The 8 Best Programmable Robotic Arms
This wiki has been updated 24 times since it was first published in January of 2019. Whether your are a tech aficionado, someone who is just beginning their journey into robotics, or trying to find the right gift to foster a child's interest in computing, one of these programmable robotic arms is perfect. They are great learning and teaching tools to help people gain a better understanding of how automation works. Have fun setting them up to perform basic and advanced tasks. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Dobot Magician
2. Adeept 5-DOF
3. Makeblock Ultimate Scratch 2.0
Editor's Notes
December 20, 2020:
During this update we replaced the standard Dobot Magician with the Advanced Educational option. This latter package includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi modules, a laser engraving kit, and a joystick control kit, making it significantly more functional for a very minor increase in cost. Along with the uArm Swift Pro-an, a new model makings its debut on the list, the Dobot Magician has one of the highest lifting capacities, at 500 grams. We also decided to include the Adeept 5-DOF as an affordable model that has more degrees of freedom than our other budget-friendly options. Additionally, we had to eliminate the Frentaly R4 due to availability issues.
February 28, 2019:
Programmable robotic arms may seem like very advanced machines at first, and no doubt they will require some patience and dedication to realize their full potential for any user, but many are actually well-suited to kids who have shown an interest in automation or coding. For example, the Makeblock Ultimate Scratch 2.0 is specifically designed to appeal to an audience as young as 12 years of age. They'll have tons of fun transforming it though its 10 different configurations, which include a tank, catapult, and rolling camera dolly. The Dobot Magician can be programmed to perform a number of advanced tasks, such as multi-arm collaboration, so it will appeal to adults, but it is also an exceptional teaching tool for kids and will allow them to practice coding in a variety of languages, including Jave, Python, and C++. Options like the SunFounder Rollarm Kit, Frentaly R4, and ArmUno 2.0 MeArm are very affordable and ideal for people who are still unsure of how much they, or their children, will enjoy working with robots. The Makeblock Ultimate Scratch 2.0, LewanSoul xArm, LewanSoul LeArm, ArmUno 2.0 MeArm, SunFounder Rollarm Kit all require assembly, which allows one to become familiar with their inner workings, whereas the Dobot Magician, SainSmart 6-Axis, and Frentaly R4 come fully assembled, so you can skip the construction and get right to work on programming.
Special Honors
Wlkata Mirobot Education Kit The Wlkata Mirobot has a more polished look than many other models, making it look like a finished item rather that a project piece. It offers six degrees of freedom, has reasonably fast movement, and repeatable positioning accuracy to 0.2 mm. wlkata.com
4. SainSmart 6-Axis
5. LewanSoul xArm
6. SunFounder Rollarm Kit
7. uArm Swift Pro-an
8. ArmUno 2.0 MeArm
A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.