
Navigation can start with GPS waypoints plus manual override.
Navigation can start with GPS waypoints plus manual override. For more autonomy, add a depth camera or 2D lidar, but the first milestone is reliable remote driving and return-to-base. The robot should stop on comms loss, not continue toward the last waypoint.