Robotic Arms Built for Education:There are already so many robotic arms on the market — ABB, Kawasaki, UR, and many others. So why would we decide to design another one?

Let me share my perspective as a university teacher. Over the past years, my team and I have tried many different robotic arms in our classes. We bought several models, hoping they would help us improve the quality of our teaching. But when we actually started using them, we quickly realized that most of them were not the right robotic arm for education. Here’s why:

1. The price was too high. With limited budgets, we could only purchase a few units. This meant that most students had very little time to actually use the robot hands-on.
2. No real teaching platform. While the devices came with tutorials or manuals, they were not designed for classroom teaching. I had to spend weeks or even months figuring things out before I could bring them into my lectures.
3. Closed systems. Many robotic arms did not share their source code, control algorithms, or internal structure. As a result, students had no way to understand the fundamental principles behind the robot.
4. Lack of integration with AI and applications. In today’s world, robotics education is not just about the arm itself — it’s about how the arm connects with vision systems, AI models, and industrial applications. But most commercial products stopped at just “the robot arm.”

As teachers, we want our students to have meaningful learning experiences. When I looked at my students — eager to learn, eager to practice — I felt we needed a product truly designed for education.

So I worked with my team to design one. It is not as powerful as ABB or UR in terms of industrial performance, but it was never meant to compete with them. This robotic arm was created for classrooms, for teachers, and for students.

Key Features That Matter in the Classroom

• Fully open-source – Everything is open: hardware structure, control algorithms, source code. Students can see how it all works and build their knowledge from the ground up.
• Affordable and scalable – With payload options of 1kg, 3kg, and 5kg, the price is much lower than traditional industrial robots. Schools can buy enough units so that every student gets hands-on time.
• Compact design – The controller is built into the base, which saves valuable lab space and keeps workbenches clean and organized.
• Complete teaching materials – Together with other teachers, I developed a set of teaching courses that cover robot structure, hand-eye calibration, kinematics, motion control, and integration with vision systems. If your school doesn’t have time to design a curriculum, you can directly use ours — it saves a lot of preparation effort.
• Digital twin and online assessment – Not every school has the same budget. That’s why we provide a digital twin system that can run on any computer, so every student can practice. For teachers, there’s even an online exam and grading system to reduce workload.

Where Can This Robotic Arm Be Used?

This arm was designed to adapt to different teaching and research scenarios:

1.Large-scale practical training – Multiple robotic arms can be deployed as training kits, giving every student the chance to learn hands-on.

Each training kit is designed to support teaching in groups of three students.

2.Automation and smart manufacturing – With vision systems, conveyors, pumps, and grippers, the arm can simulate a mini production line, perfect for engineering and automation programs.

Smart Manufacturing Training

3.Cross-disciplinary projects – Pair the robotic arm with mobile robots to simulate real-world applications: agricultural harvesting, logistics handling, or security patrols.

In my own lab, I often combine these setups to create a complete robotics learning environment — a space where students can experiment, design, and innovate.

Teachers’ and Students’ Feedback on Robotic Arms Built for Education

Since launching our Robotic Arms Built for Education, we have received very positive feedback from both teachers and students. Many educators have shared that the open-source design and ready-to-use curriculum significantly reduce preparation time, allowing them to focus on hands-on teaching rather than figuring out complex setups. Even instructors who are new to robotics reported that they could start teaching confidently within days.

Students, on the other hand, love the opportunity to interact directly with the robots. They can explore the internal structure, experiment with motion control, and even modify the code to create new behaviors. This hands-on experience not only makes learning more engaging but also gives them practical skills that are highly relevant for future careers in robotics, AI, and intelligent manufacturing.

In short, teachers appreciate a ready-to-teach, time-saving platform, and students value the freedom to explore and innovate, making the classroom a dynamic space where robotics is truly learned, not just demonstrated.

If you are interested in our products or would like to learn more, please feel free to get in touch.

For those who wish to exchange ideas and experiences on robotics education, I warmly welcome you to send me an email — I would be happy to share insights and discuss teaching strategies.