With a growing community for both educational and

hobbyist purposes, robotic kits are invaluable resources

to learn about mechanics, electronics, and programming.

Programmable or not, all of the robotic arm kits reviewed

in this article are designed to be used by beginners and

up to advanced users, used by anyone from students to

hobbyists able to improve the skills and start building

robotic projects including a powerful tool such as a

robotic arm.

In general terms, a wide range of robotic arms are used

in different areas including here service or industrial

applications. If an industrial robotic arm is used for

tasks such as measuring, pick and place, assembly lines,

and many more industrial applications, a robot arm kit is

a powerful resource for research, as a trainer kit in

education and for DIY robotic projects.

starting with two and going forward to seven degrees of

freedom, all of the robotic arms explored in this article

are designed to replicate a human arm, but with changes

to fit the requirements of the application area.

The kits reviewed in this article are mini robotic arms

compared with the heavy duty industrial robots, but with

a few additional tools these can replicate the abilities

and functionalities of an industrial robotic arm.

Robotic arm kits are engineered for low payloads due to a

fragile structure, but the same structure allows you to

add additional components such as sensors and actuators.

Working on an opened architecture, the robotic arms are

programmable and compatible with several other DIY

components often used in robotics projects such as the

Arduino.

Robotic Arms With 2 DOFA robotic arm with two degrees of freedom allows simple

tasks like grasping objects or sorting and move objects.

Used by beginners or hobbyists in different projects,

these simple kits can become a good start to start

building skills in electronics and programming.

A robotic arm with two degrees of freedom is more than a

toy for a child who’s trying to enter into the world of

industrial and service robotic arms.

More or less programmable, the kits could be used for

simple tasks like grasp small objects and lift, or even

more, a robotic platform like Mr. Tidy with two degrees

of freedom of the arm is able to sort and move objects.

Stacker Robot Kit

Stacker Robot Kit

The Stacker kit is a simple robotic arm with two wheels

and two degrees of freedom. On the arm could be added two

additional degrees of freedom by integrating a

differential drive for the rolling base. This robot kit

was designed for educational and hobby purposes, while

the package includes electronics and remote control. The

wheels are driven by two rotation servos, while one servo

is used to lift the arm and another servo for open and

close the gripper.

Features:

dimensions:24,7-cm H x 19,6-cm W x 26-cm D;

customizable framework;

large electronics compartment;

omni-directional movement;

stainless steel castor;

3-inch drive wheels;

gripper spread: 10,7-centimeters;

Khepera III

Khepera III

This small robotic arm kit is engineered with two degrees

of freedom and a wide range of applications. It could be

used for a maximum payload of 50 grams, while the entire

weight of the kit is around 500 grams. Attached to a

mobile robot platform, the arm can grasp and transport

small objects.

Even is not included in the Khepera III package, the

gripper robotic arm can be interfaced using the KoreBot

II embedded PC extension. The robot kit can be programmed

uses a list of API’s and is good to know that is

compatible with VREP simulation environment.

Features:

2 degrees of freedom;

can lift a maximum weight of 50 grams;

has a total weight of 0.5 kilograms;

compatible with VREP simulation environment;

Robotic Arms With 4 DOFWith four degrees of freedom we have entered into the

advanced robotic arm area designed not just to lift up or

down objects, it could also be used for rotating and let

the object in different areas than the initial place.

Four is double of two, double of two degrees of freedom

and ready to enter into the area of advanced robotic

arms.

In the following, I explore several robotic arm kits with

four degrees of freedom special designed for educational

or hobbyist robotic projects.

AL5D

AL5D

AL5D is the most advanced robotic arm from a series of

many more robotic arms from Lynxmotion. With four degrees

of freedom, the Lynxmotion kit is based on Hitec servos

while the arm is designed to reach high distances for its

size with a horizontal length of 25 centimeters and a

maximum payload of 370 grams. The values are available

for AL5D, which is the most advanced robotic arm from its

series.

The AL5D has four degrees of freedom, which could be

increased with another one degree of freedom by adding a

rotating wrist joint. Built from aluminum, the arm has a

high resistance to a significant load applied to its

size.

Based on ATMEGA168-20PU microcontroller capable to

control at the same time up to 32 servomotors, the

robotic arm could be enhanced with many more controls

based on Lynx software and RS232 interface.

Another software called RIOS is used to write programming

code and to upload the program into the microcontroller.

