The JPL Open Source Rover is an open source, build it yourself, scaled down version of the 6 wheel rover design that JPL uses to explore the surface of Mars. The Open Source Rover is designed entirely out of consumer off the shelf (COTS) parts. This project is intended to be a teaching and learning experience for those who want to get involved in mechanical engineering, software, electronics, robotics but is also an excellent research platform for rugged terrain. No prior skills or knowledge is required.
The OSR has been around since 2017 and has undergone many iterations. It is a premium and robust robot with a unique look, high customizability, and powerful abilities. The hardware and electronics were designed with expansions like a head display and robot arm in mind.
Valetudo is an opinionated software solution for cloud-free vacuum robots installed on thousands of robots. Since it was started in 2018, it has matured to a reliable fire-and-forget solution that just works. The obvious upside of this is that all your data stays on your robot. It also means that you won’t need to have a working internet connection just to control your local vacuum robot anymore. Commands usually execute much faster and more reliable, as they don’t have to detour through some server in a datacenter far away from you, which might be overloaded or even on fire.
Furthermore, the robot will continue working even after the vendor has ended support for that model and shut down the corresponding servers. This is a huge issue with IoT devices. They brick all the time because the vendor gets sold, changes its business model, runs out of venture capital, is bankrupt, gets hacked, and more.
Multiple integrations with other self-hosted software for convenience.
Desk-sized, affordable, open-source robotic pets. Right now there are only two, Nybble (robocat) and Bittle (robodog). Programmable and hackable. Can be customized and expanded with a little work. Can even be expanded with a RasPi and a little work for more on-board processing power. Can be controlled wirelessly over Bluetooth or wifi.
open-source-rover - A build-it-yourself, 6-wheel rover based on the rovers on Mars!
RepRap is an open-source (hardware, software, and documentation) desktop fabrication system which lets you construct arbitrary objects (or parts for assembling more complex systems). It's unique in that you can construct one yourself for about $400us, and it is fully capable of making duplicates of itself.
An open source DIY robotics/rapid prototyping kit much like an Erector set. Lots of standardized pre-milled bars, rods, connectors, and components. Build your own plotter, CNC machine, RepRap, scanner table, or what have you. Capable of three axes of linear motion. Comes with all the electronics you need, including an Arduino, stepper motors, and a motor driver board.
A browseable online database of servomotors and their operational specs.
lcamfuf wrote a book on some classic DIY/maker techniques for building stuff, such as CNC machining, mold making, and resin casting. Cost is a consideration in everything he wrote about so if you're not rich or well connected but want to get into building things, give this a read. You can read it chapter by chapter or all in one go.