Looking for a robot that can do more than just walk around and spout some generic speech? Try our recommended selection of programmable robots & kits that push the boundaries of robotics and technology. Everything you need to know about robots, on all skills levels and age is here. We list the 5 most popular robot kits, and lay out the guideline on how to pick the best robot for yourself, your classroom or your kids.
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Programmable robots are some of the most advanced toys in the market today. These electronic gadgets serve many different functions- as pets, educational medium, or as playthings for kids and the kids at heart alike! They also come in traditional and some very unusual shapes, sizes and degrees of functionality and complexities. When shopping for a programmable robot, it definitely helps to factor in the age of the recipient. Here are also some of the most important features you may consider in order to get the best bang for your buck:
Considerations by Age Level (Kids vs Teens & Adults)
Programmable robots that teach the fundamentals of programming and coding to kids. These toys definitely put the &#;fun&#; in learning, especially for children who would rather play than read a book. Robots for kids come with features such as matching apps for their smartphones, intuitive gesture and voice controls, and intermediate mechatronics. Robots for kids are moving, keep them learning and entertained at the same time, and more importantly, they should be built to take a beating. Some of the best toy robots are either playable out of the box or require little assembly.
This age group certainly loves a bit of tinkering and construction in their toys, so most of the these are &#;kits&#; that need some soldering and tools to put together. Putting a robot together piece by piece is the perfect way to get a hands-on introduction to the world of robotic technology! Most of the parts included are usually compatible with other models so you can customize and get creative later on.
Considerations by Skill Levels (Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced)
Beginner programmable robot kits are specifically designed with the youngsters in mind and are usually integrated into middle-grade school curriculums. A foray into the fascinating world of robotics can do a lot for the kids- it can foster their imagination and creative drive, learn how new technologies work, and it teaches them how to work as a team. At home, educational robots can stimulate the minds of younger kids, allowing them to develop important skills they can use on different life situations (working cooperatively, problem solving skills and the scientific approach). This passion can also act as fuel for learning, and even work as a catalyst that drives a lifelong interest in robotic science and technology.
These robot products are most suitable for those in secondary education. If you take a peek at one of these schools, you may most likely find a Lego Mindstorm set or two, a programmable and buildable Darwin-Mini humanoid toy, and some open source robot on the table or inside children&#;s backpacks. These intermediate-grade robots can and normally teach about technology, mathematics and different science topics, as well as being the robotic building blocks in an interesting new club!
Advanced programmable robots blur the line between toys and actual robot hardware- there are a lot of kits and robot packages that allow individuals to wield real hardware. Think of it as the gateway to professional robot building, with each robot offering different levels of complexities and experiences. Kuka&#;s Youbot, Clearpath&#;s Turtlebot II, and Rethink Robotics&#; Baxter are considered high-quality programmable robots for the advanced user. Working on these products encourage the programmer or engineering student to think of their own robots with unique real-life applications, a boon to any tech institute or university!
Advanced Mobile Robots: The field of advanced robotics is home to machines with beefy processors and sensors, perfect for people who wish to explore artificial intelligence or technical programming more. Eddie with Kinect, Parallax&#;s Sting Ray, Turtlebot2, PhantomX AX Hexapod and the Arlo Mobile robot are good examples of programmable robots in this platform.
Personal UAVs:Drones and unmanned aerial vehicles are lots of fun! They are also used for a wide variety of industrial purposes. These UAVs can be remote-controlled or even programmed to fly on its own.
Feature Considerations (Power Source, Mobility, Remote Control, etc.)
Most interactive toys nowadays need some kind of power source to make them function. Their lights, movement and speech are powered by built-in or removable batteries. The advantage of built-ins is its compactness; this feature also is safer for the younger crowd. These power sources (usually Lithium-Polymer) can be charged via embedded solar panels, through standard power adapter plugs or USB cables.
A programmable toy must have a degree of mobility, whether in the form of articulating limbs or being able to move around. Wheels are often employed as robot toys aren&#;t keen to walking like humans do. They can also jump and fly- RC aircrafts with the use of wings, and drones and quadcopters with the use of blade rotors, are examples of such toys.
