TurtleBot 4

Overview

The TurtleBot 4 is the next-generation ROS2 education robot developed jointly by Clearpath Robotics and ROBOTIS, priced at $1,850. It is built on the iRobot Create 3 mobile base, which provides a well-tested, consumer-grade drive platform with built-in wheel encoders, cliff sensors, and acoustic feedback. The TurtleBot 4 adds an OAK-D stereo depth camera, RPLiDAR A1M8, and an onboard Raspberry Pi 4 to provide a fully capable ROS2 research and education platform.

The TurtleBot 4 is designed specifically for ROS2 and represents a significant update from TurtleBot 3, reflecting the migration of the ROS community from ROS1 to ROS2 that was substantially complete by the early 2020s.

Key Specifications

• Price: $1,850
• Base: iRobot Create 3
• Sensors: OAK-D depth camera, RPLiDAR A1M8
• Computer: Raspberry Pi 4
• Software: ROS2 native

Use Cases

TurtleBot 4 is the current standard platform for UK university ROS2 robotics courses, replacing TurtleBot 3 Burger in new course implementations. It is used for SLAM, navigation, multi-robot coordination, and depth-camera-based perception projects. Its ROS2-native design means it integrates seamlessly with the latest Nav2 navigation stack and other current ROS2 packages.

Clearpath's involvement provides stronger support infrastructure than the original TurtleBot 3, including pre-configured simulation environments and teaching materials.

Buying Used

A secondary market is beginning to form as early adopters update their lab fleets. The iRobot Create 3 base is the most complex component; battery wear and drive module condition should be verified. The OAK-D camera should be confirmed functional with the ROS2 driver stack.

Alternatives to Consider

TurtleBot 4 Lite omits the RPLiDAR and OAK-D camera at a lower price for buyers with budget constraints. TurtleBot 3 Burger remains widely supported for ROS1/ROS2 mixed-curriculum courses. Clearpath Dingo is the step up to a professional-grade indoor research platform.