Features:

ATMEGA168-20PU microcontroller;

payload of 370 grams;

horizontal reached distance of 25 centimeters;

arm construction is based on aluminium;

RIOS software is used to write and upload scripts

into microcontrollers;

Mini Robot Arm

Mini Robot Arm

Designed and build by Arexx, the Mini robotic arm kit is

perfect for hobbyists who tries to enter into the world

of mechanics, electronics, and programming. The kit is

based on ATMEGA64 microcontroller and support C

programming lines written in Open Source Tools. Using USB

interface, the program written in C to control the arm

can be uploaded in the microcontroller with the Uploader

software.

With a flexible structure, the Mini Robot Arm could be

enhanced with sensors for environmental reactions.

Features:

ATMEGA64 microcontroller;

I/O inputs and outputs;

I2C bus;

4 mini-servos;

2 maxi-servos;

metal chassis and plastic based arm;

arm length 260 mm;

height 320 mm;

base diameter 150 mm;

power supply 6 to 12V;

USB interface;

UArm

uArm Complete Assembled Acrylic Kit

uArm is a 4-axis robot arm with parallel-mechanism and

modeled after the industrial robot from ABB – PalletPack.

The arm is powered by Arduino board, and can be

controlled wireless using Bluetooth connection.

Features:

3 servos;

1 micro servo;

1 Arduino board;

1 Gripper;

robotic arm kit with USB PC interface;

Robotic Arms 5 DOFOne degree of freedom in plus is more than enough to

develop complex applications where with a flexible

gripper for example is could spend less time and

movements for the same task.

With five degrees of freedom you can use the robotic arm

for advanced applications such as grasping objects and

moving around the arm with a minimum number of moves.

Robotic Arm 5 DOF DIY Kit

Robotic Arm 5 DOF DIY Kit

With four degrees of freedom of the arm and one degree of

freedom for gripper, this is a fully programmable robot

arm kit compatible with Arduino and Rhino. The arm could

be controlled via PC or optional through wireless by

adding a Bluetooth module for servo controller. With a

flexible structure, the arm could host many more servos,

while the number of applications where the robot arm can

be used could be increased by adding more additional

tools. The arm has a maximum reach of 320 millimeters

with a maximum payload of 300 grams.

If you have C programming language skills, this robotic

arm kit is a powerful platform to apply your knowledge

and build several other robotic projects.

Features:

four degrees of freedom for arm and one for gripper;

arm maximum reach from base: 320 mm;

maximum payload: 300 grams;

power requirement: 5 to 6 VDC;

two high torque metal gear servos;

three double bearing servo motors;

OWI Robotic Arm

OWI Robotic Arm

At an affordable price and built especially for

beginners, the OWI is a simple robotic arm kit part of a

robotic manipulator with five degrees of freedom. In

original form, the kit is not programmable and can be

controlled only with a remote control, but with

additional electronics, the arm can be controlled by

running a program.

The structure is based on plastic, and is engineered with

four degrees of freedom for arm and another one DOF for

the gripper.

If the load exceeds the maximum capacity of 100 grams,

there are audio and light warnings to notify the user

that the arm could be damaged.

Features:

120 degrees for wrist motion range;

300 degrees for elbow range;

base rotated 270 degrees vertically and 180

horizontally;

arm vertical reach 38 centimeters;

arm horizontal reach of 32 centimeters;

total weight of 658 grams;

maximum loading of 100 grams;

Pincher AX-12 Robot Arm

Pincher AX-12 Robot Arm

The AX-12 robotic arm is a platform designed to be used

on additional mobile platforms such as TurtleBot ROS.

Located on a mobile platform, the robotic arm could be

used to build a wide range of applications like picking

up small objects and moving in other places.

Features:

AX-12A Dynamixel actuators;

ABS construction;

servos come labled and pre-ID’d;

Arbotix Robocontroller for onboard processing;

custom parallel gripper;

camera and sensors mounting brackets;

Robotics PhantomX

Robotics PhantomX

The second robotic kit from Phantom is an advanced

robotic arm with five degrees of freedom and 7 AX-12A

Dynamixel actuators. With a maximum range of 43

centimeters and wrist rotation option, can lift a weight

of up to 500 grams, while the entire weight of the arm is

1.4 kilograms.

