Clearpath Husky

Name: Clearpath Husky
Brand: Clearpath Robotics

Rugged outdoor unmanned ground vehicle platform

Contact for pricing

The Clearpath Husky is a medium-sized robotic development platform designed for outdoor field robotics research and rapid prototyping. It features a rugged 4x4 skid-steer drivetrain with large suspension travel, making it capable of handling rough terrain in challenging outdoor environments. The platform is widely used by universities and research institutions for autonomous navigation, perception research, and mobile manipulation applications.

Released: 2011

Overview

The Clearpath Husky is a rugged, outdoor-ready unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) designed specifically for robotics research and development. Built with a robust 4x4 skid-steer drivetrain and high ground clearance, the Husky excels in challenging outdoor environments where other mobile platforms struggle. Its sealed aluminum chassis and IP62 rating protect sensitive electronics from dust, water, and harsh weather conditions.

As one of Clearpath Robotics' flagship products, the Husky has become a standard platform in the robotics research community. It ships pre-integrated with ROS (Robot Operating System) and includes a comprehensive software stack that allows researchers to focus on their applications rather than low-level platform integration. The platform's large payload capacity and mounting area accommodate a wide variety of sensors and computing hardware.

The Husky's design philosophy centers on reliability, expandability, and ease of use. With field-swappable batteries, extensive mounting options, and plug-and-play sensor integration, the platform can be quickly configured for different research scenarios. Its proven track record in academic and industrial settings has made it a trusted choice for outdoor autonomy research worldwide.

Key Features

4x4 skid-steer drivetrain: Robust all-terrain mobility with independent motor control for precise maneuvering
IP62 weatherproofing: Sealed aluminum chassis protects against dust and water for reliable outdoor operation
75 kg payload capacity: Generous carrying capacity for sensors, manipulators, and computing hardware
ROS native integration: Ships with full ROS support and software packages for immediate development
Hot-swappable batteries: Field-replaceable battery packs enable extended operation time
Extensive mounting options: Multiple mounting surfaces and power ports for flexible sensor and accessory integration
High ground clearance: 130mm clearance with large suspension travel for navigating rough terrain

Applications

The Husky is extensively used in academic research for developing and testing autonomous navigation algorithms, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), and outdoor perception systems. Universities worldwide deploy Husky platforms for computer vision research, multi-robot coordination experiments, and mobile manipulation studies. Its weatherproof design makes it particularly valuable for research requiring real-world outdoor data collection and field trials.

In industrial settings, the Husky serves as a testbed for autonomous inspection systems, agricultural robotics, mining applications, and security patrol systems. Companies use it for rapid prototyping of UGV applications before committing to custom hardware designs. The platform has also been adapted for environmental monitoring, search and rescue training scenarios, and defense research applications where reliable outdoor mobility is essential.

Technical Highlights

The Husky's mechanical design features a ruggedized chassis with integrated shock absorption and large pneumatic tires that provide excellent traction on varied terrain. Its four independent motors deliver precise differential drive control, enabling zero-radius turns and smooth trajectory tracking. The platform includes an onboard computer running Ubuntu and ROS, with pre-configured drivers for common sensors like Velodyne LiDAR, SICK laser scanners, and various camera systems.

Power management is handled through a sophisticated battery system providing regulated voltage outputs at multiple levels (5V, 12V, 24V unregulated) to support diverse payloads. The platform's CAN bus architecture ensures reliable motor control and sensor communication even in electrically noisy environments. Integration with Clearpath's OutdoorNav software stack enables advanced GPS-based autonomous navigation capabilities, making the Husky capable of waypoint navigation and path following straight out of the box.