SMARS Otto with Rover is a hybrid, multifunctional robot that combines the structural simplicity of the SMARS (Simple Modular Autonomous Robot System) platform with the expressive biped head and interactive features of the Otto DIY robot.

This fusion creates a fun, modular, and flexible robot capable of both wheeled mobility and interactive animations, making it ideal for STEM education, robotics learning, and advanced DIY customizations.

What This Robot Is

It is essentially:

1. A 4-wheel rover chassis (SMARS)
2. With an Otto-style head mounted on top
3. Controlled by Arduino / ESP32
4. Capable of movement, detection, sound interaction, and animations

The design combines the strengths of both platforms:

1. SMARS → mobility, modularity, sensors
2. Otto → personality, ultrasonic “face,” sound, and dance motions

⭐ Key Features

1. Rover Mobility (SMARS Base)

1. 2WD or 4WD drive using small DC gear motors
2. Smooth rolling on flat surfaces
3. Optional tank tracks (SMARS Track variant)
4. Capable of forward, backward, turning, and curved paths

2. Otto Head (Interactive Module)

1. Otto-style head mounted on top
2. Ultrasonic sensor as “eyes”
3. Cute, friendly robot appearance
4. Room for LED eyes or mouth display
5. Optional speaker for beeps/tones

3. Sensor Integration

Common add-ons:

1. Ultrasonic HC-SR04
2. IR distance sensors
3. Light sensor
4. Line-following module
5. IMU for motion sensing
6. Bluetooth HC-05 / Wi-Fi (ESP32)

4. Fully 3D-Printed Design

Both SMARS and Otto are open-source designs:

1. 3D-printable chassis
2. Wheels / tracks
3. Otto-style head
4. Battery housing
5. Servo or sensor mounts

You can remix or resize any part.

5. Modular & Expandable

1. Add robotic arm
2. Add pan-tilt camera
3. Add LED matrix face
4. Add gripper
5. Add manipulator tools
6. Add Bluetooth remote control
7. Add voice interaction module

6. Movement Modes

1. Manual remote control
2. Autonomous obstacle avoidance
3. Line following
4. Indoor mapping (basic)
5. Patrol mode
6. Dance/animation mode

7. Easy Electronics

Typical setup includes:

1. Arduino Nano / Uno / ESP32
2. L298N or TB6612FNG motor driver
3. Ultrasonic sensor
4. Optional: servo for pan-tilt head
5. Power: Li-ion cell pack or 9V battery (not recommended for motors)

Applications

1. STEM education
2. Robotics competition beginner category
3. School/college project
4. DIY robotics experiments
5. Kids’ coding workshops
6. Home automation experiments
7. Maze-solving and obstacle-avoidance