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Panther - quick start

Panther is a rugged Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) platform, engineered for demanding outdoor environments. Equipped with high-profile wheels and four powerful BLDC motors, plus an IP54/66-rated chassis, it’s designed to tackle the toughest challenges. Panther’s versatility enables seamless integration of LIDARs, 3D cameras, manipulators, and other components through its V-slot mounting rail, available power ports, and extensive communication interfaces. With open-source ROS and ROS 2 drivers, along with a robust suite of software examples, Panther makes developing your product or research project both simple and intuitive.

Video - Driver Differences

Since the video above was published, the LED animation behavior and the Wi-Fi setup procedure have changed. Check the current meaning of LED Animations and how to configure the RUTX access point.

Get Your Panther

If you don't have Panther yet, you can get it from the online store.

Unboxing​

Package Content​

The standard package contains:

  • Panther robot
  • Accessories box:
    • Charger
    • Logitech F710 gamepad
    • RUTX11 accessories
  • Additional content may vary depending on optional items purchased

Unboxing Robot​

The Panther robot is shipped in a wooden box, like the one shown below. Unboxing is quick and can be done in a few simple steps. Follow the instructions carefully when you receive your robot.

First, unlock and open the front side of the box.

Before taking the robot out, remove any components blocking it, such as the accessories box, and cut the white straps that secure the robot. Then, grasp the robot by its bumper and carefully pull it out of the box.

caution

If you feel resistance while removing the robot or the accessories, do not force it. Instead, go to the Disassembling the Box section to avoid damaging the robot or components.

Users with a Robotic Arm

If your Panther includes a manipulator, do not follow this guide. Please check the Manipulator Manual Section, which contains essential safety instructions.

Disassembling the Box​

  1. Unscrew the screws holding the box’s upper part to the base, then carefully lift and remove the top section.
  1. Cut any remaining white straps and remove additional components, such as the accessories box.
  1. After clearing the box, you can safely lift the Panther off the platform using its bumper.

Quick Demo​

Before the first use

We know that you would really like to read the Quick Demo section now, but your safety is the most important thing.

A brief safety information

  1. Please read the Safety Instructions first.
  2. If you are not sure how something works, please read the Panther manual.
  3. Please remember that the mechanical Emergency Button is available on the robot as well as software one in the WebUI and the Gamepad, but in some cases, you may not be able to use them quickly enough to stop the robot before causing damage.
  4. A detailed description of the safety features is available in the Safety section.

Here is a very basic demo that allows you to use your Panther for the first time without coding:

Rotate the two-position Main Switch to the ON position. Push the Power Button for 1 second, a red light on the Power Button, and the LED panels on the Bumpers (called Bumper Lights) will light up. Wait for Wi-Fi to come up:

LOGIN CREDENTIALS

SSID: Panther_<serial_number>

PASS: husarion

Joystick control is possible by connecting a dongle to the USB port on the rear panel of the robot. When the robot boots correctly (white light at the front and red lights at the rear), you can:

  • Hold LT button and press A to release the E-stop.
  • To control Panther hold the LB button and use the left stick to drive forward/backward (additionally left/right when using mecanum wheels) and the right stick to turn the robot.
  • Press B to trigger E-stop on Panther.
caution

Move the robot carefully, as Panther is a heavy robot with powerful motors. Especially during a first run, be prepared to push the Emergency Button rapidly if necessary.

Useful Resources​

Below is a list of links to the most important and frequently used sections about the robot.

  • Connecting a User Computer
    One of the most important aspects of most projects is installing a User Computer, which is responsible for operating sensors and running user-defined functionalities. Read the detailed instructions on how to install and configure the User Computer.
  • Get Internet Access
    To complete the User Computer setup, you need to provide Internet access to it. Follow the steps to connect your Panther to a Wi-Fi network.
  • Husarion UGV Configurator
    A TUI application that simplifies configuration changes, ROS driver version updates, and log retrieval.
  • Manual
    The complete Panther manual contains detailed information about the robot’s hardware and software.
  • ROS 2 API
    A description of the software architecture design and shared ROS 2 API documentation, containing detailed information about all available ROS 2 nodes, topics, and services.

Reference Projects​

Below youi can find some example projects and demos that you can use as a starting point for your own applications.

linkdescription
husarion_ugv_autonomy_rosAutonomous mapping & navigation demo for Panther. Using navigation2 and slam_toolbox