Assembly Guide for SparkFun JetBot AI Kit V2.0

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3. Accessory Installation to Main Chassis

Note: This section has been updated to have the battery installed on the top plate of the JetBot vs. the bottom. Some customers experienced issues with the Velcro being too thin to install the battery as shown orginally.

Install the included nylon standoffs using the included 4-40 screws (10 packs) on the top mounting plate (the one we just finished attaching our camera and mount to). Pictured below are the standoffs for the Jetson Nano Dev Kit, the SparkFun Qwiic Motor Driver, and SparkFun Qwiic OLED. Be sure to keep the standoffs on the right side somewhat loose. The mounting holes in the top plate are oblong to compensate for manufacturing tolerances & ensure a secure fit to the Jetson Nano Dev Kit.

Showing the standoff loosely connected to top mounting plate

Showing the standoff loosely connected to top mounting plate

Six plastic standoffs attached loosely to mounting plate

Stereo camera with standoffs attached
The mounting orientation for the Jetson was rotated 90 degrees for a better camera cable interface

The following instructions for battery installation will be the same for all Jetbot versions.

Cut the strip of dual lock Velcro into two roughly equal sized strips.

Battery pack and uncut Velcro

We figured you could handle this, but we already had the camera all set up & scissors in hand... Take one side of the dual lock Velcro and attach to the top of the chassis as shown.

Battery pack and Velcro cut in half

Place the corresponding pieces of dual lock Velcro on the chassis assembly top plate as pictured. Please ensure that all standoffs for the Jetson Nano & Qwiic boards are already installed on the chassis top plate; see photo. Additionally, ensure that the camera mount has been attached to the top plate as well. This will ensure that the battery does not physically hit any mounting screws.

One piece of Velcro attached to top mounting plate

Remove the protective film from the Dual Lock and try not to touch the sticky part.

Removing protective film from Velcro

Line up the battery pack as shown to ensure correct orientation of the USB ports & no interference between the battery pack and mounting hardware.

Proper alignment for battery pack shown

This photo shows how to place the battery pack to not touch the camera mount hardware while not extending too far out the back of the SparkFun JetBot.

Demonstrating how to place the battery pack without touching the camera mount

Press firmly on the battery pack to attach the dual lock Velcro interface between the chassis and battery.

Route one set of motor leads at a time through the chassis top plate as shown.

Showing where to route motor leads through the top plate

Attach the top plate to the base plate brass standoffs using the four remaining screws from the JetBot chassis kit.

Securing top plate to bottom plate

Top view showing four screws securing top and bottom plates

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A very similar setup for the Jetbot V2.1 with Stereo camera mount & rotated Jetson mount

Note: We have seen more than one way to attach the battery pack and multiple ways of routing the motor wires. As previously stated, we understand that these instructions are used by many customers as a reference. However, this is the configuration that SparkFun Technical Support will use as a baseline on any forums discussion. Thanks!

Once the chassis is fully assembled, attach the SparkFun Qwiic Motor Driver as shown using the mounting hole on the board to the right of the 4x motor screw terminal. Attach the motor leads as pictured; see below for more details.

Qwiic Motor Driver attached to standoff
Having trouble seeing the connections to the Qwiic Motor Driver? Click on the image for a larger view.

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A very similar setup for the Jetbot V2.1 with Stereo camera mount & rotated Jetson mount

Connect the motor leads according to the table below; remember the "Right" & "Left" designations from the Introduction. They should match the image above. The right motor is on the right side of this photo.

A1A2B1B2
Left Motor Ground (-)Left Motor Power (+)Right Motor Ground (-)Right Motor Power (+)

Image of the bottom of the Qwiic Motor Driver

Shown below: Left motor hookup to Qwiic Motor Driver screw terminals.

Left Motor Connected

Shown below: Right motor hookup to Qwiic Motor Driver screw terminals.

Right Motor Connected

Install the Edimax USB WiFi & Bluetooth Adapter into one of the USB ports on the Jetson Dev Kit.

Edimax WiFi Adapter plugged in to USB Port

For the Jetson Nano 2GB a WiFi adaptor is included. Install the adaptor into one of the USB ports.

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Remove the MicroSD card with the SparkFun JetBot Image (pre-flashed) from the included case & adapter and place it into the MicroSD card slot on the Jetson Nano module. It is easier to do this prior to installing the Jetson Nano Dev Kit onto the chassis and with the Dev Kit upside down as pictured, but you do you.

MicroSD card shown halfway inserted to Jetson Nano

MicroSD card inserted into Jetson Nano

Attach the Jetson Nano Dev Kit using four 4-40 screws to the previously installed Nylon standoffs. Remember we left the right side standoffs loose so align them with the mounting holes on the Jetson Nano Dev Kit & tighten until sung.