One of the most essential features you should look out for are robot toys that you can control remotely. Remotes are normally included in RC robots, but some of the newest ones utilize your smartphone&#;s ability to download and open remote control apps. The native remotes connect via 2.4GHz frequency, while smartphone app connectivity is usually via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Interacting with your programmable toy robot is done on different levels. The most basic ones for toddlers and young children are educational, such as changing the LED lights on it. Intermediate robots are programmed to recognize simple words, phrases and commands, while fully-programmable toy robots are available for the discerning robotics hobbyist. Not only do they recognize preset commands, these toys can also learn by themselves and adapt to different scenarios.
Does the programmable robot kit come in as a buy-and-play package, or is some assembly required? If so, are there added tools or soldering needed to start playing? Assembly time can either take a few minutes (for beginner robot toys), or hours and hours of patience (for advanced and complex robotics systems).
With hundreds of robots on the market and very affordable you&#;re sure to find one that&#;s perfect. They make great toys, educational opportunities and gifts. All these models though could get a bit overwhelming to digest. We&#;ve done extensive research to help bring to you the best robots. We also discuss below some alternates in each category in case these models don&#;t strike your fancy. The table below is designed to narrow your search to the best of each category.
Scoring Criteria
Our 100+ hours of research includes user reviews (both positive and negative), features, price, age level, skill level, industry feedback, manufacturer reputation, product design and durability, expandability, learning potential and assembly requirements.
With each &#;best of&#; model you&#;ll see: category winner, pricing comparison, user rating and recommended age group. To check the current price click &#;Check Price&#; or &#;Add to Cart&#;.
Best Robot Kit
$$$$ | Ages 10+ Check PriceRead Review
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The Good: Lego has created a programmable robot that can do almost anything you wish. As such, LEGO Mindstorms are popular amongst schoolkids, adults, and teachers alike. The LEGO platform is a great starting point to learn about robotic concepts and which parts connect where. Programming is handled by an intuitive interface.
The Bad: No Wi-Fi capability yet. Long shut down and boot up time.
The Bottom Line: LEGO Mindstorms are undisputed when it comes to programmable and buildable robot kits for education and fun endeavors. Budding programmers and young engineers can learn a lot about programming and robotics with these toys.
You can use six AA batteries, while the remote needs a couple AA batteries. Or, you can use the LEGO EV3 rechargeable battery and charger. Mini cable included.
Smart robots are here, and they are LEGO Mindstorms! By themselves, you can create a team of super-robots built to handle any challenge. Each member has its own unique ability that can prove useful in real life. These EV3 robots can be taught to walk, talk, and even respond appropriately to their surroundings.
LEGO Mindstorms come in with their own remotes. There&#;s an app that you can download to control these fantastic robots as well. This is all done via the IR sensor system in each toy. PC and Mac computers use a drag-and-drop style interface with intuitive icons. Forgot or misplaced your remote? No problem. Just use your computer or your smartphone, and you&#;re good to go.
There&#;s a helpful step-by-step guide to starting your LEGO Mindstorms up and running in no time. Commands are rendered in an easy to read interface with drag and drop mechanisms. The brick itself runs off a full Linux OS but it takes time to boot up and start interacting with.
Assembling your own LEGO Mindstorm is a reward in itself. EV3 assembly takes a lot longer time, but half the fun is in building this popular programmable robot.
Check PriceAges: 10+
Best use: Education + Fun
Power Source: 6xAA + 2xAA batteries (or Lego EV3 Battery)
Charging Source: Lego Charger Available
Mobility: Endless options!
Remote Control: App or included remote
Interactivity: VERY High
Easy of Assembly: Adult supervision suggested, no required
Fast shipping, hassle-free returns, all major credit cards accepted!
Add to Cart Dash & Dot Robot Wonder Pack Best Toy RobotBest Toy Robot
$$$ | Ages 5+ Check PriceRead Review
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The Good: Dash will be the best friend you always wanted to have. He has a cool name, and all your real life friends will like him! Dot is more of the brainy type. He&#;s the smarts, the intelligence among the two. Dash & Dot are both sturdily made and very durable. This dynamic duo are excellent teaching tools that make learning new things refreshingly fun. Your kid&#;s imagination will be fired up, and they can learn at their own pace.
The Bad: Though Dash & Dot have apps for both Android and iOS, the Android side isn&#;t as fully fleshed out as their Apple counterparts.
