FrodoBots Presents Mini Rovers for $299

April 11, 2025

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You wanna drive a Mars rover? Nicely sorry, however you possibly can’t. You might, nevertheless, purchase and drive a li’l four-wheel-drive rover that may be managed from anyplace on this planet through 4G mobile networks. Appropriately sufficient, it is known as the EarthRover.

Manufactured by Singaporean startup FrodoBots, the EarthRover is constructed upon know-how at present utilized by establishments resembling UC Berkeley, the Nationwide College of Singapore, and Georgia Tech. It is accessible in three fashions, relying on consumers’ budgets and supposed makes use of.

On the high of the pack is the EarthRover Zero.

The aluminum-bodied bot trundles alongside at speeds of as much as 3.4 km/h (2.1 mph), transmitting stay video from raised front- and rear-facing cameras (aided by headlights) because it does so. Due to an onboard mic and speaker, customers can even have interaction in dialog with any curious onlookers they spot whereas on the go.

The EarthRover Zero, with a laptop for scale — The EarthRover Zero, with a laptop computer for scale

The robotic is manually managed in actual time through a sport controller, steering wheel or keyboard related to an internet pc. In keeping with FrodoBots, there’s usually a communications lag of lower than one second, relying on each the bot and the consumer’s mobile protection. And it is necessary to notice that the Zero does require a 4G SIM card with a knowledge plan.

The EarthRover Zero folds down when not in use

The entire thing is claimed to tip the scales at 4.5 kg (9.9 lb) and run for up 5 hours per cost of its lithium battery. It may be preordered now at a sale worth of US$299 (retail $399), and may ship in July.

Subsequent up is the EarthRover Mini +. As you may need guessed, it is smaller than the Zero, leading to a reported weight of simply 1.5 kg (3.3 lb). That smaller dimension does additionally imply its cameras sit decrease to the bottom, nevertheless, plus its lower-capacity battery tops out at 4 hours of runtime.

The EarthRover Mini + weighs in at 4.5 kg (9.9 lb)

It is on sale for $199 (retail $299) and may ship in Could.

Lastly, there’s the base-model Mini. It is basically the Mini + with only a single forward-facing digital camera, and it may be bought now at a reduced worth of $149 (common $249). Potential consumers may additionally wish to take a look at the Leo Rover, previously referred to as the Turtle Rover.