Baxter
Collaborative manufacturing robot for flexible automation
$22,000 – $25,000
Baxter is a collaborative industrial robot designed by Rethink Robotics for manufacturing and research applications. Featuring two 7-degree-of-freedom arms, an animated face display, and integrated sensors, Baxter can safely work alongside human workers without safety cages. The robot was designed for small and medium manufacturers seeking affordable, adaptable automation for tasks like material handling, machine tending, packaging, and light assembly.
Released: 2012
Overview
Baxter represents a groundbreaking approach to industrial robotics, introduced by Rethink Robotics in 2012 as one of the first truly collaborative robots designed for manufacturing environments. Unlike traditional industrial robots that require safety cages and extensive programming, Baxter was built to work safely alongside human workers and be trainable by shop floor personnel without robotics expertise. With its distinctive animated face display, dual 7-DOF arms, and array of integrated sensors, Baxter brought a new level of accessibility to factory automation.
The robot's design philosophy centered on flexibility and ease of use. Baxter can be trained through demonstration—operators simply move its arms to show it desired motions—making reprogramming for new tasks quick and intuitive. This adaptability made it particularly attractive to small and medium-sized manufacturers who needed automation solutions that could handle varied production runs without requiring specialized robotics engineers.
While Rethink Robotics ceased operations in 2018, Baxter's legacy continues as a pioneering platform in collaborative robotics and remains widely used in research institutions and educational settings worldwide. The robot demonstrated that industrial automation could be approachable, safe, and economically viable for a broader range of applications than previously possible.
Key Features
- Dual 7-DOF Arms: Two articulated arms with seven joints each provide human-like dexterity for complex manipulation tasks
- Train-by-Demonstration: Intuitive programming through physical guidance eliminates need for traditional robot programming expertise
- Integrated Safety Sensors: Built-in cameras, sonar, and torque sensors enable safe operation alongside human workers without protective caging
- Animated Face Display: LCD screen shows expressive digital face that communicates robot status and intent to nearby workers
- Force Sensing: Series elastic actuators in each joint provide compliant, backdrivable motion and force feedback
- Interchangeable End Effectors: Standardized wrist interface allows quick swapping of grippers and tools for different applications
- ROS Integration: Full support for Robot Operating System enables advanced programming and research applications
Applications
Baxter was designed for a wide range of light manufacturing tasks in industries including electronics assembly, plastics manufacturing, metal fabrication, and consumer goods production. Common applications include machine tending, material handling, packaging and palletizing, quality inspection, line loading, and simple assembly operations. The robot's dual arms and adaptive capabilities make it particularly effective for tasks requiring coordination, such as picking and placing parts, sorting components, or holding workpieces while performing operations.
Beyond industrial settings, Baxter found significant adoption in research laboratories and universities worldwide. Its ROS compatibility, accessible programming interface, and safe human-robot interaction capabilities made it an ideal platform for advancing collaborative robotics research, developing manipulation algorithms, and teaching robotics principles. The robot continues to be used extensively in academic settings for human-robot collaboration studies, machine learning experiments, and robotics education.
Technical Highlights
Baxter's most significant technical innovation was its series elastic actuators (SEAs), which provide compliant, force-sensing motion in every joint. This technology allows the robot to detect contact with objects or people and respond appropriately, making it inherently safe for collaborative operation. The SEAs also enable backdrivability, allowing operators to physically move the arms for training, and provide the force feedback necessary for delicate manipulation tasks.
The robot's sensor suite includes cameras in the head and wrists, sonar sensors for proximity detection, and integrated torque sensing in each joint. This multi-modal sensing system, combined with behavior-based control architecture, enables Baxter to adapt to variations in its environment and task requirements. The platform's open software architecture and ROS support facilitated extensive customization and research applications, contributing to advances in collaborative robotics, adaptive manipulation, and intuitive robot programming methods.
Videos
Ready to deploy Baxter?
Tell us about your use case and we'll help you evaluate this solution.