Based on ArbotiX controller, the arm could operate in

autonomous mode or controlled via PC or radio remote

control.

Fully programmable, the kit could be used by beginners as

well as advanced users in DIY applications including

picking up and moving objects.

Features:

AX-12A servos;

14cm ball bearing base;

dual servo shoulder;

ABS construction;

Arbotix Robocontroller for onboard processing;

custom parallel gripper;

mounting brackets for cameras and sensors;

Robotic Arms With 6 DOFWith only one degree of freedom less than the human arm,

a robotic arm with six degrees of freedom can be used in

complex applications where an object can be moved up and

down, left and right, or forward and backward.

With these robotic arm kits we’re closer to reach all the

degrees of freedom of a human arm.

Katana

Katana

The Katana is a robotic arm kit for adults equipped with

eight infrared and four force sensors. It is designed for

high precision and can lift a maximum weight of 0.5Kg

with a horizontal length of about 60 cm.

Features:

total weight: 5 kg;

maximum payload: 0.5 kg;

motors: DC Motors;

integrated encoders;

speed: 90° per second (per axis);

reach: 60 cm;

precision: +/-0.1mm repeatability;

infrared sensors: 8;

force sensors: 4;

Kinova JACO RE

Kinova JACO RE

Designed especially for research applications, JACO RE is

a robotic arm with six degrees of freedom and unlimited

rotation on its axes. With a resistant structure based on

carbon fiber and aluminum, the arm could be integrated in

static to mobile platforms.

The design includes compact actuator discs linked

together with zero insertion force (ZIF) cable.

The arm has attached a three-finger gripper with

individual control for each finger. With support for

Ubuntu Linux and Windows operating systems, JACO has

available API’s to control the arm movements, while for

the basic control is used Kinova JACOsoft software.

Using lightweight materials for structure, the total

weight of the arm is only 5,7 kilograms and support a

maximum payload of 1,5 kilograms.

Features:

3 plastic fingers with 3 joints each;

controlled by Kinova JACOsoft software;

robotic arm kit with USB PC interface;

support for Ubuntu Linux and Windows (XP, Vista, 7)

operating systems;

weight: 5,7 kilograms;

arm extension: 90 centimeters;

Dagu

Dagu

Built from aluminum and equipped with six degrees of

freedom, the Dagu is one of the most advanced robotic

arms with a length of 39 centimeters and with a brain

based on ATMega168 microcontroller. With up to 32 servos

controlled by the same board – Atrexx, the robot kit can

be controlled and programmed using the RS232 serial port

or WiFi module.

Features:

microcontroller:ATMega168;

maximum length: 39 centimeters;

base and arm servos: 4 12 kg*cm (1,17 Nm);

gripper and wrist micro servos: 2 1,8 kg*cm (0,17

Nm);

TROBOT 4.0

TROBOT 4.0

The six degrees of freedom robotic arm called TROBOT is

designed especially for industrial applications and can

be controlled using the ABB RobotStudio software.

Additionally, the kit is not equipped with servo and

accessories, which must be purchased separately.

Features:

control: ABB RobotStudio software;

ethernet interface: control the robot from a PC;

Clamp Robot Arm Kit

Clamp Robot Arm Kit

The clamp arm is a small robotic arm kit with an

affordable price and based on the SSC32 servo controller

interfaced with the Arduino single board computer. Fully

programmable, the arm is a powerful tool able to build a

service or industrial applications.

Features:

arm height: 320mm;

weight: 600g;

gripper: LG-NS;

multifunction brackets:4;

advance rotation base:180 degrees;

Hitec 311 servo:2;

DF05BB high torque Servo:1;

DF15MG high torque Servo:1;

USB SSC32 Servo controller;

Robotic Arms 7 DOFSeven degrees of freedom mean that the robotic arm could

compete with a human arm. Starting from these kits you

can build robotic applications, which can full

replacement the human workers on assembly lines, for

example.

All of these seven DOF mimic a human arm.

WAM Arm

WAM Arm

WAM arm uses Transparent Dynamics technology for a

direct-drive capability for motors and joints with a high

impact of arm torque. Mimicking the human arm

capabilities, the WAM arm is characterized by flexibility

and dexterity.

Features:

7 degrees of freedom;

direct-drive capability;

Read more at http://www.intorobotics.com/robotic-arm-

kits-for-your-next-project/#K5uuF2YzzIeAYjrX.99