The Bottom Line: This robot toy arrives assembled and ready to play. It&#;s not a pick-up-after-a-few-minutes-then-drop-and-walk-away kind of toy, though. It requires some investment in time to learn the features and intelligent functions, but once your kids get through the learning curve, Dash & Dot will prove to be very effective in teaching robot language and programming codes for fun applications.
Built in batteries. An hour of charging time translates to about 3 hours of playing time. Charging with USB included.
In actuality, there are about 4 apps divided among Apple and Android platforms that allow remote control of Dash. The GO app is where you begin: simple commands with basic buttons. PATH is where you direct Dash to go. BLOCKLY lets you use blocks to lay down robotic behavior and reactions. Finally, XYLO is the app where you let Dash play the xylophone. Sounds fun, right? That&#;s not all. Those who already have a background in programming can use Wonder Workshop and its various APIs to create their own Dash & Dot application using Java and Objective C.
It seems that Dash & Dot are among the favorites in this guide. This versatile toy has embedded sensors all over them. The creators envisioned a fully-aware, almost sentient characteristic when designing Dash & Dot. They can certainly hear when you are talking, and know if you&#;re moving them. Interact with this programmable robot any way you want- cater a dance party, deliver a secret message to a friend, or have them teach you various coding skills. This toy is the ultimate hybrid of pet, toy, and friend all rolled into one package.
Well, what can you say? Play IMMEDIATELY as Dash & Dot is fully assembled when you take it out the package. Just how a toy should be!
Check PriceAges: 5+
Best use: Toy
Power Source: Built in battery
Charging Source: USB (included)
Mobility: Wheels
Remote Control: Andriod & Apple apps
Interactivity: Moderate
Easy of Assembly: Pre-assembled
Fast shipping, hassle-free returns, all major credit cards accepted!
Add to Cart Makeblock mBot Educational Robot Kit Best Education RobotBest Education Robot
$ | Ages 8+ Check PriceRead Review
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The Good: The mBot facilitates learning in a number of ways- robotics, electronics and programming, and takes frustration out of the equation. Parents, kids and even teachers can get right down and dirty with the mBot. Offers almost infinite customization, as you can use any compatible electronic module or mechanical parts to build your own dream robot.
The Bad: Consumers have reported wireless module issues; Bluetooth and the 2.4G wireless serial.
The Bottom Line: The mBot does it all- teach mathematics, engineering, and science and technology. Buy this if you or your kid are fascinated about connecting module pieces together.
Flexible. Can work with either 4 AA batteries, or an internal, mAh, 3.7V on-board charge.
Direct the mBot to do a wide variety of things, from moving to point B or in more complex ways. Have it play some music while moving, or instruct it to follow the line drawn on the floor. Add in more mBots and create your very own flash mob dance, or download the app and press some buttons on your or tablet for some good old-fashioned melee fun.
The mBot has 2 remote control functions, which are via 2.4G wireless and Bluetooth, handled by a built-in IR controller. The module connection between these two remotes are the only difference. You can use your smartphone&#;s Bluetooth to direct mBot&#;s movement. With the 2.4G, you&#;ll need access to a laptop or desktop to initiate control. We definitely would recommend Bluetooth for an easier time. Teachers are more likely to use the laptop, which ensures a stable connection for conducive learning. Take note, the 2.4G remote doesn&#;t come with batteries, so make sure to buy spares for extended fun!
mBot&#;s mechanism and electronics are based off the Arduino program, quite easy for kids to learn and build their coding skills upon. Do they have an idea they want to try? Chances are, the mBot can make it happen! Scratch 2.0 provides an intuitive, clean interface for them to use. From there, they can simulate stories and off-the-wall projects, and realize multiple functions for the mBot to do. This fun robot can even participate in mini sports tournaments such as soccer, balloon burst, sumo, and even martial arts fighting!
You may be intimidated by the 45-piece set of mBot, but what a feeling of achievement when you finally get it all assembled and ready to play! Makeblock makes it a bit easier for beginners, as they have included RJ25 connectors and helpful color labels so the board can get wired immediately. There are variations of pre-assembled kits available- RC car, line-following build, or the obstacle avoidance build to choose from. Leave your soldering iron in the toolbox, as you won&#;t need it here. Approximately 10 minutes to assemble.
Image Source Check PriceAges: 8+
Best use: Education
Power Source: 4xAA or 3.7v built in
Charging Source: Included
Mobility: Wheels
Remote Control: 2.4ghz remote (included) & Bluetooth
Interactivity: High
Easy of Assembly: Easy, no tools required
Fast shipping, hassle-free returns, all major credit cards accepted!
