Raph Rover: Built for When Leo Rover Isn’t Enough – A Technical Deep Dive

TL;DR: Raph Rover is Fictionlab’s heavy-duty UGV designed for outdoor field robotics where the Leo Rover platform hits its payload, terrain, or environmental limits. With a tracked drivetrain, sealed/IP-rated chassis, higher payload capacity, and ROS 2 support, the Raph Rover heavy duty UGV targets research and integration projects involving rough terrain, larger sensor stacks (LiDAR + RTK GNSS + multi-camera rigs), and longer autonomous missions. This article breaks down the engineering rationale, available specs, and concrete use cases where you should consider Raph over Leo.

Why Fictionlab built the Raph Rover heavy duty UGV

The Leo Rover has been deployed in universities, agriculture pilots, and inspection projects since 2018. It is a 4-wheeled, 5 kg payload, ROS-native platform tuned for accessible outdoor experimentation. But Fictionlab’s team kept hearing the same request from integrators: “We love Leo, but we need more payload, more torque, and a sealed chassis for mud, dust, and snow.”

The Raph Rover heavy duty UGV is the answer to that gap. Instead of simply scaling Leo up, Fictionlab redesigned the locomotion concept around tracks, larger motors, and a sealed enclosure – while keeping the same open-source software philosophy and ROS integration that made Leo popular in robotics research.

What Raph Rover is at the hardware level

Raph Rover is a tracked, skid-steer UGV built for field robotics. The tracked drivetrain trades top speed for traction, ground pressure distribution, and obstacle climbing – exactly the tradeoffs you want when operating on loose soil, gravel, snow, or uneven terrain where a wheeled rover loses grip.

Key hardware characteristics include:

• Drivetrain: rubber tracks with skid-steer kinematics, driven by motors with encoder feedback
• Chassis: sealed aluminum enclosure with specified protection against dust and water ingress
• Payload bay: standardized mounting plate with power and data interfaces exposed for sensors and compute
• Compute: onboard computer running Ubuntu with ROS 2 support, pre-configured with drivers and a URDF model in the current software image
• Power: removable battery pack sized for field missions
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and configuration-dependent provisions for 4G/LTE or radio modems

For the exact mechanical, electrical, and battery specifications, refer to the product page at Fictionlab’s shop, since values may be revised between hardware iterations.

How Raph Rover differs from Leo Rover

Both platforms share Fictionlab’s open-source DNA, ROS support, and modular payload philosophy. The difference is in physical envelope and operating domain. The table below summarizes the practical engineering tradeoffs.

Spec comparison: Leo Rover vs Raph Rover

• Locomotion: Leo uses 4 independently driven wheels; Raph uses two rubber tracks (skid-steer)
• Payload capacity: Leo is rated for approximately 5 kg; Raph is designed for significantly higher payloads (refer to the product page for the current rated value)
• Terrain: Leo handles grass, gravel, and light off-road; Raph is tuned for mud, snow, loose soil, and steeper inclines
• Ingress protection: Leo is designed for outdoor use with a weather-resistant enclosure; Raph uses a larger sealed chassis intended for heavier-duty field deployments
• Mass and footprint: Leo is approximately 6.5 kg and fits in a backpack; Raph is substantially heavier and requires more planning for transport and handling
• Top speed: Leo reaches around 0.4 m/s; Raph is geared for torque rather than speed
• Use case profile: Leo is ideal for education, prototyping, and light fieldwork; Raph is built for industrial inspection, agricultural robotics, and demanding outdoor research
• Software: both provide ROS support, URDF models, simulation resources, and a web UI; check the current software image for the exact ROS distribution

If your project fits within Leo’s payload and terrain envelope, Leo remains the more economical and portable choice. You can review its specifications on the Leo Rover page. Raph becomes relevant when you outgrow that envelope.

What projects justify a tracked platform over a wheeled one

The decision between wheels and tracks is not preference, it is physics. Tracks give you lower ground pressure (less sinkage in soft soil), a longer contact patch (more traction on slopes), and better obstacle climbing because the leading edge of the track acts like a continuous ramp. The cost is higher rolling resistance, more vibration, and reduced top speed.

