About Pololu

Company Background

Pololu Robotics and Electronics was founded in 2000 by three students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Our first product was the unique IR beacon system developed for the 6.270 Autonomous Robot Design Competition. The beacons allowed pairs of robots to detect each other, allowing MIT students to give their robots more sophisticated strategies.

In 2001, Pololu was incorporated while still operating out of an MIT dorm. Upon graduation of the last founder in 2002, the company was moved from Massachusetts to Las Vegas, NV for its better climate and lower taxes. Our office has since become the meeting place for the Las Vegas robotics club, which was formed in 2004.

Pololu is named after Pololu Valley on the north coast of the Big Island of Hawaii.

Products and Capabilities

Pololu’s primary products are small electronics modules for robot and motion control. We also make simple mechanical components on our laser cutters and 3D printer. In addition to items we manufacture, our online store offers small gearboxes, breadboards, servos, and robot kits that complement our products.

We manufacture most of our modules in-house with our automated assembly machines that can manipulate modern electronics component packages. Our equipment allows us to develop new prototypes quickly and to make small manufacturing runs that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive. Because of this flexibility, we are able to offer (and deliver!) customized versions of our products quickly and economically.

Pololu also offers a custom laser cutting service. We can cut and engrave many kinds of plastic, and our low setup fees and minimum orders make us very approachable to students and hobbyists. However, we can also handle larger quantity runs, and we manufacture robot chassis for several organizations.

Contact us to see what we can do for you!