Autonomous Outdoor Surface Cleaning Robot
Budget: $3,000 – $5,000 USD
I’m building a fully self-reliant robot that sweeps and washes outdoor concrete surfaces without any human intervention. At the heart of the design I want an ESP32-S3 handling all control logic, supported by a lidar, RTK-grade GPS, IMU and wheel encoders for on-board perception. To boost mapping quality I also plan to stream data from fixed “off-robot” sensors (e.g., rooftop depth cameras or additional lidar beacons) so the vehicle can stitch together a rich 3-D model of the work zone and refine its localisation in real time.
Target environment
• Outdoor only, primarily flat concrete patios, driveways and walkways.
• Weather-resistant housing and sealing are therefore essential.
Navigation & obstacle handling
I need obstacle avoidance built around high-resolution mapping rather than simple bump detection. The robot should recognise small hazards—garden hoses, tools, toys—and re-plan its path dynamically, logging any zones it could not reach.
What I need from you
• Complete hardware architecture: schematics, PCB layout and a vetted BOM centred on the ESP32-S3.
• Firmware (C/C++ or ESP-IDF) that performs sensor fusion, SLAM, path planning, and motor/cleaning head control.
• Integration notes for the external sensor network (ROS2, MQTT or similar is fine).
• CAD or STEP files for the chassis, splash guarding and mounting points.
• Tuning guide plus a short field-test video (or simulation capture) proving autonomous coverage and safe obstacle avoidance.
All source files must be organised and buildable so I can iterate later.
If you have prior experience with ESP32 robotics, outdoor SLAM or multi-sensor fusion, let’s talk—I’m ready to start immediately.
Target environment
• Outdoor only, primarily flat concrete patios, driveways and walkways.
• Weather-resistant housing and sealing are therefore essential.
Navigation & obstacle handling
I need obstacle avoidance built around high-resolution mapping rather than simple bump detection. The robot should recognise small hazards—garden hoses, tools, toys—and re-plan its path dynamically, logging any zones it could not reach.
What I need from you
• Complete hardware architecture: schematics, PCB layout and a vetted BOM centred on the ESP32-S3.
• Firmware (C/C++ or ESP-IDF) that performs sensor fusion, SLAM, path planning, and motor/cleaning head control.
• Integration notes for the external sensor network (ROS2, MQTT or similar is fine).
• CAD or STEP files for the chassis, splash guarding and mounting points.
• Tuning guide plus a short field-test video (or simulation capture) proving autonomous coverage and safe obstacle avoidance.
All source files must be organised and buildable so I can iterate later.
If you have prior experience with ESP32 robotics, outdoor SLAM or multi-sensor fusion, let’s talk—I’m ready to start immediately.