Add to Cart OWI Robotic Arm Edge Best Robot ArmBest Robot Arm
$ | Ages 10+ Check PriceRead Review
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The Good: OWI is one of the most affordable and well-created robotic arms out there. As a robotic arm, it is simply bursting with fun and useful capabilities. Manipulation and commands are fully-covered in 5&#;s- OWI has 5 joints, 5 motors and gear boxes, and a 5-switch wired controller.
The Bad: Close supervision is required until the unit is 100% assembled. Not the best for beginners.
The Bottom Line: Much like complicated robot kits, the OWI is a welcome addition to robotics enthusiasts. Put it together and this robotic arm can do impressive and delightful things. You&#;ll need your toolbox and a lot of time and patience.
All that useful functionalities require four D batteries, which aren&#;t included.
OWI, the programmable robotic arm has some very interesting list of functions and mobility. How about a radical wrist motion that spans 120 degrees, or a base rotation of 270 degrees and motion of 180 degrees, or an elbow motion range of 300 degrees? Now that&#;s what you call mobility.
The remote is the Arm itself. Remember the &#;5S&#;? That&#;s the five switch wired controller for manual manipulation, five joints for maximum flexibility, five gear boxes and five motors that can handle any robotic challenge. That&#;s truly what you need when handling the OWI Robotic Arm Edge.
Programmable robotic arms are very useful, whether in the hands of educators, or for professional uses. Do you realize how useful it is to have an extra arm? I bet you could think up a lot of benefits right now! Robot arms are the stepping stones to full automation and realizing industrial robotics. These arms can be used to pick up or manipulate objects from far away. OWI Arm Edge has the requisite OWI Software and USB interface cables that can potentially expand the capabilities of what a robotic arm can do.
Kids may have to leave it to their guardians to clean off excess plastic in the creation of the OWI Robotic Arm. There are also pieces to position properly, and parts to be tightened. Then comes the testing- motors connected to battery through wires to check for proper gear turning and the likes. Basic tools such as nail clippers, needle nose pliers and Exacto knife are welcome here. The arms come in a plastic mold, so you need to be careful to break it off properly.
Check PriceAges: 10+
Best use: Toy / Education
Power Source: 4xD (not included)
Charging Source: N/A
Mobility: Wheels
Remote Control: Wired Remote
Interactivity: High
Easy of Assembly: Adult supervision required, tools required
Fast shipping, hassle-free returns, all major credit cards accepted!
Add to Cart SmartLab Toys ReCon 6.0 Rover Best Robotic RoverBest Robotic Rover
$ | Ages 8-88+ Check PriceRead Review
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The Good: This programmable rover from SmartLabs is great at teaching problem solving through fundamental mathematics and basic coding. This educational toy is appropriate for kids aged 8 and above. Your kids will learn how to map routes in feet, inches and angles of turning.
The Bad: Like life, routes are mapped with a healthy dose of trial and error. The Rover requires laser-like precision in getting the correct turns and tracking.
The Bottom Line: Control may seem to be inaccurate, but keep at it and programmable rover from SmartLabs will follow your directions with unerring faithfulness after some time. You may even master it as to make it do simple chores for you.
Internal mechanisms require three C batteries, which aren&#;t included.
The ReCon 6.0 can be directed to satisfy your every wish. Make it pivot from one side to another. Have it move forwards and backwards. Tell it to play a pre-programmed soundtrack and make it dance to the music. Utilize the cargo hold on its back to deliver soda or Spot&#;s favorite doggy treat. The usual directions are also included- forward, back, left and right. The third wheel on the Rover is genius, as it can make a sharp turn when needed.
You&#;ll be using a touch pad to control the Robotic Rover&#;s movements. There&#;s the 10-button key pad and an LCD screen for input. More advanced programming requires you to wade through a veritable selection of choices and saving them as preset settings. You&#;ll feel like programming an old VCR, but that&#;s where the comparison ends. A PC connection is not available, and there&#;s no existing app for remotely controlling it yet. The good thing is, all the controls you need is within the toy itself.
