JetsonHacks

Developing on NVIDIA® Jetson™ for AI on the Edge

Jetson RACECAR Build – Lower Platform

Time to put the lower platform together and do a test fit. Looky here:

Lower Platform Build

The lower platform consists of four major components:

Note: This is the second of three prototype builds for the Jetson RACECAR. A full bill of materials will be published for the third prototype.

The electronic components are attached to a laser cut, 1/4″ ABS platform using 1/4″ aluminum standoffs. The USB Hub and the VESC are attached using 3M Dual Lock Reclosable Fastener.

3M Dual Lock

Most people associate Velcro, the original hook and loop fastener with these types of applications. While Velcro is a good alternative, the 3M Dual Lock solution provides some advantages for our application. First, Velcro has a tendency to allow “give”, the attached objects can still move around a little when fastened together. Second, sometimes it’s hard to tell when the fastener is fully engaged. Third, the adhesive on the back of the Velcro has a tendency to lose grip when hot. The industrial versions of Velcro are better, of course.

Dual Lock works differently than Velcro. The fastener consists of continuous polyolefin stems having a mushroom shape. The mushroom heads allow the fasteners to easily slide over each other allowing positioning of parts before they are “snapped” together creating a firm fastening attachment. Where Velcro consists of two different tapes, a hook and a loop tape, the Dual Click consists of one. Dual Lock attaches to itself.

By varying the density of “mushrooms” on the tape, different levels of strength can be achieved. This allows users to mix and match tapes to achieve different strength levels of bonding. Also, Dual Lock offers both rubber and acrylic based adhesives on the back of the tape. The acrylic adhesive offers bonding up to 200 degrees fahrenheit.

The Dual Loop should easily hold the USB hub, we’ll have to experiment a little with the VESC to make sure it holds under heavy use and high heat. However, if the VESC is running close to 200 degrees something else is probably wrong.

There appears to be about 3/16″ clearance with the top platform and the top of the Jetson TX1 heatsink/fan. It’s a pretty tight fit. Have a look:

Top platform heat sink clearance
Top platform heat sink clearance

Check out the video for the test fit, everything appears to line up.

Next Steps

There’s some wiring to do to hook everything up, we’ll have to add batteries. On the MIT RACECAR, they use an extra router for better communications with a base station. We’ll have to think about that, and figure out if we think autonomous means round tripping with other stationary computers. It might be good for testing though …

Are you building a Jetson RACECAR type of vehicle, or other interesting type of Jetson based project? Let us know!

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6 Responses

  1. Hello.
    Im glad to wath Your channel and read many of Your materials. I have my JETSON TX2 since two weeks:) Im would like to build JETSON racecar or some autonomous wheeled mobile robot.
    Unfortunately, I dont have experience in programming. Does this project require some programmer experience or something like that?
    Can I count on your help with my project?

  2. Congratulations on your TX2! The Jetson RACECAR is an advanced level programming project. The base software itself comes from an upper class course taught at MIT, we will be examining such things as vision processing algorithms and route calculations. This is not a good project to teach yourself programming, there are too many advanced concepts to learn all at once. Thanks for reading!

  3. Hello, does the USB Hub have enough ampere to power up the Sweep? I’m currently working on using RPLIDAR A2 (requires 1.5A@5V) through USB static (without external power supply) which is connected to Jetson TK1. But, the output from Jetson TK1 USB only provides 1A/5V, slightly not enough to power up the RPLIDAR. My solution is to change the USB that has external power supply.

    I’ve read that there are 2 options in Amazon, but what is the difference between USB Hub with 5V/2.5A and 12V/3A? What is the relation with Jetson TK1 USB output at 1A/5V? How can I implement it with RPLIDAR A2? Thanks!

  4. Not sure what you’re asking. If you need more than 1A @ 5V on the Jetson TK1, you will need a powered USB hub. You’ve listed the input power requirements to run the USB Hub, not the actual output on any USB connection. I have no experience with the RPLIDAR A2, so there’s nothing I can share about it.

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