Kinova Gen3
Ultra lightweight modular research robotic arm
Contact for pricing
The Kinova Gen3 is an ultra lightweight, modular robotic arm built for research and advanced automation. It offers a choice of six or seven degrees of freedom, smart actuators with integrated torque sensors, and an optional integrated 2D/3D vision module. It is programmable through Kinova's open Kortex API with support for C++, Python, MATLAB, and ROS.
Released: 2018
RoboZaps evaluation note
Buyer-side view of Kinova Gen3
RoboZaps reviews Kinova Gen3 as part of a broader robot shortlist, not as a single-vendor pitch. Buyers should compare availability, deployment maturity, support terms, integration work, and total cost before committing.
- Spec sources
- 0 linked
- Last verified
- Not verified
- Availability
- paid deployment
- Support caveat
- Verify local training, maintenance, parts, and uptime terms.
Best fit
Teams that need to compare Kinova Gen3 against otherindustrial cobots options with deployment readiness, commercial terms, and support assumptions made explicit.
Not best fit
Buyers who need a guaranteed off-the-shelf deployment before confirming current availability, integrator coverage, site readiness, and post-sale support ownership.
Commercial review before shortlist
Before recommending a robot, RoboZaps checks whether the commercial and lifecycle picture is clear enough for a buyer to act.
- price range
- availability
- lead time
- support terms
- deployment readiness
- training needs
- maintenance risk
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Buyer-intent resources
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Estimated lead time: 8 weeks
Overview
The Kinova Gen3 is an ultra lightweight, modular robotic arm designed primarily for robotics research and advanced automation. It can be configured with either six or seven degrees of freedom, a fixed or quick-connect base, and a wrist with or without an integrated vision module, letting researchers tailor the platform to their application.
The arm uses smart actuators with integrated torque sensors and supports both high-level and low-level closed-loop control. It is built around Kinova's open Kortex API, with programming support for C++, Python, and MATLAB, plus packages for ROS, Gazebo, and MoveIt simulation.
Kinova positions the Gen3 for use cases such as vision-based manipulation, dexterous assembly, haptics, dynamic grasping, deep learning, and mobile manipulation, emphasizing portability, power efficiency, and a strong payload-to-weight ratio.
Key Features
- Configurable in six or seven degrees of freedom with a fixed or quick-connect base
- Optional integrated 2D/3D vision module in the wrist
- Smart actuators with integrated torque sensors and infinite joint rotation
- Open Kortex API with C++, Python, MATLAB, and ROS 1/2 support
- Both high-level and low-level closed-loop control
- Ultra lightweight, portable, and power-efficient design suited to mobile robotics
Videos
Deployment Evidence
Kinova Gen3 — Official Product Page
Kinova Gen3 is commercially available in 6-DOF and 7-DOF configurations with official ROS 2 support; widely deployed in assistive robotics and research manipulation tasks.
Introducing ROS 2 Support for Gen3 — Kinova
Kinova officially released ROS 2 support for Gen3 and Gen3 Lite with MoveIt2 integration, maintained at github.com/Kinovarobotics/ros2_kortex.
Deployment Readiness
Integration & SDK
- ROS Support
- Supported
- SDK Available
- Supported
- API Docs
- View Docs
- Supported Platforms
- Linux, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04, ROS 2 (Humble), Python, C++, MATLAB
Support & Service
Regions
| Tier | Response Time | SLA |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 48 hrs | — |
| Premium | 8 hrs | — |
Specifications
Connectivity
| Communication | Ethernet, USB |
Environment
| IP Rating | 33 |
Mechanics
| Degrees of Freedom | 7 |
| Locomotion | Stationary |
Performance
| Max Speed | 50 m/s |
| Payload Capacity | 4 kg |
| Reach | 902 mm |
| Repeatability | 0.1 mm |
Physical
| Weight | 8.2 kg |
Software
| SDK Support | Yes |
| ROS Compatible | Yes |
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