How can the Robotic Rover interact? You can gain a grasp of just how deep this is just by looking at the 48-page guidebook. There are the step-by-step basic instructions, some mission maps to spark your creativity and imagination, and a diagnostics test for troubleshooting. You can tell your SmartLab Rover to follow the line you specified, send a personalized message to someone, or dance until the batteries run out. It can also flash its LED light in a pattern and play some sounds.
No assembly required. Just open the package and play to your heart&#;s desire.
Check PriceAges: 8+
Best use: Toy / Education
Power Source: 3xC batteries (not included)
Charging Source: N/A
Mobility: Wheels (tracks are for looks)
Remote Control: Touch Pad Controller
Interactivity: High
Easy of Assembly: Adult supervision required, tools required
Fast shipping, hassle-free returns, all major credit cards accepted!
Add to CartRemember the countless hours spent in front of a million LEGO bricks scattered here, there and everywhere? Now you can do the same thing, with an added feature of bringing it to animatronic life, with LEGO Mindstorms!
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LEGO Mindstorm offers users the power to build their personal robots, then control it with a myriad of choices available to them. Everything is intuitively made, from the fantastic drag and drop programming interface, the controls, to the multitude of available modules to make your LEGO Mindstorm a fearsome programmable robot machine. These toys come in with pre-programmed commands from the get go, giving users a sneak peek of how far you can go with these fun toys. Have them navigate around set obstacles, or shoot balls at infrared targets- the potential is simply endless! There&#;s a choice of sensors, components, motors, and more than 900 bricks in each kit. Beyond the physical parts, opening up an EV3 toy offers entertainment that&#;s very addictive.
The heart and brain of a LEGO Mindstorm is the EV3 Brick . The Brick houses a powerful ARM9 processor that is more than capable of any robot programming task you can throw at it. There&#;s four output motor ports, four sensor ports, a mini USB and a full-size USB port for connecting the Brick to a PC, and a built-in speaker. There are three interactive servo motors and some 500-plus Technic pieces for assembling your robot with. Sensors are aplenty- there&#;s infrared, touch and color sensors to satiate your creativity.You have the capability to build the main model as soon as you open the kit. You can go off-tangent and make the robot GRIPP3R, SPIK3R, or any of the bonus builds CRAWLER and COBRA. SPIK3R is a six-legged menace with a quick, deadly tail. You can make it turn sharply, or let it open and close its claws menacingly. GRIPP3R is a muscle-bound machine who loves to lift things with its solid and powerful hands.
Fans are so in love with the Mindstorms that they have created their own unique builds. There&#;s some bonus content right there! You can download the instructions and the programming software for it off LEGO&#;s Mindstorms page. Now can you see why LEGO Mindstorms is a fan favorite in classrooms and in hobby circles? There are even expansion packs available to take the learning, fun and experience even further! The basics of science, technology, engineering, programming and a ton of fun features make the Mindstorm a must-buy.
Added features include:
EV3 Programmer App
Program your EV3 straight from your or tablet with this app!
Robot Commander App
Steer and control your robot from your smartphone or tablet
This DIY programmable robot makes use of &#;servo blocks&#; to foster creativity in building your very own robot. You can choose from a variety of sensors and mobility features, then add some processing units for intelligence. The Bioloid robots take customization a step further with transparent humanoid skin you can design. Zigbee wireless control, C-style motion and programming, and an adjustable posture round out its unique features.
At first glance, the Roku Smart Robot looks like a tiny human. The Roku is updated to be controlled via an app you can download on your smartphone. It also has some smart sensors that allow you to control the Roku using hand movement and objects. With a wave of your hand, you can direct the Roky where to go.
The controls allow the Roku Smart Robot to walk around forwards or backwards. It can turn suddenly and spin in place without falling; it can even carry small things around without falling over! The RGB LED sensors located in its eyes can follow things unerringly and navigate through obstacles placed in its path. If you&#;re tired of having your Roku balance things while moving or spinning in place, there are other modes to try- have it dance, or learn using the Programming mode.
Parallax offers a good selection of programmable robots, each with different features and accessories that add some robotic capabilities. The BoeBoe Robot is ever popular among hobbyists, educators and students throughout the globe, while the ActivityBot Robot Kit encourages real-world engineering skills perfect for for first-time robot-builders.
Build your own robot arm to pick things up, do tasks, play games and learn about programming, electronics and mechanical forces for endless entertainment. Adept Robotic Arm kit is a big step up in skill from toys, but is still perfect for teens looking for a genuine robotics experience.
