3pi+ 32U4 Robot - Turtle Edition (75:1 LP Motors), Assembled

The Pololu 3pi+ 32U4 robot is a complete, high-performance mobile platform based on the Arduino-compatible ATmega32U4 MCU. Its many features include dual quadrature encoders for closed-loop speed or position control, line sensors, front bump sensors, and a full IMU (3-axis accelerometer, magnetometer, and gyro), all packed into a robot that fits in the palm of your hand. This Turtle Edition version is assembled with 75:1 LP 6V Micro Metal Gearmotors, which allow for longer battery life than the other editions. The maximum robot speed is approximately 0.4 m/s, making it well suited for applications where slow, controlled speed is important, such as coordinated swarm robots and introductory robotics courses.

The 3pi+ 32U4 is a versatile, high-performance, user-programmable robot that measures just 9.7 cm (3.8") in diameter. At its heart is an ATmega32U4 AVR microcontroller from Microchip (formerly Atmel), and like  A-Star 32U4 programmable controllers, the 3pi+ 32U4 features a USB interface and ships preloaded with an Arduino-compatible bootloader, so all you need to program it is a USB A to Micro-B cable (not included). A software add-on is available that makes it easy to program the robot from the Arduino environment, and have Arduino libraries and example sketches to help get you started. For advanced users who want to customize or enhance their robots with additional peripherals, the robot’s power rails, power system controls, and microcontroller’s I/O lines can be accessed via several 0.1"-pitch expansion ports.

The 3pi features two H-bridge motor drivers and a variety of integrated sensors, including a pair of quadrature encoders for closed-loop motor control, a complete inertial measurement unit (3-axis accelerometer, gyro, and magnetometer), five downward-facing reflectance sensors for line-following or edge-detection, and left and right bump sensors along the front face of the robot. Three on-board pushbuttons offer a convenient interface for user input, and an LCD, buzzer, and indicator LEDs allow the robot to provide feedback.

The robot also features a unique power system that runs the motors at a constant 8 V independent of the battery charge level, so the speed of the motors does not vary with the battery voltage.

What else you will need:

• 4x AAA batteries: The 3pi+ robot works with both alkaline and NiMH batteries, though  recommend rechargeable NiMH cells
• A USB A to Micro-B cable to connect the robot to your computer for programming and debugging

Package Includes:

• 1x 3pi+ 32U4 Robot - Turtle Edition (75:1 LP Motors), Assembled

Documents / Downloads:

• Pololu 3pi+ 32U4 User’s Guide 
• Schematic diagram of the 3pi+ 32U4 Control Board
• Pinout and power distribution diagrams of the 3pi+ 32U4 Control Board
• Dimension diagram of the 3pi+ 32U4 Robot
• Pololu A-Star 32U4 drivers for Windows (version 1.3.0.0)  

NOTE:  The 3pi is powered by 4 AAA batteries, which are not included. We recommend rechargeable 4x AAA NiMH or Alkaline cells.