RTJ Editor
A robotics hobbyist and technical writer with a background in embedded systems. Writes the guides I wish had existed when I started building.
Articles by RTJ Editor
FOC vs Trapezoidal Commutation: Low-Speed Torque Control for Brushless Gimbal Actuators
Compare FOC and trapezoidal motor control for robotic joints. Learn torque ripple, AS5600 I2C feedback, STM32 setup, and safe SimpleFOC voltage-mode limits.
Designing Robot Power Distribution Boards: Reverse Polarity, TVS Diodes, and Buck Regulation
Design safer robot power distribution with reverse-polarity protection, TVS selection, separate logic rails, fusing, and KiCad layout checks for motor loads.
Micro-ROS on ESP32 and STM32: Publishing Real-Time Sensor Telemetry over XRCE-DDS
Connect ESP32 and STM32 firmware to ROS 2 with micro-ROS. Understand XRCE-DDS, serial transport, memory ownership, time sync, and telemetry validation.
LiFePO4 vs Li-ion vs LTO: Selecting Battery Chemistries for Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)
Compare LFP, NMC Li-ion, and LTO batteries for mobile robots. Evaluate energy density, charging limits, duty cycle, pack protection, and BMS telemetry.
CAN Bus and CAN-FD for Modular Robotic Joints: Transceivers, Termination, and Packet Framing
Build a reliable robot joint bus with Classical CAN or CAN-FD. Learn compatible controllers, transceivers, 120-ohm termination, framing, and SocketCAN checks.
3D LiDAR SLAM with FAST-LIO2: Real-Time Point Cloud Registration on NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano
Plan a FAST-LIO2 mapping pipeline on Jetson Orin Nano. Check ROS port compatibility, Livox timestamps, IMU extrinsics, map growth, and performance budgets.
RealSense D435i vs Stereolabs ZED 2i: Visual-Inertial Odometry Comparison and Benchmark Method
Compare RealSense D435i and ZED 2i for visual-inertial odometry. Learn sensing limits, timing, calibration, and a reproducible method for measuring drift.
Deploying INT8-Quantized YOLOv10 with NVIDIA TensorRT for Low-Latency Robotic Obstacle Detection
Deploy YOLOv10 with TensorRT on Jetson. Match preprocessing, calibrate INT8, validate accuracy, and measure end-to-end robot detection latency.
Configuring ROS 2 Nav2 Costmaps: Inflation, Footprints, and Clearing for Constrained Corridors
Tune ROS 2 Nav2 costmaps for constrained corridors. Define footprints, balance inflation costs, clear ghost obstacles, and validate safe navigation in RViz.
Fusing IMU, Wheel Odometry, and GPS with ROS 2 robot_localization: A Dual EKF Guide
Fuse wheel odometry, IMU, and GPS with robot_localization. Configure dual EKFs, heading conventions, navsat transforms, covariance, and TF ownership.
Robot Wiring and Connectors 101: JST, Dupont, and Soldered Joints Explained
A practical guide to the connector types used in hobby robotics — Dupont jumpers, JST connectors, soldered joints, and screw terminals — and when to use each.
Underwater and Swimming Robot Kits: A Beginner's Guide
What's different about underwater robot builds, what to look for in a beginner ROV kit, and the mistakes that sink most first attempts.
Best Robotics Programming Languages: Python vs C++ vs MicroPython
A practical comparison of Python, C++, and MicroPython for robotics — covering where each language fits in a system and which to learn first.
Best Soldering Stations and Tools for Robotics Electronics in 2026
A guide to soldering stations, accessories, and consumables worth buying for robotics electronics work — from budget irons to hot air rework stations.
How to Choose a Robot Chassis: Material, Drive Type, and Size Guide
A practical guide to choosing a robot chassis — comparing acrylic, aluminum, and 3D-printed options, drive configurations, and sizing considerations.
Robot Vacuum Teardowns: Salvaging Parts for DIY Robotics Projects
What to salvage from a broken robot vacuum — motors with encoders, sensors, batteries, and wheels — and how to test each part before reusing it.
Servo vs Stepper vs DC Motors: The Complete Guide for Robot Builders
A complete comparison of DC motors, servo motors, and stepper motors — how each works, where each fits, and how to choose for your robot project.
Best 3D Printers for Robotics Hobbyists in 2026
A buying guide for 3D printers aimed at robotics hobbyists, covering FDM vs resin, material options, and which features matter most for structural parts.
Robot Batteries Explained: LiPo vs Li-ion vs NiMH (2026 Buying Guide)
A practical guide to the three main battery chemistries in hobby robotics — LiPo, Li-ion, and NiMH — including how to size a pack and avoid common mistakes.
Build a Robot That Avoids Obstacles Using Ultrasonic Sensors (Beginner Version)
A beginner obstacle-avoidance robot using a single HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor and an Arduino — the stepping stone between a line follower and a full LiDAR build.
ROS 2 for Beginners: Setting Up Your First Project
A gentle introduction to ROS 2 concepts, installation, and getting a first publisher/subscriber project running before diving into Nav2 and SLAM.
Build a Voice-Controlled Robot with ESP32 and AI
A step-by-step guide to building a wheeled robot that responds to spoken commands using an ESP32, an I2S microphone, and a cloud speech-to-text API.
Top 7 Robot Arm Kits for Hobbyists in 2026
A skill-level breakdown of the best robot arm kits in 2026, from beginner acrylic kits to ROS 2-ready 6-DOF arms.
ESP32 vs Arduino vs Raspberry Pi for Robotics: Which Should You Buy?
A practical comparison of Arduino, ESP32, and Raspberry Pi — and how to pick the right brain for your robot build.
Build a Line-Following Robot from Scratch
A practical, step-by-step engineering guide to building a PID-controlled line following robot.
Best Robotics Starter Kits 2026
A roundup of the top 5 robotics starter kits for beginners, focusing on educational value and hardware quality.
Best Microcontrollers for Robotics in 2026
Comparing Arduino Uno, Raspberry Pi, ESP32, and STM32 for different robotics applications.
Robotics 101: A Complete Beginner's Guide (2026)
A comprehensive introduction to robotics, covering sensing, actuation, computation, power, and getting started.