Light Rover, a Learning Cart Robot Equipped with LiDAR, Upgrades ROS 2 Compatibility
Vstone has updated the ROS 2 compatible documents and samples for its tabletop learning cart robot 'Light Rover', which is equipped with LiDAR and a Raspberry Pi 4, to the latest LTS version (Jazzy) and released them for free.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 19:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 11:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 17:42 (126h 40m after Collected)
Vstone Co.,Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, President: Nobuo Yamato) has updated the ROS 2 compatible documents and samples for the "Light Rover," a tabletop-size ROS-compatible cart robot equipped with a LiDAR (LRF), to the latest LTS version and released them free of charge.
Light Rover
■ Main Features
The "Light Rover" manufactured by Vstone Co.,Ltd. is a small two-wheel cart robot that can be operated on a tabletop. It comes standard with a high-performance LiDAR (LRF) and a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (4GB RAM version). It is widely used as learning materials and development platforms for cart robot control in schools, companies, for education, training, and research purposes.
The ROS 2 compatible documents and samples released this time update the Light Rover's ROS 2 compatibility to the latest version (LTS version). Those who already own the product can download and update it for free.
Vstone Co.,Ltd. believes that it is extremely important for learning materials like this product to be usable for a long time when advancing research and development of robot-related technologies and human resource development. Through the provision of this update, we will directly contribute to human resource education and technical development in the entire robot industry.
(1) Release of ROS 2 Compatible Documents and Packages
The ROS 2 compatible documents for Light Rover and the packages compatible with ROS 2 are available at the following URLs. The included sample programs and the required operating environment are as follows:
[Public Information]
- Documents
https://vstoneofficial.github.io/lightrover_webdoc/
- Package Distribution URL
https://github.com/vstoneofficial/lightrover_ros2
[List of Public Sample Programs]
- Operation from a gamepad
- SLAM (slam-toolbox)
- Autonomous driving (Nav2)
[Operating Environment]
- OS: Ubuntu MATE 24.04
- ROS: ROS2 Jazzy
(Setup is required on the Raspberry Pi mounted on the Light Rover according to the document)
Example of SLAM execution using slam-toolbox
Example of Navigation execution using Nav2
(2) Standard Equipment of Raspberry Pi 4 Model B and LiDAR (LRF)
Despite its small chassis, the Light Rover is standardly equipped with a 4GB RAM version of the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B and a compact LiDAR (LRF). In the autonomous control of modern cart robots, computing power is required more than ever before, and the Raspberry Pi 4 provides the processing speed to fully meet these needs. LiDAR (LRF) is increasingly being installed in smartphones and home appliances these days, and it is considered a device that will become increasingly important in advanced robotics control.
We believe that this product, compactly packaging these key devices, is an excellent educational material that connects to the creation of entirely new computing devices that go beyond the framework of simple cart control, let alone as a learning material for autonomous control.
Standardly equipped with a small LiDAR (LRF)
(3) Realizing Speed Control via Encoders
The two drive motors mounted on the Light Rover are equipped with encoders as standard, making it possible to accurately acquire the amount of rotation. In addition to performing speed control by PID control based on the motor rotation amount, it can be converted into odometry information to execute SLAM and autonomous driving, enabling the learning and development of various applications.
Furthermore, we newly developed "VS-WRC201" as a motor control board, which inputs the output values from the encoders to the Raspberry Pi 4 and realizes highly efficient motor rotation control.
(4) Power Supply Suitable for the Application
While this product uses four commercially available AA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries (sold separately) as the standard power source, it can also be powered by commercially available mobile batteries. As a power port, you can use the USB Micro-B terminal of the motor control board VS-WRC201 or the USB Type-C terminal of the Raspberry Pi 4 board.
Light Rover
■ Main Features
The "Light Rover" manufactured by Vstone Co.,Ltd. is a small two-wheel cart robot that can be operated on a tabletop. It comes standard with a high-performance LiDAR (LRF) and a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (4GB RAM version). It is widely used as learning materials and development platforms for cart robot control in schools, companies, for education, training, and research purposes.
The ROS 2 compatible documents and samples released this time update the Light Rover's ROS 2 compatibility to the latest version (LTS version). Those who already own the product can download and update it for free.
Vstone Co.,Ltd. believes that it is extremely important for learning materials like this product to be usable for a long time when advancing research and development of robot-related technologies and human resource development. Through the provision of this update, we will directly contribute to human resource education and technical development in the entire robot industry.
(1) Release of ROS 2 Compatible Documents and Packages
The ROS 2 compatible documents for Light Rover and the packages compatible with ROS 2 are available at the following URLs. The included sample programs and the required operating environment are as follows:
[Public Information]
- Documents
https://vstoneofficial.github.io/lightrover_webdoc/
- Package Distribution URL
https://github.com/vstoneofficial/lightrover_ros2
[List of Public Sample Programs]
- Operation from a gamepad
- SLAM (slam-toolbox)
- Autonomous driving (Nav2)
[Operating Environment]
- OS: Ubuntu MATE 24.04
- ROS: ROS2 Jazzy
(Setup is required on the Raspberry Pi mounted on the Light Rover according to the document)
Example of SLAM execution using slam-toolbox
Example of Navigation execution using Nav2
(2) Standard Equipment of Raspberry Pi 4 Model B and LiDAR (LRF)
Despite its small chassis, the Light Rover is standardly equipped with a 4GB RAM version of the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B and a compact LiDAR (LRF). In the autonomous control of modern cart robots, computing power is required more than ever before, and the Raspberry Pi 4 provides the processing speed to fully meet these needs. LiDAR (LRF) is increasingly being installed in smartphones and home appliances these days, and it is considered a device that will become increasingly important in advanced robotics control.
We believe that this product, compactly packaging these key devices, is an excellent educational material that connects to the creation of entirely new computing devices that go beyond the framework of simple cart control, let alone as a learning material for autonomous control.
Standardly equipped with a small LiDAR (LRF)
(3) Realizing Speed Control via Encoders
The two drive motors mounted on the Light Rover are equipped with encoders as standard, making it possible to accurately acquire the amount of rotation. In addition to performing speed control by PID control based on the motor rotation amount, it can be converted into odometry information to execute SLAM and autonomous driving, enabling the learning and development of various applications.
Furthermore, we newly developed "VS-WRC201" as a motor control board, which inputs the output values from the encoders to the Raspberry Pi 4 and realizes highly efficient motor rotation control.
(4) Power Supply Suitable for the Application
While this product uses four commercially available AA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries (sold separately) as the standard power source, it can also be powered by commercially available mobile batteries. As a power port, you can use the USB Micro-B terminal of the motor control board VS-WRC201 or the USB Type-C terminal of the Raspberry Pi 4 board.