Robot lovers will get a kick out of the MOSS Exofabulatronixx Model Kit, whether they are experienced or novices. Each block may look the same, but these building &#;modules&#; are very different when it comes to overall function. Move them around by using your own Android or iOS device. This programmable robot is much like the Cubelets, as complete beginners can just pick them up and play. The MOSS Exofabulatronixx Model Kit for those who want to jump in robotics with little to no knowledge required!
Is there a way to ease in complete novices to the intimidating world of programming and robotics? You bet there is. Robotis DREAM is virtually a dream come true for people of all ages. The total learning process is divided into 3 parts. Dream Level 1 is a robotics kit for the basics. Dream Level 2 teaches how a robot moves and what makes it move- a series of sensors, wheels, force, speed and gait. Dream Level 3 features 12 new robot kits with entirely new parts, like the introduction of an infrared sensor or servomotor, to outline the many ways to build your own personal robot. For the class rom you&#;ll find the STEM level 2 kit to be VERY comprehensive.
If you&#;re just getting your feet wet in robot toys, then the OWI is a great starter kit. One, the OWI 14 in 1 is powered by solar energy. It can also change its form into 14 different robots for maximum fun. You won&#;t need to worry about batteries, because all you need is to lay it out on the sun, and presto- charged again. This product can supplement development and at-home learning educational curriculums.
Arduino-based robots are programmable through the use of I/O within the Arduino boards. You can utilize the I/O to direct how they move with sensor and motor equipment. Why Arduino? It simply is the best platform for C++ programmers. It is flexible enough to be used by hobbyists and educators alike.
Aluminum Frame Blue for Arduino Learners (IR Version)
Robotics enthusiasts will recommend this toy as your starting point in learning about Arduino programming, electronics and robotics in particular. You can manipulate the tech pieces to either build a three-wheeled car or a robot tank if you fancy it. Set aside those soldering iron as you won&#;t need it with this product. This starter kit is a one-stop solution that brings in robotics and STEM learning, powered by Scratch 2.0&#;s intuitive, drag-and-drop graphical interface.
You know how the maxim goes: more is better, especially in robotics! This kit requires no soldering and it doesn&#;t yet include batteries. Get creative and build robots with specific functions: a Game Robot, Edge-Detection Robot, Rubberband Gun Robot, Line-Following Robot and much more, all housed within the Arduino platform. The OSOYOO Robot Car contains electronic modules and mechanical parts to get you going.
Sparki is your best friend when it comes to entry-level robotics and coding. Elementary kids, robotics educators, DIY enthusiasts and instructors will find UNO R3 a joy to interact with! Rarely is there a robot kit that be so simple yet offer a challenge to even the most experienced pro. You will learn how to solve mazes, have your UNO R3 follow lines, avoid edges, retrieve objects, shape drawing and have it hide or follow various light sources. Programming is handled by C and C++, with a drag and drop interface, open for all.
In this article, we took the tedious out by picking only the best programmable robot toys among the hundreds available in the market. Dive into the fascinating world of robotics and programming by getting your own programmable robot today. The best robots aren&#;t just merely toys; they are innovation, engineering and technology rolled into one mind-blowing package!
We&#;ll try to keep this guide up to date with new models as they come available so check back often if you&#;re in the market for a Robot or Robot Kit.
Help us make this guide better!
Looking for a robot and have questions?
Narrowed it down, but need a little help deciding?
Already have a great Robot you love that&#;s not on our list?
Comment below. We&#;d love to hear!
Adopting robotic automation can significantly boost productivity, quality, and competitiveness for manufacturers. However, choosing the right industrial robot for your needs requires careful consideration.
This buying guide covers the key features and capabilities to evaluate when selecting an industrial robot.
Choosing the appropriate industrial robot
The main selection criterion for an industrial robot is its field of application. In short, what can it do for you? Thus, depending on the robot&#;s ultimate task you want it to fulfil, one can evaluate the whole production process in order to make up one's mind.
Robot Configurations
In the industrial robot market, there are five main types of robots one can choose from: articulated, SCARA, parallel/delta, cartesian/grantry, and collaborative/cobot.
The physical structure and layout of an industrial robot determines its appropriate applications and what it can do. The most common five types of robots' configurations are listed as follows:
Articulated
It is a multi-jointed arm robots suitable for repetitive picking and placing. It has high maximum load and nice reach our range.
