Clearpath Jackal

Overview

The Clearpath Jackal is a compact outdoor research robot at 17 kg with a 20 kg payload and 250 mm ground clearance, priced between $15,000 and $20,000. It is the lightweight, portable outdoor UGV in Clearpath's range, small enough to be transported in a vehicle boot and deployed by a single researcher without lifting equipment. Despite its compact size, it carries enough payload for meaningful sensor suites including LiDAR, GPS, IMU, and camera arrays.

The Jackal shares Clearpath's ROS/ROS2 software ecosystem and documentation library with the larger Husky, making it easy to transfer algorithms and research findings between platforms.

Key Specifications

• Weight: 17 kg
• Payload: 20 kg
• Ground clearance: 250 mm
• Price: $15,000 to $20,000
• Software: ROS/ROS2 on Ubuntu

Use Cases

Jackal is suited to GPS-denied navigation research, outdoor SLAM, and multi-robot coordination studies where multiple units need to be deployed simultaneously at a manageable total cost. UK researchers doing field trials in countryside, campus, or urban outdoor environments favour the Jackal for its portability and ease of transport between sites.

It is also widely used in robotics competitions and challenge events, including the DARPA SubT challenge and similar UK robotics events, where its robustness and established software stack provide a reliable competition platform.

Buying Used

University disposals are the primary source of used Jackal units in the UK. The platform is relatively durable for its size, but outdoor use means that weatherproofing seals and connector integrity should be verified before purchase.

Alternatives to Consider

Clearpath Husky is the next step up for payload requirements. Its larger chassis and 100 kg payload capacity make it the appropriate choice as soon as 20 kg becomes insufficient for the sensor and computing stack being carried. AgileX Scout 2 is a comparable skid-steer outdoor platform at a potentially competitive price with less community support documentation. For buyers prioritising indoor research, Clearpath Dingo offers similar ROS compatibility in a smaller indoor form factor that is better suited to laboratory corridors. Buyers who need to carry a full 6-axis collaborative arm should consider that Jackal's 20 kg payload will be largely consumed by the arm itself, leaving little margin for additional sensors.