How to build F1TENTH
2-DoF self-driving race car · Advanced
F1TENTH (RoboRacer) is a research race-car platform on a Traxxas Slash 4×4 with an NVIDIA Jetson, VESC and Hokuyo lidar. The docs estimate about $3,022.
Many actuators, custom wiring and real tuning work.
Our estimate, part-time
About $3,022, per the F1TENTH BOM
CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0 build docs and BOM · non-commercial
What is F1TENTH?
F1TENTH, now also called RoboRacer, is a 1/10-scale autonomous racing platform used by universities around the world.
The reference build uses a Traxxas Slash 4×4 Premium or rally chassis with a laser-cut deck carrying an NVIDIA Jetson, a VESC motor controller, a Hokuyo 2D lidar, power distribution and antennas.
The f1tenth_system driver stack is MIT. The build docs and BOM are CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, so commercial reuse isn't allowed.
F1TENTH specifications
- Scale
- 1/10
- Chassis
- Traxxas Slash 4×4
- Compute
- Jetson Xavier NX / Orin
- Motor control
- VESC
- Lidar
- Hokuyo UST/UTM
Figures as published by the project. See Sources below.
Bill of materials
| Part | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Traxxas Slash 4×4 Premium or rally chassis | 1 | |
| NVIDIA Jetson module | 1 | |
| VESC | 1 | |
| Hokuyo 2D lidar | 1 | |
| Laser-cut platform deck | 1 | |
| LiPo batteries and charger | — |
Where's the full bill of materials?
The full BOM, with exact quantities and vendors, lives in the project's own files. Prices change often, so treat $3,022 as a ballpark from the project. Start at the project repository.
Tools you'll need
- Laser cutter or service
- Soldering iron
- Ubuntu PC with ROS 2
Step-by-step build overview
Electronics & wiring overview
The VESC drives the motor and steering servo and reports odometry over USB. The lidar uses Ethernet or USB.
Software
f1tenth_system (MIT) plus the f1tenth_gym_ros simulator.
Tips from the bench
- ☕ Use the simulator before running anything at speed.
F1TENTH FAQ
Is F1TENTH free to use commercially?
The software is MIT, but the build docs are non-commercial.
Sources
Written by Bots n' Beans from the project's own documentation. Check the sources for the latest revision before you buy parts.
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