It is good at carrying out paint application and with high number of axes as well as high degree of flexibility and freedom (4 to 7 DOF) to reach any position and orientation in spite of obstacles. However, they are relatively expensive in cost than other types of robots plus it is not easy to program them.
Cartesian / Gantry
This type of robot can mainly move on linear axes and are optimized for transportation and palletizing. They are easily to be programmed and are best for repetitive tasks, such as unloading machines, pick-and-place operations for injection modelling machines.
They have good precision and high level of positioning accuracy. Although they are not as flexible as articulated robot, they are low in cost.
SCARA
They are robots with selective compliance arm with rigid joints which is ideal for assembly and handling. They can work along vertical axes with rotation flexibility.
Generally speaking, they function quite similarly with cartesian robots but are able to proceed tasks much faster and with higher flexibility than the former.
With the advantage of moving the Z axis to carry out vertical operations and four degrees of freedom, it can do more complex tasks than cartesian machine but at the same time still considered to be simple and not costly at all. They are more precise than the articulated robots at simpler task and can have more functionalities and flexibilities than cartesian.
Parallel / Delta
These Robots are with concurrent joints that are good at providing speed and delicate precision for pick-and-place work. Delta robots, also known as Spider robots, are the most common kind within the parallel robots type.
They have a parallel configuration consisting of parallelogram joints linked to a common platform. This structure allows them to perform delicate and precise motions which are ideal for assembly, packaging, and pick-and-place tasks involving lightweight objects ranging from 10 grams to 1 kilogram.
With their dynamic movements, they are commonly used in food and pharmaceutical packaging, as well as electronics production that requires dexterous handling of small items.
Collaborative / Cobot
They are compact, safe robots capable of working alongside humans and indeed have revolutionised the industrial world.
Since they are designed to safely work alongside humans without protective barriers, cobots utilize force control, touch sensitivity, vision systems, and anti-collision technologies to constantly monitor their surroundings and synchronize movements with operators, avoiding accidents in shared workspaces.
The benefits of cobots include low integration costs, flexible deployment, and intuitive programming enabled by their learning capabilities. However, their limitations in payload capacity and operating speed compared to traditional industrial robots make them not cost-effective enough in industrial production lines.
Owing to their safety features and adaptability, cobots are gaining popularity in sectors like automotive manufacturing for inspection and assembly tasks as well as medical fields like surgery where precision and human-robot coordination are vital.
As collaborative technology continues advancing, cobots promise to enable new human-machine workflows across industrial, medical and service applications.
Other Factors to be Considered
End Effectors
The devices at the end of the robot arm that grasp, grip or handle parts are called end effectors. Common end effectors include:
Grippers - Mechanical claws that provide a sturdy grasp on objects.
Vacuum cups - Use suction to securely pick up material.
Magnetics - Utilize magnetic force to hold ferromagnetic materials.
Adhesives - Sticky tapes and gels temporarily attach to parts.
Select end effectors suitable for the shape, size and material properties of the objects handled by the robot.
Control Systems
The robot&#;s computerized control system handles programming, motion control and sensor integration for precise positioning and movement. Evaluate:
Ease of programming - From simple teaching pendants to intuitive graphical interfaces.
Autonomy - Capability to operate independently without intervention.
Vision systems - Built-in object recognition for accuracy and quality control.
Artificial intelligence - Abilities like machine learning that enable adaptability.
Interoperability - Communication and data exchange with other devices.
Performance Specifications
Key specifications like payload, precision, speed, and mobility determine suitable applications. Other factors include safety compliance, power requirements, and rated operating duty cycles.
Conclusion
Each type of these robots has its own strengths and advantages as well as constraints such as the number of axes, maximum load (called payload) and range . . . etc that by basing those criteria, you will be able to refine your choice.
One can match the robot configuration to one's desired and specific production tasks and workflow environment. Carefully assess your workflow needs and production environment constraints before investing in an expensive industrial robot.
Partnering with an experienced automation integrator can help identify the ideal robot configuration, capabilities, and specifications tailored to your application requirements and facilities. Investing in the right robotics solution will lead to long-term improvements in manufacturing agility, efficiency and global competitiveness.
The company is the world’s best flexible joint robot supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.