Securing the Jetson Nano to the chassis
Having trouble seeing the image? Click on it for a larger view.

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A very similar setup for the Jetbot V2.1 with Stereo camera mount & rotated Jetson mount

Jetson Nano attached to JetBot chassis. Camera cable is not connected

Attach the Leopard imaging camera ribbon cable as shown to the Jetson Dev Kit. This half helix ensures the contacts on the ribbon cable attach to the contact on the Jetson Dev Kit camera connector.

Note: With repeated cycle of connecting & disconnecting this camera the plastic connectors on the Jetson Dev Kit become increasingly fragile & are not easily replaced. Please take care when installing or removing the camera.

Camera connected to Jetson Nano
The helix was more complicated, but operates exactly the same once connected

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For the latest revision, arch the camera ribbon cable and secure to the Jetson Nano Dev kit (2GB version pictured)

Attach the 100mm Qwiic cable to the underside of the SparkFun Qwiic Micro OLED as shown below.

Qwiic Micro OLED with Qwiic cable connected

Attach the SparkFun Qwiic Micro OLED to the JetBot Chassis using another Nylon Standoff & 4-40 screw. Attach the 100mm Qwiic cable to the SparkFun Qwiic Motor Driver. Secure the Qwiic Micro OLED by tightening the screw until sung.

Qwiic Micro OLED mounted and connected to Qwiic Motor Driver
Having trouble seeing everything in the image? Click on it for a larger view.

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A very similar setup for the Jetbot V2.1 with Stereo camera mount & rotated Jetson mount

Connect the qwiic pHAT on the Jetson Nano Dev Kit's 2x20 GPIO header taking care to align it as the photo below shows. Additionally, connect the SparkFun Qwiic Micro OLED display to the Qwiic pHAT using the 200mm Qwiic cable.

Qwiic pHAT connected to Jetson Nano GPIO and Qwiic OLED connected to Qwiic pHAT
Having trouble seeing everything in the image? Click on it for a larger view.

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A very similar setup for the Jetbot V2.1 with Stereo camera mount & rotated Jetson mount

Finally attach the Qwiic Motor Driver's motor power screw terminals to the 2 pin screw terminal for 5V and Ground on the Qwiic pHAT using the included 6 inch M/M jumper wires. We recommend using one black wire (ground) & one red wire (power), but you can use any included color your head desires.

Qwiic Motor Driver power terminals connected to Qwiic pHAT

Having trouble seeing everything in the image? Click on it for a larger view.

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A very similar setup for the Jetbot V2.1 with Stereo camera mount & rotated Jetson mount. Wires are routed for visibility in this guide. Please feel free to clean their path however you would like

Check the battery power on the USB pack by pressing the power button on the side of the battery. Four dots means it is fully charged. The Jetson is fairly power hungry. We recommend only powering up your SparkFun JetBot with a fully charged battery pack.

Battery power LEDs shown

Use the included 6 inch USB Micro-B Cable to connect the Jetson Nano Dev Kit to the battery pack.

-> Battery pack USB port and included Micro-B cable shown
Having trouble seeing everything in the image? Click on it for a larger view.

Note: Make sure the USB cable is plugged into the orange USB port (shown closest to the USB cable in the above photo) on the battery pack. This will provide the required 3.1A @ 5V required by the Jetson Nano Dev Kit.

In the new revision of the battery pack, both USB ports on the battery pack are orange. We recommend using the USB port that is on the opposite side of the power button. Otherwise, we have found that the other USB port can cause the Jetson Nano Dev kit to brown out during its boot sequence.

battery pack USB ports
USB ports on the battery pack. (Click to enlarge)

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A very similar setup for the Jetbot V2.1 with Stereo camera mount & rotated Jetson mount.

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The 2GB Jetson Nano Dev kit is powered over USB-C. However, if you want to debug or program your Jetson Nano directly you must use the USB-MicroB port. Alternatively you can program wirelessly via Jupyter notebook once you have WiFi setup in the software section.

If the Jetson Nano does not power on once your USB cable is connected, press the power button the battery pack to turn the JetBot on. Allow the JetBot a few minutes to power up. When the JetBot is ready, the Micro OLED will display the SparkFun flame logo followed by the available disk image space & IP address once connected to a WiFi network; see example photos below.

JetBot powered on and micro OLED displaying "No internet"

JetBot powered on and micro OLED displaying disc space

JetBot powered on and micro OLED displaying memory and disc space

Congratulations! Your SparkFun JetBot is now fully assembled!

Fully assembled JetBot Kit

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A very similar setup for the Jetbot V2.1 with Stereo camera mount & rotated Jetson mount.

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Stereo vision option. Second Leopard Camera & mounting hardware sold separately