Student Support for Autonomous Mobile Robot Development with Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano

Issue Overview

A student research team from Vellore Institute of Technology, India, is seeking support from Nvidia for their autonomous mobile robot (AMR) development project. The team has previously participated in the Intelligent Ground Vehicles Competition (IGVC) 2023 and is looking to upgrade their technical stack. They have been using Jetson Nano and Jetson TX2 developer kits, which are now discontinued and lack software support. The team aims to upgrade to an Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano to ensure their software keeps pace with the latest hardware architecture in the industry.

Possible Causes

1. Limited Financial Resources: As a self-funded student team, they face financial constraints in acquiring the latest products available for their project.

2. Discontinued Hardware: The team’s current Jetson Nano and Jetson TX2 developer kits are no longer supported, potentially limiting their ability to develop cutting-edge autonomous systems.

3. Software Support Issues: The discontinued hardware may lack the necessary software support, hindering the team’s progress in developing advanced autonomous features.

4. Need for Industry-Standard Hardware: To remain competitive and develop relevant skills, the team requires access to the latest hardware architecture used in the industry, such as the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Seek Nvidia Sponsorship:

   • Reach out to Nvidia directly through their official channels, as done in this forum post.
   • Clearly explain the project’s goals, achievements, and the specific need for the Jetson Orin Nano.
   • Highlight the team’s participation in competitions like IGVC to demonstrate commitment and potential.

2. Explore Academic Discount Programs:

   • Investigate if Nvidia offers academic discounts for their products, especially for research and development projects.
   • Contact Nvidia’s education or academic relations department for information on such programs.

3. Collaborate with Nvidia Research:

   • Express willingness to collaborate with Nvidia’s Research and Development team on relevant projects.
   • Propose specific areas of collaboration that align with the team’s skills and Nvidia’s interests.

4. Showcase Project Potential:

   • Develop a comprehensive project proposal highlighting the innovative aspects of the AMR.
   • Demonstrate how access to the Jetson Orin Nano would significantly enhance the project’s capabilities and outcomes.

5. Leverage University Resources:

   • Engage with university administration to explore potential funding or support for acquiring the necessary hardware.
   • Investigate if the university has existing partnerships or agreements with Nvidia that could be leveraged.

6. Community Engagement:

   • Actively participate in Nvidia developer forums and communities to gain visibility and potentially connect with Nvidia representatives or other supportive community members.

7. Alternative Funding Sources:

   • Explore crowdfunding platforms specifically designed for academic or research projects.
   • Look into local or national grants that support student innovation in robotics and autonomous systems.

8. Optimize Existing Resources:

   • While seeking support for new hardware, continue development using the existing Jetson Nano and TX2 kits.
   • Focus on software optimization and algorithm efficiency to maximize performance on current hardware.

9. Document and Share Progress:

   • Maintain a detailed project blog or website (like https://www.teamautoz.com/) to showcase the team’s work and progress.
   • Use social media and academic networks to increase visibility and potentially attract sponsors or collaborators.

10. Follow Up:

    • As suggested in the forum response, follow up via email ([email protected]) for further communication with Nvidia representatives.
    • Be prepared to provide additional information or documentation about the project as requested.