Clearpath Robotics reaffirms support for TurtleBot 4

TurtleBot 4 developers can be sure of continued availability, say Clearpath and Open Robotics. Source: Clearpath Robotics

TurtleBot has long been a platform for robotics developers and educators, but many may be uncertain about continued support with changes among the companies backing the open-source community. Clearpath Robotics Inc. this week said that it will continue support.

“With changes in the widespread availability of the Create3 in 2024, we would like to assure the TurtleBot 4 community that we remain committed to supporting the platform,” wrote Darby Mills, a marketing coordinator at Clearpath, in a blog post.

Clearpath says TurtleBot production to continue

Clearpath Robotics and Open Robotics sought to reassure robotics developers after recent corporate moves.

“TurtleBot has long been a critical stepping stone for our academic customers and provides a robust and compact platform for developers,” said Robin Lefler, general manager of Clearpath Robotics. “Clearpath recognizes the importance of continuing to produce and support the TurtleBot 4 and is dedicated to doing so.”

Founded in 2019, Clearpath Robotics develops hardware and software for research and development, such as the Husky A300. In 2023, Rockwell Automation acquired the Waterloo, Ontario-based company and subsidiary OTTO Motors, which makes autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for manufacturing and logistics applications, for more than $600 million.

“The TurtleBot is a core part of Open Robotics’ mission to expand the reach of open-source software, particularly ROS, in robotics,” said Vanessa Yamzon Orsi, CEO of Open Robotics. “As the first TurtleBot to support ROS 2, the newest version of our flagship software, we are grateful to Clearpath for their continued effort to distribute the TurtleBot 4 in support of our mission.”

Open Robotics is the curator of the Robot Operating System (ROS). In 2022, Intrinsic acquired the Open Source Robotics Corp., the for-profit arm of the Open Source Robotics Foundation. Open Robotics and Clearpath redesigned TurtleBot “from the ground up” for ROS 2.

Also in 2022, iRobot Corp. released the Create 3 educational robot based on ROS 2. Since its deal to be acquired by Amazon fell through a year ago because of European antitrust concerns, the robotic vacuum company has laid off staffers.

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Hardware, software support to go through 2026

“We will continue to distribute TurtleBot 4 hardware until stock is depleted,” wrote Mills. “Having worked with iRobot to secure inventory, we anticipate availability into mid-2026.”

On the software side, Clearpath said it will support the recent release of ROS 2 Jazzy on the platform, at minimum, through 2026. 

Developers and users can direct support inquiries to Clearpath’s TurtleBot 4 GitHub. The TurtleBot 4 user manual is also available online. Clearpath directed sales inquiries to research-sales@clearpathrobotics.com and its list of global distributors.

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