# nasa-jpl/open-source-rover

A build-it-yourself, 6-wheel rover based on the rovers on Mars!

Repository: https://github.com/nasa-jpl/open-source-rover
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/open-source-rover
Homepage: https://open-source-rover.readthedocs.io
Language: Prolog
License: Apache-2.0
License Family: permissive
Topics: mars-rover, mars, robotics, robot, diy, hardware, open-source
Last push: 2026-08-13T01:02:20+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 66/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 97, release rhythm 8, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 2987, "days_push": 21, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 9611, forks 1501 (observed 2026-08-28T04:10:36.234036+00:00)

## What it is
The JPL Open Source Rover is a build-it-yourself, scaled-down 6-wheel rover based on the design JPL uses to explore Mars, made entirely from consumer off-the-shelf parts. It serves as a teaching and learning platform for mechanical engineering, electronics, software, and robotics, as well as a research platform for rugged terrain.

## Use cases
- build a mars rover replica at home
- learn robotics with a hands-on diy project
- teach students mechanical engineering and electronics
- research platform for rugged terrain robotics
- build a 6-wheel rocker-bogie robot
- stem education robotics kit alternative
- hobby robotics project with off-the-shelf parts

## When to choose
- you want a robust, premium rover design with proven mars-style driving mechanics
- you need an educational project covering mechanics, electronics, and software
- you want a customizable research platform with expansion options like a robot arm or head display

## When to avoid
- you need a cheap robot - the ~$1600 cost is high compared to alternatives
- you want a quick out-of-the-box robot rather than a lengthy build
- you need high speed or heavy payload capability beyond a scaled-down rover

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: robotics, embedded, developer-tools
- domain: robotics, education, hardware, simulation
- platform: cross-platform, embedded, iot
- tags: mars-rover, diy-robotics, open-source-hardware, stem-education, rocker-bogie, hardware-project, research-platform

## Member repositories
- nasa-jpl/open-source-rover (main) score 66

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:10:36.234036+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T17:21:52.645709+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/nasa-jpl/open-source-rover (fetched 2026-08-28T04:10:36.234036+00:00, sha 60b8b157da44)
  - homepage: https://open-source-rover.readthedocs.io (fetched 2026-08-29T08:21:19.339274+00:00, sha 8670f8c19e86)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.