Concrete project types where Raph Rover heavy duty UGV makes engineering sense:

• Agricultural robotics: traversing wet fields, crop rows, and orchard floors where wheeled platforms slip or compact soil
• Forestry and environmental monitoring: deploying sensor payloads in undergrowth, on forest trails, or across stream beds
• Industrial and infrastructure inspection: patrolling outdoor facilities, solar farms, or storage yards in rain and snow
• Construction site mapping: carrying RTK GNSS + LiDAR stacks across rubble and uneven ground
• Search and rescue R&D: testing autonomy algorithms in environments where wheel slip invalidates odometry
• Defense and security research: sensor carrier missions requiring sealed electronics and predictable traction

If your sensor stack exceeds 5 kg, or if your operating environment combines regular exposure to water, dust, or snow with payload and terrain requirements beyond Leo’s envelope, the platform-level decision tilts toward Raph. For projects that need a custom chassis, custom sensor integration, or a modified drivetrain, Fictionlab also offers engineering services through its custom robotics program.

How the ROS 2 software stack works on Raph

Raph Rover is intended to run ROS 2 on Ubuntu; verify the exact Ubuntu and ROS 2 distribution, such as Humble on Ubuntu 22.04, against the current product configuration. The software architecture mirrors Leo Rover’s approach, which means if you have built nodes or behaviors for Leo, the migration path can be short – similar topic conventions, similar URDF structure, and a similar simulation philosophy.

Depending on the current software image and ordered configuration, out of the box you can expect or request:

• Differential drive controller (skid-steer) publishing standard /cmd_vel and /odom topics
• URDF and Gazebo/Ignition simulation model for SITL development before hardware arrives
• Pre-configured launch files for teleoperation, sensor bring-up, and Nav2 integration
• A web-based UI for diagnostics, video preview, and manual control
• Docker support for reproducible deployment of your autonomy stack, where included in the software image

Skid-steer odometry on tracks is noisier than wheel odometry, especially during turns where tracks slip laterally. Plan for sensor fusion with IMU and GNSS (or LiDAR-inertial odometry) from day one if you need accurate localization. This is a tradeoff inherent to tracked platforms, not a Raph-specific limitation.

What tradeoffs you accept when choosing Raph

The heavy-duty design has costs that you should account for in your project plan:

• Transport: Raph is not a one-person backpack platform. Field deployment requires a vehicle and may require a ramp or two operators
• Power budget: larger motors and a bigger battery can mean longer charging cycles; plan for spare packs on multi-day campaigns
• Maintenance: tracks require periodic tensioning and inspection for debris; this is normal for any tracked vehicle
• Cost: the bill of materials is higher than Leo’s, which is expected for the payload, traction, and sealed construction you gain
• Speed: if you need fast traversal of flat terrain, a wheeled platform is more efficient

None of these are dealbreakers – they are the standard engineering consequences of moving from a light wheeled rover to a tracked heavy duty UGV.

FAQ

Is Raph Rover open-source like Leo Rover?

Fictionlab maintains an open-source philosophy across its rover platforms. ROS packages, URDF models, and integration documentation are published where available, so you can modify, extend, and audit the stack; check the current Raph Rover repositories and documentation for the exact scope.

Can I migrate my Leo Rover ROS 2 code to Raph Rover?

In many cases, yes. Both platforms follow similar ROS conventions and software structures, but you should verify the exact ROS 2 distribution and topic interfaces in the current Raph software image. Differences will come from kinematics (skid-steer parameters), sensor mounts, and any custom hardware you add.

What payload can Raph Rover carry?

Raph is designed for substantially higher payloads than Leo’s 5 kg rating. For the current rated value and the payload bay dimensions, consult the Raph Rover product page directly, since these can be revised between hardware revisions.

Does Raph Rover support RTK GNSS and LiDAR out of the box?

The platform exposes power and data interfaces in the payload bay for adding RTK GNSS receivers, 2D/3D LiDAR, stereo cameras, and edge compute modules. Drivers for common sensors are part of the ROS 2 ecosystem; Fictionlab can also integrate specific sensor stacks through its custom robotics service.

What is the IP rating of the Raph Rover chassis?

The chassis is sealed against dust and water ingress for outdoor field operation. For the exact IP classification and operating limits, refer to the product page specifications.

How does Raph Rover handle slopes and obstacles?

The tracked drivetrain and torque-biased gearing let Raph climb steeper inclines and clear larger obstacles than a wheeled rover of similar size. Exact maximum slope angle depends on payload, surface friction, and center of gravity of your sensor configuration.

When should I choose Leo Rover instead of Raph Rover?

If your project fits within a 5 kg payload, your operating environment is grass, gravel, or paved surfaces, and portability matters (single-person carry, frequent travel), Leo Rover is the better-matched platform. Raph is the right choice when you outgrow those constraints.

To review the full specification sheet, mechanical drawings, and current configuration options for the Raph Rover heavy duty UGV, visit the Raph Rover product page and decide whether the platform matches your project requirements.